Category: The Sunday Sermonette

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 from Deception.” It reportedly took the […]

I remember many things about my first day in Mrs. Broadus’s First Grade classroom at Fernwood Elementary School in Biloxi. I was very excited about starting school! Mom and Dad packed my leather school satchel with Pink Peral erasers, a pair of little metal scissors, a box of #2 Ticonderoga pencils, a 68-count box of […]

In life, while carving your way through its stone-hard architecture, there are times when you must struggle to see the fresh light of day. But, in the end, when you do, how delightful it is to peek back through the stonework of life and be happy you kept on carving. Ponder this and go forth. […]

Another year is passing, A new one now awaits. Say goodbye to all your sorrows, Be taught by your mistakes. Keep modest your resolutions, Let simplicity rule the day. Pray for peace and love, Keeping hate and evil at bay. Pray for those you cherish, And those who’ve lost their way. Lift up the hurt […]

Greetings. I wrote the following journal entry while visiting Granny when she lived in Jackson, Mississippi, at 214 Boiling Street: “Christmas ’72 has come and gone. Mom, Dad, I left for Granny’s house early Christmas morning and spent the night with her. She looks well and is in good spirits. I did not feel very […]

One of the greatest joys of Christmas is shared memories. I enjoy hearing Christmas stories from my family and friends. The excitement in their voices as they carefully unwrap their memories is truly heartwarming. As they do, the moment overflows with loving Christmas traditions, precious memories, and the magic of the season. Now that Mom […]

For many of us, just hearing the word Christmas brings back memories of earlier days, special places, and people we love—some of whom may no longer be with us. Do you remember the twinkle of Christmas tree lights shining on Shiny Brite ornaments? The scent of cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove? A warm, gooey […]

     For years, Christmas Day meant piling into the car with Mom and Dad, heading west along roads both familiar and new. After Dad was called Home in 1997, Mom and I kept the tradition alive. One Christmas in the early 2010s, before time began to steal pieces of Mom’s memory away, we rode north […]

“Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening—the last evening of the year. In this cold and darkness, there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and with naked feet…. She crept along, trembling with cold and hunger—a very picture of sorrow, the poor little thing!” Thus […]

The old WWII song, “Accentuate the Positive,” comes to mind when 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, […]

On a beach walk last week, I spotted a pair of rubber boots, their newness glistening in the afternoon sunshine. Peering inside them, I discovered some toothpaste, hand sanitizer, soap, and a spray can of deodorant. There was also a five-dollar bill tucked into the mix.      Often on my walks, I see homeless people shuffling […]

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 posted November 27, 2022)

     As the sparkling chandelier dimmed in Biloxi’s Saenger Theater, I had no idea what the musical Cabaret was all about. Then, a slow syncopated musical vamp filled the theater, and suddenly the screen came alive with a misty montage of partying people.      From one corner of the screen, a diminutive Master of Ceremonies, […]

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. Have you ever thought of yourself as being a lighthouse? The painful events of your life, which you endured and that educated you, could serve as a lighthouse for your […]

Throughout history, many things have been deemed worthless, only to be valued later. Some seemingly useless things helped change the world for the better, shed new light on the past, or fill our eyes with beauty. Let’s dig around in history’s trash bin for some worthless things. “Ha! Throw that worthless trash on the floor!” […]

A Special Sunday – We took communion at church this morning. The observance was not much different than all the other observances of communion. But today, as in times past, it was – for me – a special time. It was a time to come before the Holy God of the universe – the same […]

    I love a true story, and here’s one I hope you find of interest. It’s about a group of women, The Forty Thieves, who, swathed in sable and mink, wearing diamond rings as elegant brass knuckles and stylish hats to hide their stolen wares, earned the respect of London’s most feared underworld crime bosses […]

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 […]

     “In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit.” Like any good writer, J.R.R. Tolkien knew that an eye-catching opening sentence is what captures a reader’s curiosity. In his “Lord of the Rings” saga, the reader instantly wonders what a Hobbit is, and why it lives in a hole in the ground.      […]

