The task of being executor of my father’s will fell to my sister Margaret who lived in Oak Ridge, Tennessee not far from Dad’s home. She looked after him in his last years. He suffered diabetes and as it turned out so did both my brother Jim and my sister. Dad was the sole survivor of his second wife’s family. They left their estate to Dad. His will left all of his belongings to his three children.

“Have you found out where Jim is?” I asked Margaret as we were clearing the stuff out of ...(click to continue reading)

Once upon a time in Baum Hollow (pronounced by the natives as “BUM Holler”), there lived a tiny lad, name of ”Bulldog”. Well, his momma and pappy didn’t name him “Bulldog” when first they laid eyes on him. No, that name came on him later… 

Bum Holler was not a thriving community, but a not-so-wide spot in the road where the lad’s grandpa farmed a piece of bottomland and the adjacent hillsides. Bulldog’s family had built a small house a little less than a furlong down the road from Grand...(click to continue reading)

The clutter on my desk at work was as I had left it on the previous day; nobody had dared clean up my mess. It was my mess and I knew where things I needed were. I continued with my projects where I had left off. I’d written a test letter specifying tests to be run on a power system, so at about mid-morning I went to the test laboratory to check on the progress. Tests were going well with no bad results.

There was a bulletin board located along the main aisle in the lab where anybody co...(click to continue reading)

The cat gave me more attention than I solicited. I just sat and visited, otherwise minding my own business. The cat evidently wanted to visit too. He caressed my feet and legs with his chin. He walked away and then came back for an encore. He stood where I could easily stroke him, and I obliged with a rub and a pat. He showed no inclination to go away.

“I believe your cat likes me,” I said.

“He’s not my cat,” said Glenna, “He belongs to a friend of mine who’s allergic to cats. ...(click to continue reading)

A few months after Mardelle and I were divorced, I was busy one Saturday afternoon with my weekend home chores when my doorbell rang. I answered the ring and to my utter surprise a friendly acquaintance stood there in the person of Dorothy Phillips.

Dorothy was a long time acquaintance. Even when Mary and I went to Encore Theatre, Dorothy was often the usher who showed us to our seats. After Mary’s death and I married Mardelle, Dorothy was frequently our usher at the shows.

Mor...(click to continue reading)

The Boy Scouts of Troop 30 were assembled at the canoe livery, ready to journey down the river. For some of the dozen boys this was their first experience with a canoe. Scoutmaster, George Anderson, gave the boys some instructions before they set off in their canoes. 

“Two guys to a canoe, select a buddy and stay with him. Stow your camp gear and food in the middle of the boat. Be sure to cover it to keep it dry. I have selected a nice campsite on the map. Stick together and we’ll meet ...(click to continue reading)