The Good Master, in His wisdom, keeps us on earth until it’s our time to go Home. How are you spending your remaining days? Sowing love, not hate? Sowing peace, not discord? Sowing right, not wrong? Sowing tranquility, not fear? Time’s a wasting. Use it wisely. Later Thinking Gaters!
The Sunday Sermonette: Victory or Mediocrity?
Are you a person of immediate action but without an ultimate purpose? Are you within sight of victory, or have you settled for mediocrity? Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published December 11 2022.)
The Sunday Sermonette: The Magi, the Manger and You.
“Only one dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time… Three times, Della counted it. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.” This is how O. Henry opens his famous 1905 short story, “The […]
Dispatches from Home: Lest We Forget.
December 7, 1941, was a bright, sunny Sunday morning. The sunshine glistened atop the peaceful waters of Pearl Harbor. Sailors in the big ships all over the harbor were getting ready for the day. Some saluted, as they raised Old Glory, its red, white, and blue colors flapping in the morning breeze. Some were eating […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Accentuate the Positive.
The old WWII song, Accentuate the Positive, comes to mind if you are attempting to make constructive changes in your life. First, banish the negative things or people that prevent you from being the person you want to be or doing the things you want to do. Remove their negativity — cruelty, deceit, hypocrisies, jealousy, […]
The Sunday Sermonette – The First Frost.
Imagine my delight earlier this week when I peered from under my snuggly-warm, eiderdown quilt and saw Fall’s first frost sparkling atop my neighbor’s roof just as the sun christened the dawn in a lavender-tangerine wash. The frost was thick, forming a blanket of white. It covered car hoods and children’s bikes with feathery […]
Dispatches from Home: The Dash of Life.
In this race called Life, we often find ourselves dashing about, hither and yon, in search of those things we think will make a difference in our lives. And in our mad dash, we often fail to remember that in the end, a dash of another kind will be the only thing that denotes our […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Sincerity and Truth.
Sincerity and truth, like a Vermeer painting, are rare in today’s culture. People smile bright Pepsodent smiles, but their smiles hide everything from lies to flattery and deception. Don’t be deceived. Look for sincerity and truth in those you love and call family and friends. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published November 27, 2022.)
The Sunday Sermonette: Grandeur to Ruin and Back Again.
When I was a teenager in the 1960s, Mom, Dad, and I often paid weekly visits to the Harrison County Library on Hwy 90 in Gulfport. I enjoyed walking up its modernist spiral staircase, grabbing a book from the many shelves on art and architecture, then planting myself in a comfortable chair to read and […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Are You A Lighthouse?
In the early days of sea travel, lighthouses guided ships to a safe harbor. Without them, those ships would have crashed onto the rocky shore. You’re like a lighthouse! The painful events of your life, which you endured and educated you, could be a lighthouse to your family and friends. The wisdom gleaned from your […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Worthless Trash.
Throughout history, many things were thought to be worthless, only to be deemed valuable at a later date. Some seemingly useless things helped change the world for the better, helped shine a new light on ages past, or filled our eyes with beauty. Let’s dig around in history’s trash bin for some worthless things. […]
Dispatches from Home: The College Campus November 13 2015
Good for President Obama! “It’s not just sometimes folks who are mad that colleges are too liberal that have a problem. Sometimes there are folks on college campuses who are liberal, and maybe even agree with me on a bunch of issues, who sometimes aren’t listening to the other side, and that’s a problem too. […]
Dispatches from Home: An Icy November Day 11-13-2019
Good morning! I present for your perusal my entry in a photo contest sponsored by the Bubba Bohunkus Shutterbug Institute of South Mississippi. The photo is titled: Icicles On Wilson Drive Via Nozzle And Rubber Hose. The 1st place prize is a carefree weekend at the D’Lo Water Park! A tent, sleeping bag, firewood, and […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE : Knowledge November 13 2022.
