Category: This and That

Greetings! It’s 12:43 AM, and outside, the wind howls, the rain pounds, and the lightning flashes. Please remember that in the storms of life, sometimes all you need is for someone to put their arm around you and hold you in the rain. Big hug. (Originally posted on Facebook, May 16, 2022)

Greetings! “The Royal Family” closed today, and by Tuesday this week, everything in the snaps below will be back in the box. Thank you, Wayne Stephens, for these wonderful snaps!! Set Design–Chuck White. Bruce Berry–Set Construction. Set Dressing–Anthony Kalberg. Now you know what I’ve been doing for the past few weeks. Interesting thing about the […]

Greetings! The 1974 film “The Great Gatsby” is my favorite movie adaptation of Fitzgerald’s iconic novel. It paints a lush backdrop for the greed, cynicism, and the mindless pursuit of pleasure that are key themes in the novel. Hovering over this backdrop is the pain of unrequited love. Robert Redford, as Gatsby, is shown here […]

Greetings! I love a good walk to the beach. And today, mercy me, it was a cloudy, blustery day, Christopher Robin. I love the feel of the wind fluttering through my clothes. I love the smell of the sea and the cool mist as it hovers overhead. Love hearing the crunching oak leaves beneath my […]

Greetings! Goodness grashus! What a raucous, fun time was had last night at the Kalbergs’ palatial estate in the Hood. I think it is safe to say that our sides are still sore from laughing so much! Gather a gaggle of thespians together, and their stories—some true, some embellished, and some suspicious—are sure to entertain. […]

A thought on this lovely, sunshiny morning: “The tide recedes but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand. The sun goes down but the gentle warmth still lingers on the land. The music stops, and yet it echoes on in sweet refrain. For every joy that passes, something beautiful remains.” Author unknown. Big hug, y’all. […]

Greetings Ladies! “In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it. You’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade!” I saw this creative chapeau at the D’Lo Haute Couture Spring Fashion Show and thought of y’all. The title of the show was “Takin’ what you got…Makin’ what you can!” And if you do, […]

Greetings1 Saturday night with dear friends! Lots of laughs and delicious food! Most of all, precious memories in the making! Thank you to our hostesses, Jannie and Joyce, for their delightful repast. As the Book of Proverbs says: A sweet friend refreshes the soul. Big hug! (Originally posted March 23, 2024)

Greetings! This snap brought tears to my old eyes. The caption read: “An evicted mother, a matchbox maker, with her two children. Bethnal Green. East London. 1890.” I titled it: “One chair. A bundle. One lamp. A table. Two children. One mother. And no place to go.” Did she find somewhere to live? Did her […]

Greetings! Og, the leprechaun, and I wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day! It’s hard to believe he and I met at the Sanenger Theater in 1984, during the Mississippi Gulf Coast Opera’s production of “Finian’s Rainbow.” Haven’t seen him since. I miss the old boy! But I don’t miss all that green makeup. (LOL!) […]

Greetings! Here’s to you, my dear friends. I raise a glass to old times, old memories, and old days. May Father God bless you today and in the future. Big hug!

Greetings! With the world in freefall over the coronavirus, let me say that I’m being proactive, washing hands, etc. I don’t ever remember the world in such a panic. I’ll not be a part of it. HOWEVER, if I contract the virus–I am old–and keel over from it, you have my permission to inscribe this […]

The brilliant intellectual Stephen Hawking stated: “We are each free to believe what we want and it is my view that the simplest explanation is there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate. This leads me to a profound realization. There is probably no heaven, and no afterlife […]

Thought for the day: People are like stained-glass windows. They glow and sparkle when the sun is shining on them. But when the sun goes down, their true beauty is revealed only if they have a light from within. Big hug, y’all! (Originally posted February 2021)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – The Bard wrote: “The quality of mercy is not strained.” Mercy is something that has to be freely given; no one can force someone else to be merciful. Merciful people show kindness to others without regard to who they are. They meet needs without asking questions. Merciful people care. And […]

There will be many expressions of love on display today. One may be a vase of fragrant flowers splashing brilliant colors around the room. Perhaps a red, silk-covered box of delectable Ghirardelli chocolates may be given. Or, a De Beers diamond will delight with its prismatic beauty. But there is a greater love, a higher […]

