If you like bologna sandwiches, you’re alright by me.
If you grew up with a dad who worked, a mom who stayed home, one car, no air conditioning, and bologna in the fridge, then it’s likely you also are familiar with this particular lunch meat and other budget-conscious grocery items.
When I was a kid, you ate what they put in front of you or you didn’t eat at all. Matter of fact, I can remember many an hour sitting at a ...
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They say that you can’t go home again. Last weekend, I did.
I vividly remember the night of my high school graduation. It was very hot and very wet.
Because of heavy rains, we were the first class, in no one could remember how long, to graduate inside the gymnasium instead of on the football field.
It was a Friday night in May, and polyester was still surviving from the 1970s in the form of our shiny purple caps and gowns.
As we all ...
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The nicest people live in the South.
Anyone who was born and raised in the South and has done any traveling has probably noticed the same thing that I have: We’re friendlier.
Now, I’m not saying that people who live in the north, east, or western part of the United States aren’t nice folks. I’m simply saying we’re friendlier in the South.
I’ll give you an example. Only folks in the South can strike up a conversation with a complete stranger in a ...
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One of the few holidays left that does not seem to be under attack is Halloween. Technically, Halloween isn’t a real holiday, but it is if you’re under 12 and like candy.
Recently, my wife mailed off a care package to the three smallest grandchildren, which included a homemade costume for each of them.
From what I’m told, dragons are one of the big things with kids this year, so they each received their own dragon costume, with just enough individual nuances ...
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Before video games and 300 TV channels, kids played outside. And climbed trees. A lot of trees.
In the 1960s, tree climbing was a competitive sport in Ashdown, Arkansas. Tree climbing never made it to the Olympics, but if synchronized swimming, figure skating and handball are there, tree climbing deserves a spot. Had tree climbing made it to the games, my friends and I likely could have taken at least a bronze or silver for ...
Why do we use a different voice to talk to babies and dogs?
No one ever told me to change my voice when I talk to an infant or a dog, but I do it, and it seems to work. And I’m not the only one who does it.
The best way to describe the voice I use to talk to little kids or puppies is a cross between Marvin The Martian and Bart Simpson.
Why I do this, I do not know, ...
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While much of America enjoys four equal seasons, those of us in Texas celebrate two: Hot and less hot.
Between October and February, it’s kinda cold in Texas. The rest of the year, it’s hot and humid.
But, as September gives way to October, there is a feeling, albeit a fleeting one, of relief.
Fall is here.
Generally, Arkansas has colder winters than we do in the Lone Star State. Consequently, I spent much of the spring of my life splitting firewood. Lots of ...
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We all need to start doing our homework.
The problem with most American voters is that they latch on to the promises of a candidate in a rush to elect them, because they’re ready to get rid of the last candidate, whose promises they bought at the last election.
Our country has changed. Not so long ago, most Americans at least took a passing interest in staying informed on what was going on. When I say staying informed, I mean actually making ...
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Do you smell that?
Since the beginning of time, or at least since there’s been advertising, men and women have been willing to shell out hard-earned cash for something to make them smell better. Or, at least something that they think makes them smell better.
I have no idea who came up with the first perfume or cologne, but sometimes I wonder if we’ve made much progress in the area of scented enhancement. Specifically, in the area of male scented enhancement.
My first ...
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Anyone who grew up in the South knows all of the major food groups. There’s dairy, meat, fruit, vegetables, and gravy.
Once you get outside of the South, there are other substances in existence that are called gravy, but they aren’t anything close to real gravy.
What is real gravy? I call it cream gravy, but real gravy is called by many names. Whether you call it cream, sawmill, country, white, milk or sausage gravy, real gravy is the gravy that’s poured ...
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