Knowledge is simply information you glean from the local library. Wisdom is the ability to discern the best knowledge and the strength of character to act upon it. Therefore, wisdom is the application of knowledge learned to make good decisions in life. Wisdom and knowledge are two essential character traits that we should all strive […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Running Away.
At the ripe old age of seven, I could no longer take my parent’s tyrannical rules and regulations. Saturday mornings were the worst. I only wanted to eat Mother’s homemade pancakes in peace while watching The Lone Ranger in my Bug’s Bunny footie pajamas. Neither Mom nor Dad seemed to appreciate the importance of those […]
Dispatches from Home: The Clown’s Lament November 9 2022
Laugh, and the world laughs with me! Weep, and I weep alone. For this dying old earth laughs at my mirth, But cares little if I have struggles of my own. Sic vita est!
Dispatches from Home: The November 8th 2020 Election
Good afternoon! I am thankful that the elections are over. Perhaps now we as a country can begin to heal. Let us put all rancor, hate, and violence behind us and move forward. Congratulations are in order. MR. BIDEN you’ve been elected by a majority and the Electoral College—a wounded nation looks to you for […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE Don’t Forget To Vote (Originally posted November 6, 2022)
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: November 8th is just around the corner. Please remember to honestly evaluate those running for office. Make sure their charisma, grand entrances, apparent concern for justice, and friendly embraces are nothing more than a mask – a mask covering their graft, lies, and hunger for money and power. Ponder this and go […]
The Sunday Sermonette Sorrow + Prayer = Friendship
I was at the gym last week, running nowhere on the treadmill, lickety split! The telly was on, and as I raced along, I could not help but be saddened by the news reports coming out of Israel. In war, children and the elderly suffer the most. They are helpless in many ways, yet they […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Advice.
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE – October 30 2022. Advice that goes against your wishes is sometimes hard to swallow. However, your decision must be based on the quality of the advice, not on its attractiveness. It’s best to separate advice from your personal desires. Seek it from those who will tell you the truth, not just […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Blunders and Mistakes.
The Sunday Sermonette – Blunders and Mistakes. October 29, 2023. As a child, I loved playing with dragonflies! I’d see one buzzing around, wait for it to land, then grab it and hold it in my hand. I was fascinated by its bulging, yellow-green eyes, its tiny mouth viciously chewing my index finger, and […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: Ghosts Along the Mississippi.
In the Prologue of GHOSTS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI, the book’s author, Clarence John Laughlin, writes: “This book will attempt to present the evolution of Louisiana plantation culture, in terms of the contrast, and the adhesion of two subtly related, unlike, elements—that which may roughly be called historico-architectural, and that which pulsates around poetic vision.” Mr. […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Mediocrity.
The Sunday Sermonette DEC. 11, 2022. Are you a person of immediate action but without an ultimate purpose? Are you within sight of victory, or have you settled for mediocrity? Ponder this and go forth.
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Past and Present.
The Sunday Sermonette March 13, 2022. Oft time we allow past experiences to determine our future actions. If we had one bad experience at a local restaurant, we vow to never return. If we go our socially or to church and no one speaks to us, we tend to think all social events and all […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Beauty Born of Pain
The Sunday Sermonette October 17, 2023. In the mid-sixties, I took art at the Gulfport Recreation Center. The building was located east of City Hall, where the current fire station is. The art classes were taught by a frail-looking dynamo of energy, Mrs. Effie Gridley. She taught hundreds of children and adults the art of […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Famous Last Words.
The Sunday Sermonette October 15, 2023. The last words of people have always fascinated me. Sometimes, in the closing moments of our lives, we find the most clarity and say the things we most want to say. I’m sure “When the Roll is Called up Yonder,” we all wish to be surrounded by those we […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Satisfied?
Sometimes, if I can’t sleep late at night, I fire up the old computer and watch Reels and Short Videos on Facebook.The silverback gorillas and their offspring tumbling around with their happy purrs, hums, and sighs bring a smile to my face. Baby elephants dancing a jig during muddy baths, their little trunks blowing water […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: The Old Hymns Say It Best.