Laissez les bons temps rouler! Goodness grashus, what a swell time I’ve had this Mardi Gras season! Fun times with dear friends, fantastic food, frilly costumes, and the merriment of the season. All of it was made possible by His Royal Majesty and his lovely wife! Thank you, Billy and Sylvia Thornton, for allowing us […]

Greetings! Ever run a long race? With sweat pouring down your face, you dash around the bend, and there before you, flapping in the wind, is the finish line banner. Your legs ache. Your throat is parched. Your entire body feels as if it’s about to shut down…you can’t run another step. But then you […]

Greetings! Same bridge. Same Me. One week apart. Gotta love our winters on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Big hug, y’all! (Originally posted January 29, 2025)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: “If you depend on outside conditions and circumstances to make you happy, then it is extremely unlikely that you will experience happiness on a consistent basis. You can greatly increase the possibility of your being happy by working on neutralizing the beliefs and attitudes that prevent you from having fun or […]

Greetings! Due to the quickly falling temps, I rushed outside and gathered camellias while I may, not rosebuds. The frigid cold predicted for tonight will decimate the camellias’ pretty sisters left on the bush. Why must beauty be so fragile? Stay safe and warm, y’all!

Greetings on this frigid day! Few things compare to the beauty of a Gothic-styled cathedral floating on a shimmering kaleidoscope of light from vast seas of stained glass. In a world filled with crassness, vulgarity, and a complete lack of manners and civility, this inspiring video gives one time to pause and be thankful for […]

Greetings! The Fab Four took the Mardi Gras to Mobile yesterday. And what fun we had! Traveling east, I was able to see the “backs” of all the buildings, houses, and streets that I knew. The train was not full, so we ensconced ourselves in the dining car and held court. The conductors quickly became […]

Greetings on this frosty, sunny morn! Mother always called camellias the Roses of Winter. I picked a few camellias and a few Encore azaleas, and made a little arrangement for the kitchen table; love its simple beauty. As you go through this week, look for the joy that comes from simple things and simple pleasures. […]

Death is inevitable, as much a part of life as is birth. The elderly may long for it. Some find it a relief. But when old man Death comes calling on the young, he is at his cruelest, willfully causing pain and suffering. I learned today that a co-worker, Amber Kuykendall, passed away yesterday. She […]

Greetings! With bittersweet tears and profound sadness, I must report the passing of a dear friend: Gloria Gaines. Earlier this evening, God, in His infinite mercy and love, called dear Gloria Home. Home to Heaven. No more pain–cancer had caused her so much during the past four years. No more tears–she had shed many in […]

Greetings! Mercy me, what a scoundrel I am! Rhonda and Alex invited me over for a grand Christmas Day luncheon. I got to meet her mother, Miss Sandra. We ate a delicious lunch, sipped on bubbly effervescent Mimosas, and laughed away the afternoon! They gave me two Christmas presents: A Queen Elizabeth II tree ornament […]

Greetings! Charles Dickens and I wish my dear family and friends a very Merry Christmas! Please don’t be a Scrooge and remember to keep Christ in Christmas. As the New Year dawns, please remember Tiny Tim’s yuletide greeting, “God bless us, everyone.” Big hug, y’all! 🥰

Greetings! Help! I’m terrible with math. Is my addition correct? A garden hose + a nozzle + an open spigot + 23 degrees = A South Mississippi Ice Sculpture. What say ye? Later Frozen Christmas Gaters! (Originally posted December 24, 2022)

Greetings!     From experience, I know it takes me about a week to recuperate from the draining, emotional high that a play—especially a musical—conjures within me. During that time, the haunting words of Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desire” echo through my mind like a soothing elixir: “I don’t want realism. I want […]

Greetings, on this windy, bleak, rainy day. While going through my ancient theater scrapbook from 1969, I found this old KNS mailout for the 1993/1994 Coastal theatrical season — KNS THEATER, A Little Bit Of Broadway In Your Own Backyard! How true, how true! Hard to believe that season was almost 30 years ago. Mercy […]

This and That – I Dreamed a Dream! I first heard this song over 25 years ago while sitting in a darkened theater with friends. Christmas was just around the corner. Whenever I listen to it, I’m transported back in time to the beginning of one of the most tumultuous decades of my life, when […]