Many historic Firsts have cascaded down the corridors of time. Many were awe-inspiring. Many have improved mankind. And many were downright astonishing. Come, let’s take a walk down time’s dusty hallways. The first printed book was the Gutenberg Bible, printed in 1450. The first hourglass, instrumental in keeping time, was invented in the 8th century […]

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 its lavenderish, diaphanous wings, rapidly beating the air. With that in […]

Dear Ones, please think of yourself when you read this. Father God gave me the words, and now I give them to all those who are struggling in these fascinating but frightening days. Big hug. When doubts and fears arrive, and darkest shadows fall, When hope seems a mist, if even there at all. When […]

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. Originally posted October 23, 2022)

The Sunday Sermonette- Beauty Born Of Pain. 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 […]

     In the apocalyptic days that followed Hurricane Camille in 1969, I was thankful for many things. Thankfully, our little house in the College Park Subdivision was not damaged, although we had many downed trees. Most Coastal residents couldn’t say the same, though. Due to Camille’s tornadic winds, her tsunami-like waves of water—or combinations of […]

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. Today, ask Him to hum its tune […]

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 love, like old friends and dear […]

Tis the season for ghosties and ghoulies and things that go bump in the night. One of my many fond memories of my college days was the Haunted House in the creepy, cobweb-infested attic of Ross Hall on the campus of William Carey College, now a University. It was created via the Theater Department and […]

“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 lurk, waiting for the right moment […]

Having lived off and on in the same house for over sixty years, its walls echo with memories—some make me laugh, others tug at my heart, and a few are burned (literally) into my mind. My childhood Sundays were wrapped around a peaceful routine. Mom, Dad, and I would come home from church, and upon […]

The Temple Mount’s Southern Wall, the Great Pyramid, the Parthenon, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Lincoln Memorial—what do these monuments have in common? They each began with a cornerstone. This stone guaranteed the alignment of the edifices of these magnificent buildings. Since the days of old, builders have used cornerstones in their building projects. It […]

     When I was a child riding in the back seat of Dad’s 1959 Nash Rambler, I often looked out the window at the mountainous clouds climbing upward toward Heaven. In my childlike mind, the clouds were my best friends, charming me with cloud pictures of fascinating creatures, flying ships, and laughing giants, all waving […]

In the 1970s, Wednesday Night suppers at dear old 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 conversation. […]

Several months ago, I trimmed Mom’s sixty-year-old nandina. With my trusty shears, I slashed away with all my might. Imagine my horror when cleaning up my mess, I saw a bird’s nest in the pile of branches. I picked it up. Thankfully, no eggs or baby birds were nestled within the woven architecture of its […]

    Remember this old story? At the dawn of the last century, a weary missionary made his way home after decades spent in Africa. He poured his heart into sharing Jesus’ love, offering comfort and mercy wherever he could, and telling others about the plan of salvation. Yet, after forty years, not a single soul […]

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 of disbelief or belief, I […]

Resurgence After Evil. In many hearts, Evil lies!         It crouches and lurks in the darkness, awaiting a prize. Wicked whispers haunt its every thought,     It cares little for the suffering it has wrought. Evil laughs at the families it has crushed,    And is thankful for the voices it […]

In the late 1950s, Mom, Dad, and I lived at 5204 Greater Avenue in Biloxi. The late summer nights were warm because our house had no air conditioning. Lying in my little bed, I fell asleep to the steady rhythm of the attic fan. Many nights, as sleep hovered in both eyes, I took one […]

It had been forty years since my last mission trip with FBC Gulfport, so I was definitely due for another. My time in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, turned out to be a real blessing for me and everyone who went. I’m grateful I had the chance to go. Before we left for Spruce Pine, I […]

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 poor choices—my choices, not anyone else’s—my life, as in a dream, was squeezed between […]

The backwaters of time are teaming with precious, lost moments. Those moments flash before our eyes and then sink into the quicksand of memory. Quickly seize the moments that God bequeaths to you today. Once gone, lost forever. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally posted August 14, 2022)

“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 questions created to examine what made […]

THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE – 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 pink cotton […]