The Sunday Sermonette September 17, 2023.In times of spiritual light or darkness, I need thee. In times of wealth or poverty, I need thee. In times of sickness or health, I need thee. In times of war or peace, I need thee. In times of political turmoil or political tranquility, I need thee. In times […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Musings About Prejudice.
The Sunday Sermonette September 10, 2023. My dear mother grew up in hard times. Old Man Depression roamed around D’Lo, Mississippi, like a roaring lion, devouring much of what he saw. Life on the farm was a struggle, to say the least. Then came the onslaught of World War II. Times got worse. Those hard […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Broken Pieces and Dusty Dust.
For Baby Boomers, Saturday mornings were magical times. The telly was bursting at the seams with cartoons and serials. Sky King. Roy Rodgers. Looney Tunes. And The Lone Ranger. I was especially fond of Bugs Bunny and his outlandish foolishness. One bright Saturday morning, I watched dear old Bugs piece together a “steam engine” from […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Failure and Rejection.
“Cart this back to the quarry if you want to,” a struggling Renaissance sculptor said, putting down his hammer and chisel in exasperation. “This block of marble’s useless.” And then it sat for 24 years, exposed to the elements in a church’s backyard until another Renaissance sculptor said, “Bring it to my shop. I see […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: A Light In The Fog.
The Sunday Sermonette August 27, 2023. The days were black, but the nights were blacker. Depression is a dark force, squeezing the light out of a person with its unrelenting tentacles of fear and doubt. For me, the early 90s were dark times. Through a series of bad choices—my choices, no one else’s—my life, as […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Crosswords and Hurricanes.
The Sunday Sermonette July 23 2023 “Andy, what is another word for dictionary that starts with G and has eight letters in it?” Mother asked, sitting calming in her old rocker, seemingly oblivious to the storm raging just outside our living room window. As the green oven of July melts into the fierce eye of […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Personality Test.
The Sunday Sermonette August 13, 2023. “Andy, ever take a personality test?” As we rode home from a long, delightful weekend, a dear friend asked me this question. When I said I hadn’t, my friend sent a link to an online test I took once I got home. I had to answer a series of […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE FISHING
The Sunday Sermonette July 16, 2023. As a child, I often went fishing with my sweet Granny from D’Lo. She taught me how to bait the hook, where best to fish, and how to wait patiently for the little red and white bobber to tantalizingly bob up and down. One day, the bobber went down […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE HARDSHIPS
The Sunday Sermonette July 9, 2023. What are the hardships in your life? Work? Family? Friends? Relationships? Your health? Unfortunately, hardships are an inescapable part of the process we call living. How we endure them though, ah, therein lies the rub, as the Bard once wrote. One way to endure them is to moan, to […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE TUMBLEWEEDS
The Sunday Sermonette June 4, 2023. Growing up in the late 50s and early 60s, I watched many TV Westerns like Gunsmoke and Wagon Train. I was always fascinated when the camera panned the desert and tumbleweeds came rolling by. Like Cowboys, Indians, and buffalos, those dried-up tangles are icons of the Old West, and […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE FOREVER AMBER
The Sunday Sermonette June 11, 2023. One day, millions of years ago, our little friend in the snap was attracted by the smell of resin oozing from a tree, perhaps a prehistoric pine. Deciding to rest his weary wings, he came to rest in the resin and found himself trapped. As the resin fossilized, forming […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE SOUR ON THE VINE
The Sunday Sermonette May 21, 2023. Hurt? Angry? Bitter? Rejected? Maligned? Like grapes on a vine, relationships with family or friends can sour, their sweet love and affection turning bitter. The first step toward reconciliation, however, comes when you pray to Father God for healing—YOUR HEALING. Gather all your bitterness and resentment and bury it […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE THE END OF TIME
The Sunday Sermonette – May 28, 2023. These Bible verses from II Timothy 3 were written over two thousand years ago. Whether you believe in the Bible or not, you might agree that these predictions are spot on for the present-day world in which we live. When will Christ return and call his children home? […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE HONESTY AND DISHONESTY
The Sunday Sermonette May 7, 2023. How honest are you about being dishonest? Have you ever looked back on your life and seen where dishonesty worked against you, causing you great mental anguish and others to distrust you. The Good Book reminds us that honesty is wiser because “the wicked are trapped by their own […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE TENTACLES
