When I was a kid, I had a friend named Chris. She was a year older than I and she was pretty danged cool. She was a runner, she was pretty and she was popular. She was also…
Lunch Boxes
When I was a kid, I envied the girls who brought their lunches to school. For example, Sharon – pronounced “Shay-run” – brought hers everyday, and her mother often packed in some Cheetos. I wasn’t a Cheetos nut,…
Nancy, With the Laughing Eyes
Today is my friend Nancy’s birthday. To me, she is “Nance” and forever will be. We’ve known each other since high school, and to this day, I smile when I think of her. Due to our…
Mr. and Mrs. Melvin
When I was about 4 or 5, I lived out in the country in Monroe, Georgia. The house we were renting sat on a huge plot of land, with a cotton field behind it and a swamp beyond…
Civics (And I Ain’t Talking Cars…)
When I was in 8th grade, I was required (along with all the other people in my grade) to take a civics class. Other than learning the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution (which I’d already memorized from Saturday…
Rose-Colored Glasses
Sometimes in the course of conversation, I or a friend will say something about the blessings of ignorance. These conversations are usually about politics or conflicts in the world, maybe about human frailties or failures. Sometimes we’re talking…
Another Mind Trip
I’m sensing the end of this dark tunnel of moving. I can’t claim to see the proverbial light yet, but my gut tells me it’s just around the corner. My gut never lies, friends. Anyhoo, I think…
Jumping Off Cliffs
That’s me at sixteen. I was on a camping/float trip in the hills of Missouri. It was only a couple of days, but it was a trip to remember. I paddled a canoe, found $20 snagged on…
Honeysuckle Memories
I was out on a bike ride, contemplating life, when I was hit in the face by a familiar smell on the wind: honeysuckle! It snuck up on me fast and left me in a near-aroma-coma. When…
Little Papa’s Filling Station
The first car I ever owned was a ’68 Chrysler Newport. It was aqua with a white top. It sat 8 with room to spare. I was its third owner. The next car I bought on my…