Mom, Dad, and I moved into our brand-new house in June 1962. And nearly every Saturday since, it’s been dusted and vacuumed. A few months back, I hosted a small gathering for a few dear friends, and one of my guests exclaimed, “How do you keep everything so clean and dusted?” I told him that […]

No matter how many times Life chops you down, you can always begin again. The new beginning can be difficult, though, so never give in, never give up. Talk to God and Jesus. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they […]

Early Christmas morning, 1958, I dashed to our Christmas tree to see what dear Santa had left during the night at 5204 Greater Avenue, the address of our little house in Biloxi. It was a damp, cold morning, with a drizzling rain that lacquered everything it touched with bone-chilling dampness. Our old floor furnace roared […]

The Sunday Sermonette – Pocahontas and the Polka. Pocahontas Maria Price! Was she a thrilling character in a dime-back novel? A femme fatale hiding behind a fan of feathers and lace? Or Native American Royalty? No. She was my great-great-aunt on Mother’s side of the family. Her mother, enthralled by the deep friendship between Pocahontas […]

     My crusty, old Uncle Charlie from D’Lo, Mississippi, never threw anything away. Having lived through the tough, rough times of the Great Depression, he learned to value things long after their newness had worn off. I recall visiting him in the 1960s, then again in the 1970s, and once more in the early 1980s. […]

Due to the broken pieces of yesterday, sometimes it’s best to dance in your own fantasy than to drown in the quicksand of reality. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally posted July 31, 2022)

In the 1950s, Gulfport’s Angelo’s Italian Restaurant was nationally known for its spicy spaghetti and meatballs, scrumptious stuffed flounder, and delicious salads. Owned and operated by Mr. Angelo Xidis, it was THE place to dine. Many a Sunday after church, Mom, Dad, and I would savor the food and take in the restaurant’s atmosphere. As […]

Trains, planes, airships, ocean liners, fast cars—the 1930s had them all, along with major players on the world stage. Mussolini promised to make the Italian trains run on time. In the depths of the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt promised a “New Deal” for all Americans. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain promised “Peace for our time” […]

“Andy, what is another word for dictionary that starts with G and has eight letters in it?” Mother asked, sitting calmly 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 August, and August evokes memories of […]

If you stroll through the arched simplicity of St. Peter’s Church in Wormleighton, England, tucked away in a hushed corner lies a charming piece of history—cat paws preserved in the church’s 12th-century floor tiles. Something tells me that the furry feline who wandered over the freshly laid clay knew instantly that it had wandered too […]

Mississippi’s own William Faulkner wrote: The past is never dead. It’s not even past. That may well be. However, your past should never dictate your future. Past mistakes or failures, where you come from, or who your family is—don’t let these things dictate where you are going. Talk to God, He can help. Ponder this […]

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 and didn’t come up, but oh, […]

     To paraphrase the Bard, “February is the winter of my discontent.” It’s my birthday month—another year older. Then there’s Valentine’s Day—nothing special there. And lastly, it’s the month of Mother’s passing. So, you can imagine my joy when dear friends invited me to cruise with them aboard Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas in […]

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 groan, and to complain. Oftentimes, that […]

The last few days have been a tad trying. Lest we forget, Father God and Jesus are with us at all times, though. With us as we stand on exhilarating mountaintops and stumble through treacherous valleys. Always there, never leaving us to traverse life without confidence. Without security. Without the peace that surpasses all understanding. […]

When I was a child, I spent many happy summers with my sweet Granny from D’Lo, who, at that time, lived in Jackson, Mississippi. Many a summer morning, I’d look out my bedroom window at her plum trees, hoping that by some mysterious alchemy in the night, the tart, yellow-green plums had turned a juicy […]

     What would my 50th Theatrical Anniversary be without some discussion concerning costumes? From evening tails to afternoon formal wear, from tattered Victorian dressing gowns to dapper 1930s golfing attire, and from long, flowing night shirts to just BVDs, I’ve worn a myriad of character costumes. One in particular stands out.      In the winter […]

Do you have a favorite chair? My mother did. It was more than a piece of furniture; it was her sanctuary. It sat by the window for years, its sturdy arms enveloping her in a cocoon of peace and security. That chair, her confidant and companion in the later stages of life, remained steadfast as […]