The Sunday Sermonette April 2, 2023. In today’s world, trouble wraps itself around us with vicious tentacles. Earthquakes. Horrific tornadoes. Wars. Fatal illnesses. Personal trials and tribulations. The senseless murder of children and adults. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were hounded by trouble as well. They often turned to God to help solve their […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE LINGERING SCARS
The Sunday Sermonette April 23, 2023. “Sorry, Mr. Kalberg. Once I got to digging, I had to cut much deeper than I thought I would.” “Doc, this hole in my head! Will it heal properly? Will it leave a scar?” “Yes, it will heal just fine.” Then with a wry smile, the doctor said, “Sorry […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE WATCHMEN
The Sunday Sermonette March 5, 2023. In the Old Testament, watchmen stood on Jerusalem’s ancient walls, searching the horizon for those who might attack the city. Because of their crucial tasks, these men had to be reliable, honest, and trustworthy. Reliable and honest in what they saw and reported to their commanders. Trustworthy that what […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE WRONG/RIGHT
The Sunday Sermonette March 19, 2023. In life, it is not enough just to avoid what is wrong—we must actively pursue what is right. Ponder this and go forth.
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE LEGACY
The Sunday Sermonette Legacy February 23, 2023. In the Book of Chronicles, there’s a man named Er. It states that he was wicked, which led to his death. Thousands of years later, that’s all we know about poor old Er. That’s his legacy. That’s how he is remembered. Each of us is creating a legacy, […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE THE WHITE PEACOCK
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE February 19, 2023. When I was a child in the late 50s, I often spent languid summers with my sweet Granny from D’Lo, who, at that time, lived in Jackson, Mississippi. Early mornings crackled with the smell of frying eggs and bacon, but the afternoons were awash in the sickly-sweet smell of […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE WORDS!
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE January 22, 2023. “Words, words, words!” sings Eliza Doolittle in the classic musical, My Fair Lady. Saying the right words at the wrong time can be just as devastating as saying the wrong words. Timing is everything. As you waltz or stumble along life’s pathway, be careful what you say, when you […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE MARBLE
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE January 15 2023. Are there times in life when you want to give up due to the pressure to succeed or to make your life count? Are there times you want to run away, take a voyage to nowhere, and never come back? If so, please consider Francesco Queirolo’s masterpiece, “The Release […]
SUNDAY’S SERMONETTE Expectations
SUNDAY’S SERMONETTE May 15, 2022. Expectations are part of life. It’s how those expectations are met that reveal character and priorities. Need help with your expectations, talk to God. Ponder this and go forth.
Sunday Sermonette Don’t Wait!
Sunday Sermonette October 3, 2022. Ever endure a traumatic experience? Sudden loss of your job, home, or someone you love? Ever sat in the darkness of that loss, wondering where to go or who to turn to? Many will only turn to God when they are stumbling in the darkness, falling to their knees, begging […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE BITTERNESS
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE October 9, 2022. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger,” says the Good Book. Bitterness and anger are a lethal concoction of human emotions. Like an out-of-control vine, they can wrap around your heart, squeezing the love out of it and plunging you into the depths of depression. They can also […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE MUSIC TO THE SOUL
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE – OCT. 16, 2022. Have you ever heard a song that sticks in your mind, and you go singing it throughout the day? Hopefully, it puts a smile on your face and a skip in your step. But there’s an inner song, deep within your soul, that God composed just for you. […]
The Sunday Sermonette Maturity
The Sunday Sermonette March 26, 2022. Do we ever stop maturing? Maturity is a delicate dance between what you know and what you still need to learn. It is not measure by age but by experience. One of maturities’ milestones is when you stop complaining, stop making excuses, and start making changes. Change is not […]
The Sunday Sermonette Whispers
The Sunday Sermonette October 23, 2022 Expecting God and Jesus to speak to you during church rallies, meetings, and conventions is good. But the most uplifting moments spent with God and Jesus are when they speak to you in a gentle whisper, in the quietness of your humbled heart. Ponder this and go forth.