Greetings!. One of my favorite delights is having a meal with a dear friend, regardless of the time of day. Rhonda and I had lunch today at the Chimneys. Two and a half hours drifted by, overflowing with delightful conversation. The air was filled with laughter from those around us and the savory scents of […]

Greetings! Mercy me, what a delightful lunch with the Birthday-Girl! Delicious food at Ocean Springs’ Evergreen Restaurant. A Lemon drop martini…or two. And a cup of kindness yet, for the days of auld lang syne. Big hug, y’all! (Originally posted December 13, 2023)

The snap I’ve posted shows Scrooge’s little world for the past two weeks. Neatly arranged—of course—are the accouterments of his trade, after all. The old boy did his best to entertain the audiences that nightly filled the theater to overflowing. However, he was only a tiny part of the show. Had it not been for […]

Greetings! Oh! How I loved this “gang” of kids. Loved it when they went to the haunted house. Soooooo funny! There’s something else that’s likable about the Hal Roach movie shorts that ran from 1922 to 1944. In a segregated America, the Little Rascals went and did everything together. They ate together. They rode in […]

Greetings! Louie and I put up our little tree. It’s a bright light on this dreary day. He’s putting up his Christmas regalia, but it’s not finished. Oy vey! I can only imagine what he’ll come up with. 😂 Stay dry and warm today, y’all! Big hug. 🥰

Greetings! Well, I’m waiting for Santa Baby to grant all my Christmas wishes. However, as a child, I don’t remember Santa being this wide. (LOL!) Later Christmas Gaters! (Originally posted December 1, 2021)

Greetings! This is my all-time favorite version of Fitzgerald’s timeless literary masterpiece about unrequited love. I saw it at the picture show in 1974 and still have the original movie poster, which I see each time I drive in and out of my garage. Tis true: “Gone is the romance that was so divine.” Here […]

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 […]

Please speak up. What’s that you say? Could you repeat your foolish prognostications? I will what? Grow old? My face will age, lines and creases galore? The bags under my eyes will look like sloshing, encapsulated oysters? My hair will thin, and I’ll end up coloring it to make it look thicker? I’ll gain weight […]

Greetings! “The audience sat in silence before the unwinding of “All My Sons” and gasped when they should have, and I tasted that power which is reserved, I imagine, for playwrights, which is to know that by one’s invention, a mass of strangers has been publicly transfixed.” These were Arthur Miller’s words concerning the audience’s […]

Meanwhile, on the subway from D’Lo to Mendenhall, there’s this. It’s a classic case of who’s more worried about who they’re sitting by. The hairy Jewbaca-Wanna-Be, fearing a purse attack, or the lady with a Russian flair, contemplating a night on the town with him? Please remember to smile today, even on the subway back […]

Greetings! What a fun lunch today at Patio 44. I hear tell that other adventures are in the making. Auf Wiedersehen, my dears! Bonne journée, too. And don’t forget, Honey Child, we’ll take tea on the front porch come spring. 2026 can’t get her soon enough. Big hug, y’all!

Thought for the day: One cathedral of arches and stone is man’s gift to God. The other cathedral of golden leaves and towering trees is God’s gift to man. One shows our love for the Father. The other shows His love for us. Have you thanked Him today for His love? Will you share it […]

Greetings! Succulent shrimp and corn bisque. Melt-in-your-mouth beef tenderloin. Luscious Italian green beans. Delicious Alice Spring Chicken. Grilled asparagus wrapped in tasty bacon. Buttery yeast rolls. Warm apple cake with caramel sauce. Hot, homemade pecan pie with ice cream. And vintage southern table wine…intoxicatingly sweet, sweet tea. Gulfport’s Chimneys Restaurant? Galatoire’s in New Orleans? Nope! […]

And yet another book review from Camilla Coolidge of Gulfport, Mississippi: “Andy, I am bereft – I have finished the book! It will go on the shelf next to my other 5 favorite books – Colleen McCullough’s “Thorn Birds”; James Clavell’s “Shogun”; M. M. Kaye’s “Shadow of the Moon”; Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander”; and Leon Uris’ […]

And the reviews keep coming in! Here’s one from Barbara Blanchard of Gulfport, Mississippi: “Andy, I just stole some time for myself to finish your book. Bravo, my dear! You managed to sustain my interest and suspense till the final sentence! Your story did not disappoint! From beginning to end, well done! Congratulations! Thank you […]