Performing on Coastal Stages over the past fifty years, I’ve worn my share of theatrical masks and makeup. Portraying Camelot’s Merlin required a long white beard, a mane of white hair, and over-the-top eye makeup. Cabaret’s Emcee called for jet-black hair slicked back with hair oil, long fake eyelashes, ghostly white skin, a dash of […]

Sometimes, accepting God’s NO requires more faith than His YES. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally posted June 19, 2022)

            Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son is among the most touching in the New Testament. The son in the story represents a person living in rebellion against those who loved him. The son insisted on living his own life and demanded that his father give him his inheritance early. When his father […]

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 amber, our little friend was […]

     Fifty years ago this month, I was bitten by a bug. I was not the first to be bitten and certainly wasn’t the last. Fifty years later, though, that bug bite has not healed. The species of bug? The Theater Bug! And even after much theatrical water has flowed under many theatrical bridges, I […]

When it comes to revenge, a good rule of life is this: don’t rejoice when those who hurt you suffer. Don’t take revenge on those who do. Seeking revenge only ruins your peace of mind and may increase the chances of future retaliation. The Book of Proverbs states: If your enemy is hungry, give him […]

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 buffalo, those dried-up tangles are icons of the Old West, and they amble along wherever the wind […]

Life’s highway is not always lined with perfumed roses and sparkling sunlight. There are dark alleyways, treacherous curves, and ominous dead ends at every turn. These often lead to hurt, pain, and disappointment. Dreams are crushed, too. Or are they? Louisa Stead, born in Dover, England, in 1850, and immigrated to America in 1871, always […]

    In the summer of 1965, I was introduced to the Gulfport Recreational Center, which once stood where the downtown fire station now stands. I took art from Mrs. Effie Gridley and gymnastics from Mrs. Jackie Hinds. I loved painting and enjoyed doing backflips on the trampoline. However, wheel throwing, the art of shaping clay […]

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? That really doesn’t matter if you are […]

Some soldiers lie in hallowed ground, Beneath rows of crosses white. Death can no longer touch them, With his blackened wings of fright. Others lie in less hallowed ground, Beneath the hard, cold sod. Their final resting place unknown, Except by Holy God. Yet, soldiers are still called today, And by their duty bound, They […]

Have you ever thought how challenging blindness is? Once, in playful mood, I donned a sleep mask that tightly covered my eyes. I also tried a scarf around my eyes. I was thrown into utter darkness. Slowly, I carefully moved around the kitchen, into the living room, down the hallway, into my study, then back […]

     For as long as I can remember, Saturday mornings at the Kalbergs’ house were busy. Clothes needed washing. The lawn needed mowing in the summer and raking in the winter. And the house needed cleaning from “cellar to dome.” At least once a month, Mom’s sterling silver had to be polished, too. Sitting on […]

Often, as I was leaving lunch to return to work, my dear mother would leave me a note in the supper she had packed for me. This note has been in my old theater make-up kit since the late 80s. Now it’s time to write Mom a note for Mother’s Day, 2025. Here’s wishing all […]

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 words, but the godly escape such trouble.” Honesty is so important in life. […]

It has been said that “Necessity is the Mother of Invention.” The spread of smallpox in 18th-century Europe necessitated an invention to cover up the disease’s horrid, pockmarked scars that riddled the faces of those who survived it. The invention was a new type of makeup, and it became a fashion statement that everyone wore, […]

A weekend in the country is always a delightful experience, especially if it’s spent with dear friends. Many years ago, I spent a weekend like that, and the food, the banter, and the remembrances of days long gone were truly refreshing. Over the weekend, we went exploring, traveling the backroads, marveling at grand mansions, abandoned […]

Church should be a hospital for hurting people seeking peace and answers, not a museum for saints. Go forth in love. (Originally posted April 24, 2022)  

“Jesus died the death we deserve, so we might experience the forgiveness we don’t deserve.” I’m thankful that He did. Thank you, Precious Lamb of God, dearest Savior. Here’s wishing my FB family and friends a joyous Easter! Big hug.

