Columns

The turpentine gulag was in full swing in 1958 and we had 40 families of hands who lived in ‘quarters’ and were either employed in field labor or turpentining. Turpentining was a hot, dirty, nasty, hard way to make a meager living but at that time in history, a dollar was a silver dollar and worth 30 times what a dollar is worth today. Being as the turpentine business was filled with such drudgery, it was no wonder that on the weekends, after payoff on Friday afternoon, it was time for many of the hands to go to the ‘juke’ and boogie down all night. Every quarters had a juke joint and ours was no exception. At this particular time, the ‘juke’ was in old man Frank Baker’s house. [Full Story »] 

Just this week, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 6oth anniversary as a monarch and announced her plans to continue to serve her nation in the years to come. She’s a very young 85, and her husband, Prince Phillip, is 90. She has worked with 12 prime ministers during her 60 years on the throne and has signed 3500 bills into law. Only the second British monarch to celebrate a diamond anniversary on the throne, she remembered her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, as the other. In her yellow suit and trademark matching hat, she spoke of using the wisdom of old age to guide her in her work. [Full Story »] 

No. I have not lost my mind. I am a Yankees fan; at least of the Appling County Mini-Mite Baseball Yankees that is. [Full Story »] 

Back when the rains and storms came on a regular basis, we had constant trouble with our phones. Then the rains stopped for what seemed like ages. So did the phone problems. Now it’s raining again, thank God, and I pray that the rain continues, but the phone problems returned with the rain. As a matter of fact, we had a major breakdown about two weeks ago, and I discovered what a computer addict I’ve become. I said I’d never be a Facebook addict, but I realized to what degree I’ve succumbed when I didn’t have internet for about a week. [Full Story »] 

Spring is at last beginning to take hold. Thank God, because I am tired of carrying firewood. The wood I thought would last three years is about gone. Each time one of my children starts whining if they can turn on the electric heat, I throw a lighter’d knot on the fire and in a few minutes they have to get far away from the hearth or burn up. [Full Story »] 

Next Friday, May 18, 2012, Appling County High School will acquire yet another set of alumni—the notorious and glorious Class of 2012. Caps and gowns have been delivered and worn proudly about the school and at Junior-Senior Coffee House. At Honors Night, many collected medals to enhance their stoles. These graduates are a proud group, as well they should be. So are parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends. And teachers—let us not forget them. Teachers invest so much time into students, both the eager and the reluctant ones. Pride buds as graduation approaches and bursts into full bloom as those red and black lines march to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance” into Jimmy Swain Stadium. The teachers’ jobs are done at this point. This group is ready to face the world, to endure and overcome whatever life holds for its members. [Full Story »] 

I must admit that I do no understand this tattoo craze. The only people that had tats when I was a boy were retired Navy Chief Bosun’s Mates and carnival workers. Now even the elderly are in the game, but I can understand their wanting to be young again. It is the already young I do not understand. [Full Story »] 

We rarely eat on a schedule at my house, and my mother would be horrified if she knew. She served breakfast at 6:30 sharp. If we missed it, too bad. The kitchen was closed until she served the next meal. Noon meant dinner, and supper came at 6:00 p.m. She never served lunch in her lifetime. It was nonexistent. She changed her schedule only if someone were drastically sick. Her other meals were varied, but breakfast always meant grits and eggs, maybe biscuits, sometimes sausage or bacon. She cooked everything from scratch except cakes. On those rare occasions that she baked a cake, she had Betty Crocker in the kitchen right beside her, taking a turn with the wooden spoon and the glass mixing bowl. [Full Story »] 

Here’s a little perspective about the “green” movement. A good friend submitted this to me a few days back and asked if I would consider publishing. It’s well worth the read. [Full Story »] 

After I put the coffee pot on to perk this morning, I started to unload the dishwasher. Since I hate unloading the flatware basket, I always do it first. I carefully removed it from its slots in the machine’s front door and started to lay it on the cabinet when the latch abruptly opened and dumped all the clean spoons, forks, knives, peelers, spatulas, and God only knows what else into the floor. Immediately from somewhere deep in the remotest recesses of my brain, I thought, “Man, I sure am fumble-fisted this morning.” [Full Story »]