Dispatches from Home: Look Homeward, Angel October 20 2021
“A destiny that leads the English to the Dutch is strange enough; but one that leads from Epsom into Pennsylvania, and thence into the hills that shut Altamont over the proud coral cry of the cock, and the soft stone smile of an angel, is touched by that dark miracle of chance which makes new […]
Dispatches from Home: A Gracious Lady October 19 2023
Good morning! As a child back in the 50s, oftentimes after church, Mom, Dad, and I would eat lunch in the dining room of the Edgewater Gulf Hotel. After lunch, they would sit in comfy lawn chairs while I romped and played under the cathedral of oaks that graced the manicured lawn. In the fall, […]
Dispatches from Home: Luxury, Steam, and a Pleasant Crossing. October 14 2023
“It’s hard to believe they are gone. The piers are still there. The bon voyage baskets, piled high with impractical fruits and jellies, still line the shelves of the gourmet shops. In midtown Manhattan, there’s even a postcard still for sale, showing the Queen Elizabeth, Mauretania, a Sylvania-class Cunarder, the America and the Independence […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Old Lady Ramsey and the Dog Sled.
In the 1970s, Wednesday Night suppers at dear ol’ First Baptist Church Gulfport were hot ticket items. The Fellowship Hall was a bustling beehive of clattering restaurant china and well-worn stainless steel cutlery. The tempting aroma of fried chicken, cornbread, and turnip greens beckoned from the kitchen. The room echoed with high-pitched laughter and bubbling […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Rescued From An Inferno. October 1, 2023.
The North Atlantic has always been a treacherous body of water. It can be viciously stormy, icebergs can lurk in its darkness, fog can cut visibility to zero, and submarines can creep beneath its waves. It’s been home to floating palaces like the Titanic, the Lusitania, and the Andrea Doria. It’s also been home […]
Dispatches from Home: TITANIC! Grandeur and Coal Dust
TITANIC! The mere mention of the name conjures sepia-toned images of elegant ladies and sophisticated gentlemen gliding up and down the Grand Staircase as they stroll to the Jacobean-style dining room or the cozy warmth of their walnut-paneled staterooms. Even the steerage passengers were exposed to luxuries heretofore unknown by them. Electric lights. Fresh […]
Dispatches from Home: First Baptist Gulfport 125 th Anniversary September 19 2022
On a Sunday evening in the hot summer of 1966, my dear parents and I joined Gulfport’s First Baptist Church. As we walked down the aisle, and the pastor, Dr. William Tanner, greeted us, I was fascinated by the greenish-amber stained-glass dome soaring over our heads. I was fourteen. That walk and that decision is […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: Daisy, Jay, Nick, Jordan, and Me. September 2023
“The Great Gatsby” is one of my favorite novels and movies. I’ve reread the novel twice, just within the last year or so, and watched the 1974 movie (my favorite version) about three weeks ago. Every time I read or watch “The Great Gatsby,” I discover a heretofore unknown treasure. Fitzgerald’s masterpiece weaves a rich […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: Titanic Strikes Iceberg April 14 1912. Fast forward to April 16th 1912
When we read about the Titanic, its 1st Class passengers, with their gilded wealth and posh lifestyles, are always front and center. 2nd Class passengers are mentioned too, a myriad of preachers, missionaries, businessmen, teachers, and middle-class families. When 3rd Class passengers are mentioned, most have one thing in common—the better life awaiting them in […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: Father’s Day June 21 2020
