Columns - Topics from December, 2012
Happy 2013!
A brand-new year—2013—is upon us, and as responsible Southerners, we must be sure that we ring it in judiciously by following all the important traditions (superstitions?). If you choose to party or stay up and watch the ball drop in New York, so be it, but be sure to eat the proper foods on New Year’s Day to insure a prosperous year. Whether you like those foods or not is beside the point. We are forced to do many unpleasant things during the course of our lives as we pursue happiness. I admit that it’s easier if you really like black eyed peas, greens, hog jowl, and corn bread. All the members of my household do. Well, except Stuart, that is. He’s a junk food junkie.
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Redemption
It is always good to have someone give you a compliment and this past Saturday before Christmas I got a basketful.
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Romantic places
Living out a romantic fantasy in the place of your dreams is the yearning of many. To be full of thoughts, feelings, and attitudes characteristic of and conducive to passionate and adventurous romance is the fervent desire of numerous romantic zealots.
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Poinsettias for remembrance
Friday morning, my cousin Max Newham called and invited me to go with him to put flowers in the cemeteries where our parents and our grandparents are buried. I hesitated only a minute before agreeing. I mentally cleared my calendar for part of the day and agreed to meet him in Hazlehurst.
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Fathers Day
I will never forget when President Johnson instituted daylight savings time. My Grandmother, Jane Lott Vickers, who taught me to hate damnyankees and how to grow a garden, when asked what time it was, would say, “You want Kennedy time or Johnson time?” The first Sunday after the time changed, some people were at church an hour early, and some an hour late and some, like our family, were there at the right time. It was mass confusion.
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Our wonderful family
B. J. and I are blessed. We have had over fifty-two wonderful years of marriage. We have had a wonderful ministry that brought us a great wealth of matchless experiences. We have been blessed to travel to many exciting places at home and abroad--and we still get on the road, sea and in the air from time to time.
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The moral state of America
Ever since the November General Election I have considered many aspects about our country and even myself.
Who would have thought ten years ago that marijuana would have been legalized in certain states? Would you have believed 20 years ago that same-sex marriage would be considered the same as traditional marriage (in parts of the United States)? What comes next? Bestiality marriage? [Full Story »]
Who would have thought ten years ago that marijuana would have been legalized in certain states? Would you have believed 20 years ago that same-sex marriage would be considered the same as traditional marriage (in parts of the United States)? What comes next? Bestiality marriage? [Full Story »]
Fathers Day
I will never forget when President Johnson instituted daylight savings time. My Grandmother, Jane Lott Vickers, who taught me to hate damnyankees and how to grow a garden, when asked what time it was, would say, “You want Kennedy time or Johnson time?” The first Sunday after the time changed, some people were at church an hour early, and some an hour late and some, like our family, were there at the right time. It was mass confusion.
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Marvelous memories
L.L. Bean is currently running my favorite commercial. Ordinarily we record our favorite programs and watch them later so we can skip the commercials, but every time I catch a glimpse of this one, I stop and watch it. Four adorable children wearing head lamps run into the living room and sit on the couch before the fireplace to wait for Santa Claus. Their expectant, excited expressions capture the essence of childhood. My hat is off to whoever directed and filmed those children. They wriggle, squirm, and then settle in for a long night’s wait. The next frame shows them all sleeping on the couch with all their lights still shining. Then a voice says, “Memories that last start with gifts that last.” It’s a great commercial, but I’m not so sure about the veracity of the observation.
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The things we do for our children
It wasn’t too long ago that I shared with you a story about coaching my son Jacob’s baseball team. Coaching was not necessarily something I aspired to do again, especially with my schedule. However, it worked out and I had a great time coaching again.
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Looking like Christmas
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the City of Baxley. Sounds like it, too. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I love it. I love the lighted snowflakes on poles all around town. I love the church chimes playing Christmas carols. When I’m alone in my car, I love singing every Christmas song I know, including “Good King Wenceslas,” at the top of my lungs. I do have quite a repertoire because I’ve been memorizing songs for many Christmases now. (By the way, I don’t subject other people to my singing. I believe it’s okay to entertain myself, but not to make other folks suffer for my efforts.)
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Good intentions
My wife works for a company that requires her to travel often and it turned out she had to make a trip to Thomasville on the next Saturday morning and be there early to train a new hire. She asked if I would like to accompany her and that if I did we would go on Friday afternoon, go out on a date at a fancy restaurant and spend the night, sort of a mini-honeymoon. I do not like her to travel so much but there is little I can do about it and I could tell she wanted me to go with her so I agreed, and besides, it’s not often we get to go anywhere together overnight without the kids.
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