Category Archives: Writing

A Blue Moon Easter Eve

Posted on March 31, 2018 by

I haven’t written a blogpost since January because the last two months have been a blur of  packing, downsizing, moving, and all the details that such a nightmarish task entails. At times we have wondered if we should have left … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiographical, Backyard Nature, Happiness, Home, Knoxville, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Paper

Posted on January 31, 2018 by

Until I watched Steven Spielberg’s latest movie “The Post” last evening, I had never thought of the throughline that newspapers have had in my life. When I was growing up, Daddy supplemented our income by working Saturday nights–through the night … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiographical, Courage, Knoxville, Op/Ed Thoughts, Screen, Women, Wonder, Work, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daddy’s Ro-phorisms

Posted on November 30, 2017 by

When I was growing up Daddy used to drive me crazy with his corny aphorisms for every situation. We didn’t have the money to eat at the fancier restaurants such as Shoney’s–yes, we were indeed that poor. Mama and Daddy … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiographical, Childhood, Courage, Family, Happiness, Home, Joy (Joie de General), Love, Writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Arriving at Last

Posted on October 31, 2017 by

In the fall of my senior year at South (Knoxville) High School, I was offered a full scholarship to Berea College, a small liberal arts college in Kentucky. I didn’t know it at the time, but Berea was founded in … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiographical, Childhood, Courage, Education, Family, Freedom, Ideas, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Retro Communications

Posted on June 30, 2017 by

When I graduated from South (Knoxville) High School, I wanted to be a history teacher in the mold of my two favorite history teachers from South. My Tennessee history teacher Mr. (Fred) Ridinger Jr. served under General George Patton in … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiographical, Childhood, Ideas, Women, Work, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Give Me a Young Man’s Wisdom

Posted on February 28, 2017 by

[I wrote this original blogpost two years ago. Though much has changed since April 2015, it is amazing how much has remained the same–and I find this post eerily relevant to our country in February 2017.] Sometimes I find the most extraordinary … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiographical, Childhood, Courage, Freedom, Happiness, Ideas, Joy (Joie de General), Love, Music, Op/Ed Thoughts, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Love, Honor, and Compassion

Posted on November 7, 2016 by

Grandfather, Sacred One, teach us love, compassion, and honor that we may heal the earth and heal each other. ~ Native American Ojibwa Prayer Perhaps growing up poor gave me a natural affinity for Native Americans and other people who were … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiographical, Beauty, Books, Childhood, Courage, Family, Freedom, Friends, Ideas, Love, Op/Ed Thoughts, Photography, Women, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment