We’re two days into my favorite time of the year. Ruth’s a year older than me until the end of May. In spite of her advancing years, she’s holding up pretty well. This is her diamond anniversary. No, I didn’t buy her diamonds, but at seventy-five, it’s her diamond year. I am taking a public …
Category: Family
March 30th
March 30, 1975, changed my life forever. Our first child, David, was born. Back in the seventies when a baby was born, it was potluck. There were no procedures for determining if your child was a boy, or a girl, or if they would have all their parts. You got what you got. While it’s …
He Turns One Today
Our youngest grandchild, Jackson James, turns one today. Ruth and I have traveled to California to see him four times this year. Our latest trip was last weekend. He wasn’t aware his birthday was a week away, so we celebrated a bit early. When you’re only one- year-old you have no real sense of time. …
Pocketknives
When I was ten or eleven, I played my first game of Mumbley-peg with my cousin Gene. Being four years my senior, and a pocketknife toting teen, he showed me the ropes on several of life’s major issues. Mumbley-peg was just one. He was the closest thing I had to a big brother. We played …
Car Trouble
“Brady’s fine.” Those are words you want to hear; however, you suspect there might be a “but” coming. There was. Brady rolled his SUV a couple weeks ago and the first words out of David’s mouth when he called to tell us were “Brady’s fine. He rolled his car but came out of it without …
Autograph Seekers
BZ Tebo, AKA Elizabeth Tebo, signed several copies of her book, “The Elephant on Aaron’s Chest”, during her book debut yesterday. It was well attended. Her mom and I are extremely proud of her accomplishment. Witnessing her book signing reminded me of the time I took my grandson, Brady, to meet the former major league …
A Father’s Perspective
I’m going to a celebration next Saturday in California. Our daughter, Elizabeth, has published a book and it’s making its public debut that day. “The Elephant on Aaron’s Chest” is thirty-six pages long, contains two-hundred and eighty-nine words, and took fifteen years to write. You can’t rush perfection. Elizabeth is a licensed clinical social worker …
Kentucky Cash
The 1920 Census determined for the first time that more Americans lived in cities than in the country. The margin was a narrow – 51 to 49 percent – but it was a key turning point in our nation’s history. There was an agricultural depression that lasted the entire decade and kept a noticeable divide …
Roots
Part of my family roots are embedded in Kentucky. My mom and Aunt Ruth were born in Smiths Grove. Their parents, Margaret Louise Walker and Carter Harrison Barner, were born there as well. In fact, several generations of Barners and Walkers came from Kentucky. One of my cousins traced the Barners back to John Barner …
Bronze Baby Shoes
Bronzing baby shoes has been a tradition for over 75 years. Mine are a fine example. Mom had them bronzed, took me to a professional photographer, and assembled a small shrine in my honor. I think she did the same for my sister, Sharron, but I have no recollection of my youngest sister, Jackie, having …