In the summer of 1958, the Kalberg’s took a vacation to Silver Springs, Florida. While there, Mom packed us a huge lunch and off we went for a picnic. There’s Pop sporting some cool sunglasses while eating a delicious homemade bacon and tomato sandwich. And there’s me hugging a cold, coke-a-cola in a small bottle. […]
Dispatches from Home: Mother’s Day May 9 2021
Micah 6:8 – “Do Justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God.” – was one of my dear mother’s favorite Bible verses. She was so inspired by this verse that she cross-stitched it as a New Year’s resolution in 1989. In her old red Bible, she wrote: “DOING justly means righting wrongs, championing the oppressed, being […]
Dispatches from Home: New Years’ Eve 2019
As Father Time shuffles off this mortal coil and awaits the arrival of the New Year baby, I’ve come to the end of the year and the decade amazed at how quickly 3,650 days disappeared. I’ve also pondered the grains of sand that have sifted through the hourglass of my life. I can, however, remember […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: Were your Proud Dad? Father’s Day 2021
“I love you.” To my knowledge, my dear father never said these words to me. But did he love me? He was, after all, a man who grew up in hard times and lived with the limitations of a heart seared by childhood scarlet fever. During the Great Depression, when Dad was in his teens, […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: TEA AND SYMPATHY THREE TIMES THE CHARM August 13 2020
As I enter my “golden” years, I often sit in the still quiet of the morning, a hot cup of coffee in my hand, pondering what the future holds and the past reveals.Thoughts of the future usually find me traveling down a bumpy road, ending in a dead-end. It’s best to leave those thoughts at […]
Dispatches from Home: Julia, Charles, Sebastian, and Brideshead Revisited August 22 2022
Ever had a TV series change your life? I have. The 1981 Masterpiece Theater series, Brideshead Revisited, based on the novel by Evelyn Waugh, was that life changer. While watching it, I was whisked back to Oxford, England, in the 1920s. The ancient buildings, the men’s clothes, and their posh manners, coupled with the intrigue […]
Dispatches from Home: Mother’s Day May 14 2023
In the 1960s, the Mississippi Gulf Coast was suspended in time. Unlike today, there were no high-rise apartment buildings, garish casinos, ballparks, or aquariums. There were, however, magnificent houses, grand old hotels, mom-and-pop motels, full-service gas stations, sophisticated nightclubs, and a few not-so-sophisticated ones. Time wasn’t necessarily standing still, but it certainly wasn’t winning any […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: Wisdom June 29 2020
In a country torn apart by race, anarchy, murder, and death, the Book of Proverbs is a good read for those who long for wisdom in these dark days. Even if you believe the Judeo-Christian Bible is nothing more than a book of fairy tales or at best, a quasi-history book, it can still be […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: The Looking Glass and You! November 25 2020
With the onslaught of a caustic election, coupled with a toxic virus, I’ve heard people say, “I have nothing to be thankful for.” Really? Let me tell you what I’m thankful for. After a good night’s sleep, I awoke this morning and planted my feet on the softness of a Persian rug. Thankfully, my feet, […]
Dispatches from Home: Christmas Day, December 25 2022.
