Fifty acres is not a small fire when you live on the same mountain or the leeward side of the fire, or even on the leeward side of an idiot. … More The Leeward Side of An Idiot

It is the little things that make the memories we cherish. We like to tell stories of our big dramas and adventures, but we are comforted for a lifetime by much that goes unnoticed as it happens. These souvenirs of recollection may gather dust for years, like a steamer trunk of favorite things stored in … More Living Memory

“It sounds like we’re under attack again,” Tracey said, marking the ongoing change of seasons. Walnuts hitting the metal roof of the barn sound like small arms fire. The ground is invaded by hard spheroids hiding in the grass and waiting to turn an ankle. A helmet is not a bad idea on a windy … More A Hard Nut To Crack

Yesterday was a beautiful day, and I got to spend it at home, more or less. I was required to be there between the hours of 7 AM and 7 PM in case our telecom service provider’s technician drove by. Usually, they call to give a heads up, but we didn’t have a dial tone. … More Along The Last Mile

Last week I left the mountains beginning to select their fall attire and traveled south to another place rich with history and tradition, and fading memories. Within a few hundred yards of the place where my brother and I roamed the woods on misty September mornings, Erskine Caldwell was born. A little further up the … More The Departure of Memory

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” It’s that time of year again, and along with winter, spring, and summer, my favorite time. It’s not quite fall yet, but it feels like fall on these cool mornings. Finally, we have some relief from the sauna. Sure, it’s … More A Time To Every Purpose

“When you gonna get to me, g-get to me Is it just a matter of time Corona?” From the song “My Corona” by Chris Mann I was loaded up for a trip to the tropics (south Georgia) to see my brother. Tracey had a case of the sniffles. “I’m fine. You go ahead and go.” … More My Corona

“The race is not to the swift,Nor the battle to the strong,Nor bread to the wise,Nor riches to men of understanding,Nor favor to men of skill;But time and chance happen to them all.” You can never step in the same river twice. New waters take the place of old. The river rises and falls, comes … More What Are The Chances?

When I woke up this morning to write, I made the mistake of scanning the headlines with my first cup of coffee. Every pixel seemed to confirm Cipolla’s 5 laws, and my Muse went back to bed. So as we have done several times in the past when travel or trouble caused the ink to … More When Difficulty Comes

Sometimes you get in an unnatural hurry. Granted, there are times when you need to hurry: The pan on the stovetop is smoking; the dog is chasing a squirrel and dragging her leash, or you forgot that today is your anniversary. Hurry is the appropriate response to these situations and many others, but so much … More Hurry Up and Relax