Some of my good and faithful readers recall what seems like a decade ago when I told you my tale of preparing to get dentures for all the teeth I had.  That meant sitting in the dentist’s chair for more than four hours on April 13.  I had no idea what I was getting into–and contline to endure.  This means this has now gone on for more than 22 weeks. That means 22 weeks of almost no solid food, except some grilled fish.  It means way more liquids than anything else.  While milkshakes can sound yummy from time to time, too much of anything becomes wearisome.  Honey ..read more

As I write, it is Tuesday night, September 14, 2021 and the big election news is a recall election in California where an effort is being made to recall Democrat governor Gavin Newsome. His primary opponent is Republican Larry Elder, a right wing talk show host and attorney.  All I know about Elder is that he is a frequent guest on Fox News.and a die hard Donald Trump fan.  And he has taken a page from Trump’s playbook and proclaimed that he is a victim of THE BIG LIE.” In fact, Elder’s website carried a statement on Sept, 13 claiming that he lost the Sept. 14–EVEN THOUGH THE VOTE HA ..read more

Editor’s note:  More info from the 2020 U.S. census was released this pat week.  While it shows a profound impact on our future, it did hot seem to get the scurrility it deserved..as it definitely has severe political consequences as to how diversity will play out. The New York Times has a brief, but well-done, article that deserves you attention.   ..read more

You can’t get to Panola, AL from here.  In fact, it’s hard to get there from anywhere. But I have been.  Even been to church here.  And a barbecue.  It’s tucked back in the pines just off highway 17 on the west side of Sumter County.   Some say it has about 400 residents.  Truth is I’m not sure anyone is counting.  The same can be said for Danzy or Warsaw or Geiger. It’s been the home of my friend Clyde Marine for decades.  His daughter Connie is just a few hundred yards away.  Clyde is 95 years old now.  Without doubt, one of the most int ..read more

Editor’s note:  From time to time I share info about my son, Kevin in Mobile. Unfortunately he has an inherited medical condition that greatly impairs his respiratory system.  Consequently he has spent “high alert” for the last year regarding Covid-19.  He went to great lengths to obtain a vaccination.. Now he is very perplexed at the attitude of his fellow citizens as to the need to be vaccinated.  Not only do so few have concern about their own health, they don’t value the lives of others much either.. Certainly his perspective is unique, but is worthy of considerati ..read more

Editor’s note:  How any of us keep our sanity these days is a question I ponder each day.  Between the confusion and mis-information about Covid 19, seven months of claims that Donald Trump got more votes than Joe Biden last November and that January 6 was a “love in” at the nation’s capitol is enough to make anyone doubt their mental capacity.. Then, we happen upon this article from The Washington Post that describes how a high school class took on a project that has brought joy to a young couple and for a few moments we once again realize this world does have things ..read more

I am always pleased to hear from readers–even those who disagree with me.  But lately, every one I hear from is just like I am–dismayed that people have resisted getting vaccinated against covid-19.  Many are old enough to recall when polio swept the countryside. Richard Davis of north Alabama recalls,  “I had polio in the fall of ’48 and spent 18 months in Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. Left shoulder and arm severely limited. In the fall of ’54-55 school year the Salk polio became available. I was the first child in Marion Co to get the vaccine and was the poster child for ..read more

In the spring of 2020, when Americans realized the severity of Coronavirus, we did what we have always done.  We went into action.  Overworked health care workers were genuinely saluted as heroes. ladies all over the country pulled out sewing machines and began hand-crafting face masks, ordinary citizens lined up to volunteer any way they could. As we watched numbers of infections and deaths soar, we stayed at home, wore our masks and prayed. It was the country at its finest.  When one is in danger, we are all in danger and we rallied to the cause, in whatever small way we could ..read more

Lord have mercy on those misguided souls who honestly believe there is value in watching Fox News.  There is none since the truth is the farthest thing from their mind. The Fox business mantra is obviously, “there is a suckier born every minute”  who will believe anything we tell them–the more outlandish, the better.  So they fill the screen with a collection of air-heads, some of whom may actually think they are journalists and act offended when another network calls their bluff.. A year ago the country was making great progress on containing coronavirus through the develo ..read more

While Bushfield Cemetery is in Covington County, it lies hard against the Butler County line about three miles southeast of McKenzie. It’s been the final resting place for settlers for more than 150 years,. All four of my grandparents are there.  Grandpa Lee’s daddy, Janes Kenyard Lee is there. His daddy, James Madison Lee is not there because he marched off to Vicksburg in the Civil War and never made it home. I’ve been there many times, some times to attend a grave side service, often just to wander and look.  As long as I can remember, I have always marveled at the scores of infan ..read more