For those who know me, you know that I keep a journal, which I started in 1966. I was fourteen. Reading back over the years is bittersweet – the mountain tops, the valleys; the gains, the losses; the loves, the unrequited loves; but most of all, it’s the memories of bygone days that jump off […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME – We Always Drove East. Happy Thanksgiving! November 25 2021
When I was a child in the late 50s and early 60s, Thanksgiving was always a family affair. Mom, Dad, and I usually celebrated it alone, just the three of us enjoying a simple, pleasant time together. Mom cooked a traditional meal for lunch, I helped wash the dishes, and then we were off on […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: A BITTERSWEET NEW YEAR’S MEMORY January 1 2021
“Kal! We’re going to Disney World for New Year’s! And we’re staying at the Grand Floridian! I won’t take NO for an answer!” I could almost feel Aston’s excitement crackling through the phone lines. “I’ve not seen you in years,” his voice pleaded, “Please go with me.” It had always been hard to tell him […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: KNS’s 1991 SHOWBOAT…Old Times…Days not Forgotten. September 28 2020
While watching old movies, I often wonder if the actors who appear in them ever watch themselves on TCM. As they stroll down memory lane, what do they see in the flickering gray light of their former theatrical glory? Do they chuckle at their pratfalls, draw a deep breath remembering an uncomfortable costume, or wipe […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME – Saying Goodbye To Mom. May 31 2019
Death is multifaceted. After a loved one passes away, first comes the pain of loss, the tears, the funeral, the closing of the casket, and the cemetery. Not long after, though, the business side of death comes calling. The will’s read, banks, and financial institutions are contacted, death certificates sent. After days, or weeks, or […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: CHRISTMAS EVE 2019
Christmas is many things to many people. Giving special gifts. Traveling to unusual places. Fun with special people. But most of all, Christmas is a season of traditions. Each year at this time, families all over the world re-create those traditions. Perhaps it’s inviting family and friends to Christmas Day lunch, the same invites as […]
Dispatches from Home: Heaven Received Another Angel. February 22 2020
One year ago today, February 22, 2019, God called my dear mother Home. The morning was foggy with rain. A dull silence filled the house. I’d slept a somewhat sleepless night, pondering what the future held for Mom and me since she was practically bedridden. When I checked on her in the wee hours of […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME – Funerals and Sweet Remembrances. June 22 2022
Because of my age, my friend’s parents are in their late 80s or early 90s. Attending their funerals is bittersweet—happily they’re Home, though, no more tears, no more pain. Their funerals evoke something else, too, another day and age. While waiting to offer my condolences to family members, I enjoy watching the sideshow of vintage […]
Dispatches from Home: The First Day of June 2020
I love this month—warm days, somewhat cool nights, a respite before the onslaught of a sticky-hot, south Mississippi summer! I also love lilies and caladiums. It gives me great pleasure to lovingly plant the bulbs in winter. Then, in early spring, one by one, their little, bushy-green haloes slowly emerge from God’s rich earth. As […]
Dispatches from Home – Thoughts on turning Seventy. February 1 2022
In 1962, at the ripe old age of ten, I remember thinking, “Seventy! Yikes! That’s really old!” As I sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my seventy-year-old Aunt Pocahontas Maria Price (yes, that was her real name), I studied the deep crevices in her sweet, wrinkled face. Her thick glasses made her eyes look like huge, deep-blue […]
Dispatches from Home – Four years ago. February 22 2023
Dear Mom, Oh! How I miss you! I don’t know where the past four years have gone since last I heard your sweet voice, felt the warmth of your loving touch, and saw the sparkle in your blue eyes. Do you remember the day we took this picture? It was in the early 2000s for […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME – Three years ago. February 22 2022
Mama’s been in Heaven three years today. While sitting on the seawall this morning, looking out across the tawny-brown waters of the Gulf, the morning mist against my face, I thought of that rainy morning that God called her Home. I remembered Mama’s low, raspy breathing. How quiet and still she was. And how warm […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME – I Never Had It So Good! January 22 2022
Twenty-five years ago, the early morning air was thick with the smell of melting frost. Dusted with shards of sunlight, the ice glazed everything it touched with a kaleidoscope of prismatic colors. As I stood, looking out a window of Ochsner’s Intensive Care Unit, little did I know that come day’s end, the frost would […]
Dispatches from Home – Father’s Day 2019.