On the night Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested by the Pharisees, He and his Disciples celebrated Passover, one of the Jewish religion’s most sacred and widely observed traditions. It began with a Seder meal. The word Seder, in Hebrew, means order. During the Sader meal, there is a specified order in which the […]

“He had no servants, yet they called him Master. He had no university degree, yet they called him Teacher. He had no medical degree, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He never fought any military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified […]

Spring! The cold, dark days of winter wither away as the warm days of Spring burst forth in a spectacular display of color and sweet smells. Spring, a season of unparalleled beauty, when all nature seemingly comes back to life. Flowers greet us with bouquets of lovely blossoms. Trees sport new, crisp, yellow-green leaves. And […]

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 also hounded by trouble. They often turned to God to help solve their problems, but it was too late. They […]

     In the late 1960s, there were only three television stations along the Mississippi Coast—from New Orleans and the Coast’s WLOX. Now, from my easy chair, I have a myriad of stations from which to choose a night’s entertainment. YouTube is one, and Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration is one of its delights.      Last week, […]

Do we ever stop maturing? Maturity is a delicate dance between what you know and what you still need to learn. It is not measured by age but by experience. One of maturity’s milestones is when you stop complaining, stop making excuses, and start making changes. Change is not easy. Ask God to help you […]

Endurance is as scarce as hen’s teeth these days. Most people lack the long-term commitment needed to stick with a challenging task. Learning to endure, to see the task come to fruition, is difficult, but once mastered, it is one of life’s greatest lessons. How well I know. Many years ago, I agreed to direct […]

In life, it is not enough to avoid what is wrong—we must actively pursue what is right. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally posted March 19, 2023)

In my seventh year, Dad said, “Come on, son. We’re gonna watch a movie…” Sitting on the floor in front of his Zenith TV, I watched the movie, which began with a flourish of sentimental music. I was quickly whisked away to a land filled with quirky characters, a vicious tornado, happy Munchkins, and a […]

My sweet Granny from D’Lo once told me, “Andy, you’ll never miss the water until your well runs dry.” Hard, true words indeed. Another of life’s hard-learned lessons is this—you’ll never understand what you’ve lost because you never understood what you had. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally posted March 12, 2023)

You remember poor, old Job, don’t you? There, he was in the lap of luxury. Rich. Comfortable. His family large and successful. He was healthy, and life was good. He was righteous and faithful to God, too. He was truly blessed! Then, suddenly, his life took a turn, and Job lost it all. When all […]

On my way to work that morning, Spring 1993 announced its arrival with a wash of magenta azaleas, the spring green of new leaves, and the noisy chatter of blue jays. As I sat at my desk, the sweet morning air from my supervisor’s window across the hall drifted into my office. The strains of […]

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. They had to be reliable and honest about what they saw and what they reported to their commanders. And they had […]

In the chaotic months following Japan’s unconditional surrender on September 2nd, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri, there were thousands of people from all walks of life still living in horrific conditions in Japanese concentration camps in China. In an effort to return imprisoned American citizens to the United States as soon as possible, The U.S. […]

The misty, musty halls of history are filled with lies and liars. One of the most adroit liars of the 20th Century was Joseph Goebbels, who was the Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. His title allowed Goebbels to control the arts, radio broadcasts, and newspapers. Through them, he inundated […]

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 pink cotton candy and hot […]

      Have you ever heard of Middleton, Mississippi? If you have, you’ve dug deep into the state’s history. In 1938, the Works Progress Administration stated that the only evidence of Middleton’s existence was a weed-and-vine-encrusted graveyard deep in the woods of Montgomery County. But once, it was a bustling town that gained a reputation as […]

      We may have longed for it in December but got our wish in January. Last week, we were reintroduced to snow, the rarest of Gulf Coast weather occurrences. The fluffy, crystallized wonder lacquered everything it touched with its shimmering whiteness.      While sipping a cup of cocoa and sitting by the living room window […]

     As I watched the news coverage of the tornadic fires in California and the biblical flooding in North Carolina, I could not help but think of the days following the great storm of 2005, which struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast with its own apocalyptic demon of destruction. In all three instances, people’s livelihoods were […]