“I just finished this beautiful novel, of which I quite literally could not put down. Some books just leave you speechless – the end creates a void because you truly wish it would never end. (Even though you absolutely must have the closure you desperately seek) My heart is so full that someone I have […]

Greetings! What a fun, cold, windy day it was to be in New Orleans! It was quiet in the Quarter, but, alas, there was not seat one to be had at the Carousel Bar or the rooms around it. So, I took my place beside the great clock in the lobby of the Monteleone Hotel […]

Another review of “A Chasing of the Wind,” by Carol Szymanski, Fine Arts Chairman, Duchesne Academy, Houston, TX. “This weekend I read A Chasing of the Wind. Move over Faulkner, Williams, Welty, and Grisham—Mississippi has a new Southern writer. I give it TWO thumbs up! When you finish, you will feel like you really know […]

Greetings! Oh! By gosh! By golly! It’s not yet time for mistletoe and holly, but it is time for things that go bump in the night! What a fun time I had last night at Terror on the Coast. The cast and crew were out in force doing what they do best… scaring you to […]

Greetings! So, how many promises do you need to keep, and how many miles do you have to go before you sleep? Make this day count. It won’t ever come your way again. Have a great day, my friends. Big hug. (Originally posted October 22, 2022)

Greetings! Three dapper gentlemen await the arrival of the beautiful bride and her beautiful mother. The gentleman with the stylish shades is wearing them because he always cries at weddings. If you pay close attention, you’ll notice the sprig of mistletoe in his coat pocket that he found lying on the ground. Boy! Howdy! Did […]

I always knew that Mississippi was 40 years ahead of its time! At least the folks in Hattiesburg, MS, back in the 70s, were. It took the folks in Michigan 40 years to come up with the same idea, as in this story from the Associated Press that I read in this morning’s local Fish […]

Greetings! A fun time with two lovely ladies. When I count my blessings, I count y’all twice. Big hug, y’all.

Greetings! Forty-six years ago! Where oh where did the time go? To my young friends, enjoy the golden days of your youth. Time races by. And one day, like me, you’ll wonder where it went. But as the days, months, and years pass, keep the memories of those golden days safe in an old trunk […]

While cleaning out an old trunk in the attic, I found this snap. In faded ink, these words were written: “Wow! What a Bachelor’s Party! Never tell our wives what fun we had. Always remember watering the flowers, the fire-ant dance, the “Lady’s Cake,” throwing up in the ice chest, and one wife’s famous last […]

Greetings! What a fun time we had Saturday afternoon watching “A Wonderful World” at the Saenger in New Orleans. The music, costumes, set, and actors and actresses were all breathtaking. When they all went to tap dancing, I thought I was going to jump out of my seat and hit the stage with them. I […]

ATTENTION: A NEW REMEDY FOR BALDNESS AND THINNING HAIR. Create a poultice comprised of these ingredients in equal parts: alum, vinegar, and lemon juice. Vigorously rub said mixture into your scalp three times daily. No, it doesn’t regrow your hair. But in reducing the circumference of your head, this mixture allows what little bit of […]

Gulfport Little Theater’s production of “Family Reunion!” was a hilarious musical written by the amazingly talented Kitty and Neil Stallings. What a fun, fun show it was! And thanks to the equally amazing talents of the director, David Delk, and his sterling cast and crew, it was an audience pleaser — sold-out performances every night. […]

Greetings! My front door’s open, the coffee’s brewing, and the cool fall air is sashaying throughout my old house. Thank you, dear Father God, for this refreshing morning. Big hug, y’all! (Originally posted October 7, 2023)

Greetings! What a fun night was had by all at the premiere of “EnterFear: The Next Wave” at Biloxi’s Premiere Lux Theater. Thanks to Tim Wall and Ryan Reinike for expanding my “movie career.” Strange seeing and hearing yourself on the silver screen. Mercy me! That’s all I needed…seeing my big nose get even bigger […]

Greetings! 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 for help and a […]

Greetings! What a fun time we had last night at Steve’s Marina in Long Beach! The camaraderie of old friends from FBC Gulfport never wanes. Happy times. Silly stories. And precious memories. These make our golden years golden. Thanks, y’all! Take care. Be safe. Big hug. (Originally posted September 28, 2024)