For those who knew my father, you know how gregarious he was, never meeting a stranger. Boy! Pop could talk, but only when he had something to say. Otherwise, he was hidden behind the latest issue of the Daily Error, as we old-timers loving call our local fish wrapper. If not reading the […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: THE ELECTION November 2020
I am thankful that the elections are over. Perhaps now we as a country can begin to heal. Let us put all rancor, hate, and violence behind us and move forward. Congratulations are in order. MR. BIDEN you’ve been elected by a majority and the Electoral College—a wounded nation looks to you for […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME – The Ship of Dreams April 2020
By this time one-hundred and eight years ago, the real ship of dreams, R.M.S. Titanic, was no more than a twisted wreck, surrounded by a graveyard of people’s lives, memories, hopes, and dreams. Ever since my Dad and I watched the 20th Century Fox movie, “Titanic,” one Saturday afternoon in 1966, I’ve been mesmerized by […]
Dispatches from Home – The Dream June 2019
Early this morning, I had the strangest dream that I’ve had in recent memory. In it, I was sitting on the banks of a placid, indigo-blue lake. In front of me, a velvety carpet of verdant green grass, dappled by the sunlight shining through the trees, slowly sambaed its way to the water’s edge. Pairs […]
Dispatches from Home: Titanic 25 Years Later February 2023
Twenty-five years ago, it was a windy, cold afternoon. I stood in a long line at the picture show with a massive crowd of strangers. After purchasing my ticket, I found my way to my favorite seat, under the projection booth window, and nestled into the seat’s turquoise-blue upholstery. Then I waited, waited with anticipation […]
Dispatches from Home – Pop and the Polar Bear June 2023
My father loved to travel. His two favorite means of travel were the family auto or by train. Planes were a last resort because Pop loved to see the countryside. Two of our road trips by car are acid etched in my memory. One was in 1964 when I was 12. We were gone three […]
Dispatches From Home – The Book of Proverbs April 2020
In a country torn apart by race, anarchy, murder, and death, the Book of Proverbs is a good read for those who long for wisdom in these dark days. Even if you believe the Judeo-Christian Bible is nothing more than a book of fairy tales or at best, a quasi-history book, it can still be […]
Dispatches from Home and London – The Day the Queen Died. September 8 2022
Good evening from London. We went to Westminster Abbey this afternoon. I was awestruck by its majesty and grandeur. Sam and I decided to go our separate ways while in the Abbey. Later in the day, I went looking for him, and found him in the tomb where Elizabeth I was interned. With an ashen […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: A Friendship Remembered July 2020
Who’s the chubby kid standing near the orchestra, I asked while sitting in the choir loft of Gulfport’s First Baptist Church? Don’t you know, replied a fellow choir member? His name’s Keith Ballard. He’s singing the boy soprano part in our cantata. And thus began my friendship with Keith. He was in the 6th grade, […]
Eleven Years Ago – Katrina: A Remembrance.
It was hot–very hot–on Saturday, August 27, 2005! While sitting in a wicker rocker sipping iced coffee and enjoying the cool of my balcony, I observed over two-thousand people running along Gulfport’s picturesque 2nd Street. Along the way, homeowners had set up cooling stations comprised of frozen bottles of water and garden hoses spraying a […]
Dispatches from Home: London Calling September 1 2023
By this time, a year ago today, I was on Delta flight 4874 bound for Atlanta. Later that evening, I flew out of Atlanta on Flight 0032 bound for London’s Heathrow Airport and the fulfillment of a fifty-five-year-old dream. The 1960s British TV show, The Avengers, instilled a dream in my heart. And my dear […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME – 131 + 43 + 4+1 = 179 Titanic memories.
While recently waiting in line for some eye meds at the local apothecary shop, I spotted what I thought was an old friend of mine, who seemed to whisper, “Please don’t leave me here. It’s been so long since last we met.” I didn’t and quickly picked up the reissued National Geographic magazine that initially […]
DISPATCHES FROM HOME: I WANT A MAGICAL SHREDDER FOR CHRISTMAS!
On Christmas Day, 2016, the sunlight slowly melted the delicate tracery of the morning frost hugging the rooftops on dear ole Wilson Drive. Little did I know that would be my last Christmas with my “mom.” Why the quotations? Although Mom was not called Home until 2019, Christmas 2016 was the last time she was […]
Dispatches from Home – 125 Years!
On a Sunday evening in the hot summer of 1966, my dear parents and I joined Gulfport’s First Baptist Church. As we walked down the aisle, and the pastor, Dr. William Tanner, greeted us, I was fascinated by the greenish-amber stained-glass dome soaring over our heads. I was fourteen. That walk and that decision is […]