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A memorable Hymn with meaning

This week I pay homage to my grandfather. His birthday occurred during Lent. His favorite hymn was always “The Old Rugged Cross”. He was a regular church attendee, but when it was time to sing this song, you could count on him singing it with gusto. My mom sang in the choir so I spent the time with my grandparents in their pew. My great aunt Margareth always sat with them. I remember her “twiddling her thumbs” and that always fascinated me. My great-grandfather used to sit with them, but when he became disabled, he remained at home. I recall proudly holding a hymnal to sing. ...

Early air travels with the king

Elvis Presley boarded my airline flights. Twice. In the 1960s, most country stars, Johnny Cash, Roger Miller, Eddy Arnold, Jimmie Rodgers, Chet Atkins, the Everly Brothers, and more, were all professionally based in Nashville, the Music City. But Elvis lived in Memphis. The first time we met, he boarded my morning flight from Los Angeles to Memphis. The downhome boy, by then over 30-years-old, routinely traveled with two or three high school buddies from Memphis. They were his age, but in my mind, they were still juveniles. One step up from delinquent. On that particular full flight, ...

Composting an effort for all seasons

Home gardeners have been encouraged for many years to make their own compost. At this time of year when we are encouraged to stay off our lawns and out of our garden beds, composting gets us outside and gives us a connection to our environment. The raw materials for our compost are food ...

Unreliable SAAB has special place in couple’s hearts

Due to her age, 85, and subsequent lack of confidence behind the wheel, my wife has reluctantly decided to stop doing much driving. But even if she hadn’t made this decision, I would advise her not to drive her gray 2001 SAAB, which despite its age is a beautiful rust-free vehicle in very good shape mechanically. When I pause to look at the vehicle, which now stands virtually unused in our driveway, I am reminded of a vintage saying which goes something like this: “For want of nail a horseshoe was lost; for loss of the shoe, a horse was lost; for want of a horse the battle was ...

Political boundaries apparent with U.S. border

Sean Hannity asked Donald Trump if he’d be a “dictator” if he won the election. Trump replied only on the first day because “We’re going to close the border and we’re going to drill, drill, drill.” Actually,he promised Americans he’d restore border security and energy independence. Of course, some “regressives,” in and out of the media, fixated on the word ‘dictator’. Some are fairly smooth as they lie. From some others came the usual sophomoric rants. Under pressure from climate activists, President Joe Biden plans to restrict permitting of natural gas export ...

View from Hickory Heights: Brakes on road trips

Don used to tease me about being a world traveler. We would watch something on television and he would say, “I suppose you have been there.” Often the answer was yes. He told me he thought that I was traveling to find someone to be with. That could not have further from the truth. I traveled with the group from the Warren Senior Center. Margaret did such a wonderful job of planning the trips. I always traveled with another woman, not a man. Often the trips included everything. We had meals in famous restaurants. We saw plays. We even traveled all the way across Canada on a train. I ...