Greetings! My dear friend, Janie Still Walters, sent me this little happy via the morning post. As I age, I’ve found that a sense of humor, being able to laugh at yourself and your foibles, is worth its weight in gold. Gold may pass away, as will your youth, but the memory of a good […]

Greetings! Just returned from a delightful evening with dear friends and a jaunt to the theater. Center Stage’s The Woman is “the story of contented, kindly Mary Haines, a well-off woman living in 1930s New York City. She’s the envy of her friends, with a happy marriage, adorable children, and a comfortable home. Unfortunately, she […]

Greetings, on this cool, crisp day! Here’s a thought: When was the last time you took the time to call, write, or email an old friend, family member, or loved one to tell them how much they have meant to you over the years? What? You never have? Well, today’s the day to do so. […]

As the train whizzes through the countryside, I’ve noticed one thing that both sides of the pond have in common: graffiti. Although most of it’s gang-related, I can look past the gangs and enjoy the talent involved. Yesterday, we toured the city of Durham and its ponderously magnificent cathedral. Of all the cathedrals we’ve visited, […]

Good morning on the train to Durham…I hope. There was some snafu with our tickets while we were boarding. The train was about to steam out of the station, but the conductress didn’t kick us off the train. I hope we don’t end up back in D’Lo. LOL. When we ended up in the next […]

We’re watching the Queen’s funeral on the telly. It’s somewhat surreal watching it all. Two weeks ago, we were simply tourists taking in the Abbey’s ancient grandeur. Today, we watch, as does much of the world, as mourners, witnesses to the passing of the crown from Queen to King and the end of an era. […]

Greetings! I cut my Broadway teeth on this fabulous show, way back in 1984. The massive crystal chandeliers in the wonderful old St. James Theater dimmed, and suddenly the theater was filled with what sounded like thunder. Then, very slowly, the curtain started to rise, and lo and behold, the stage was alive with a […]

Thought for the Day! I don’t know who needs to read this, but please remember: Life’s wounds—death, divorce, betrayal, gossip, severed relationships, hateful boss, etc.—will never heal until you stop scratching the scab. Big hug y’all! (Originally posted September 16, 2023)

How glorious the last two days have been! Salisbury Cathedral is beyond belief. This magnificent House of God, with its soaring Gothic arches held high by clumps of massive columns, their bases surrounded by wreaths of worn roses, boasts some of the most intricate stained glass in the world. The artist’s palette of colored glass […]

Good morning on the train to Salisbury. The lush English countryside is whizzing by at 95 miles an hour. The train’s packed with a cornucopia of different nationalities. So cool to hear their different dialects and see their colorful clothing. As we race through the countryside, I can’t help but ponder what wonders await us […]

Good morning from London! It’s a bright sunny morning. I’m sitting in our hotel’s dining room, enjoying the passing parade of Londoners rushing off to work. I enjoyed my traditional English breakfast…minus the baked beans. (Big smile ) We’re off to Buckingham Palace this morning to see the massive floral tributes to the Queen. I’ve […]

Good evening from London. When I think of England, I think of flowers. From the formal gardens of the aristocracy to simple WWII Victory gardens, dear old England is a garden all its own. And since the passing of the Queen, Buckingham Palace has become one massive floral display. We hailed a taxi to the […]

Good morning from London. The sun’s come out on this Sabbath day. Sam went to divine services this morning at St. Paul’s Cathedral. I decided to attend church in another “cathedral.” I’ve been sitting on a bench in the park across from the Tavistock Hotel, where we are staying, watching the dappled sunlight drifting through […]

Good morning from London! Thank you, Sam, for taking this happy snap just before history took a spin. It was a historic time to be in England when Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away. I’m holding my “Christmas Carol” script. I’ll be in high gear when I get home, preparing for Center Stage’s production […]

Meanwhile, in other news: Some days are diamonds and others are… Imagine my surprise this morning when I opened my kitchen door, and lo and behold, there lies poor, dead Poindexter the Possum. But life must go forward, and so will he, right into a heavy plastic bag and into ye ol’ garbage can. That […]

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 Elisabeth I was interned. With an ashen […]

Good Evening from London! Today I fulfilled another dream. I visited the British Museum and explored three items on my museum to-see list: the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon, the Rosetta Stone, and the Egyptian Gallery. Oh! Dear Gussy! I wandered for over 4 hours in awe at the ancient monuments and statues. Ropes that […]

