Stories from Saturday, February 8, 2020

Spending a rainy Saturday afternoon reminiscing over congratulatory keepsakes stored in the attic. Clutching vintage Valentines purchased at an estate sale. Sorting through all those shoeboxes of yellowing mementoes in your late great-aunt Sadie’s House Where Time Stood Still...

​Citrus, especially lemon, is such a bright, vibrant flavor that it is perfect to liven things up in the middle of winter. With gray skies outside it brings a little sunshine to the kitchen. And it just happens that citrus is in season during this time of year...

An old adage by Benjamin Franklin says, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.” It seems as if, since the beginning of 2020, we have had plenty of reminders of this prophetic guarantee. The library and the county lost two of our treasured patrons and supporters recently. ...

When Iris Pierce speaks, she follows most sentences with laughter. Iris is 97 years old; she’s upbeat and she’s happy. She has an abundance of joy and a ready sense of humor. Laughing, she said, “I don’t want to live to be 100. I’m afraid I’ll get to where I don’t know anything. But, then I guess I wouldn’t know the difference, would I?”...

Following the resignation of Wartrace mayor Vickie Smith, who served just one year of her four-year term, the town put out the word it was looking for someone who would be willing to serve for the next three years as interim mayor. There were five applicants. Four were people that can be fairly described as the “usual suspects,” and one that fits neatly in the “unusual” category...

Up until mid-December 2019 I was so much in confident column mode I was almost on auto-pilot until I reached a sudden point where my columns started becoming way too hard. Let’s face it. We only know what we know; or we don’t know what we don’t. I knew I was burned out, grasping at straws to get by, but I couldn’t figure out what to let go to free my plate up a bit...

Last Sunday morning, our piano player at church played one of my all-time favorite gospel songs for the offertory hymn. Then, at the end of the service, our worship leader changed the closing hymn to the song used during the offering. After the service I reminded the both of them that I want that song sung by those in attendance at my funeral...