Good evening from London! Our day in Bath was over-the-top amazing. It was like walking back in time: the ancient Roman baths, Jane Austin’s house, the Royal Crescent, and the jewel in the crown, Bath Abbey. I sat in awe, looking at the stained glass, centuries old, as were the soaring columns supporting the ribbed […]

Good evening from London! Four words say it all: Highclere Castle and Downton Abbey! The house and grounds in person are beyond words. Watching the series on the telly does not do the rooms justice when seen in the flesh, as it were. We were there for six hours! Ate there too. One bit of […]

Good evening from Merry Ole England!!! At long last, I got my phone problem fixed. Yay!!! The plane’s ride over was long, trying, but not too bad. Yet again, I was accused of being someone famous…more about that later. LOL! Big Ben is very big. Parliament amazing. The Mousetrap delightful. Saw the Palace this afternoon…I […]

Fall–cool Fall–come soon! This snap was taken for GLT’s 1999 production of “Celtic Secret.” It was a retelling of Finn McCool and his battle with the evil fairies of the fey. Jonathan Szymanski and Lacey Jones are in the snap, too. I portrayed the wily Finn McCool—King of the Fairies. Don’t go there! LOL! Later […]

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 […]

I picked up this leaf while strolling through London’s St. James Park a year ago today. It reminds me of God’s worldwide beauty. Big hug. (Originally posted September 1, 2023)

FUN TIME! Name the first horror picture you saw that scared you to death…and why. Me? “The Creature From The Black Lagoon!” It was the first time that a body suit was worn to create the monster. When that long, bony, claw-like hand emerged from the water and I first saw the creature’s eyes, I […]

Good morning! I’m happy to report that Louie and I passed a good night. He fluttered around all night, worried about which velvet knee-britches, silk hair bows, and lace cravats to pack in case we had to head north. He’s such a wuss. As of 9:23 a.m., the winds have died down, and even the […]

Greetings! Katrina taught me many lessons. One of the greatest of these was that “church” is more than a pile of bricks, shattered stained glass, and splintered pilasters. It’s the congregation—the smiling faces of the people you grew up with, their love that binds us together, and their inextinguishable hope for a better tomorrow, secure […]

Weston and I were at Disney World in January 2006. The Signs were kind enough to invite me for a little R+R after the great storm of 2005. Hurricane Katrina! Thirteen years ago…hard to believe. The boy’s now taller than me, but true to form…I still have that sweater. (LOL!) Later Gaters! (Originally posted August […]

One month ago, our in-ground pump, which I use to water our lawn, rusted out and had to be replaced. About that time, lightning struck a towering pine tree in our neighbor’s yard, taking out our air conditioning, my answering machine, and my computer. The a/c was up and running by late afternoon the next […]

Goodbye, James Henry: I knew the laugh before I knew the man. It was a bellowing, hoop-of-a-laugh, and I first heard it over 25 years ago at an audition for “Scrooge, The Musical,” directed by Kinard Fite at the Saenger Theater. During the audition, I did or said something silly (imagine that), and it was […]

I love me some Norman Rockwell paintings! They are as quintessentially American as Elvis, apple pie, and baseball. In 47 years with the Saturday Evening Post Magazine, he painted 323 Post covers. One of my favorite covers is simply titled “Gossip.” On the canvas, he painted many people gossiping away on the phone. Ever done […]

Greetings! The year is 1969. The place is Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, just before boarding the Inclined Railway. The reason, a First Baptist Church Gulfport choir tour. Oh! Dear! That hair!! Come to think of it, I wish I still had that much hair! (LOL!) Alas, those skinny arms. Now you know why I never wear […]

Greetings, Y’all!! From our little flower garden, we wish for you a great day! Please remember, there are times when a great day is a choice. That choice is yours to make. Big hug! 🥰 (Originally posted August 8, 2022)

Greetings! I’ve loved classical music since I was a child. I still have my parents’ 1966 Christmas present – Beethoven’s 9 Symphonies. I was fourteen. But of all the classical composers, Rachmaninoff is my favorite! His symphonies are drenched in a sparkling combination of musical fireworks and lush bouquets of romantic innocence. My friend, Ron […]