Make the Connection
In the fall of 1955, my family moved from Kansas to a small town about thirty miles southwest of Houston, a place called Alvin, the home of baseball star Nolan Ryan. This was before the two towns grew until they are only a few miles apart. Back then, if you wanted to call someone, you […]
School Daze
In 1949, fences were used to corral livestock, and we didn’t have any. We didn’t need a fence, because crossing the invisible line that marked the edge of our property was unthinkable. Whenever I was outside, Mom was never far away, but I was a “free range” kid, allowed to play anywhere in the yard. […]
What to Do if You Don’t Know What to Ask
Don’t Ask Me In grade school, I quickly learned not to answer every time the teacher had a question. The guys wouldn’t respect me if I appeared to be smart, always doing my homework and paying attention. No sir, I would answer only when called upon. Being at peace with my classmates didn’t always keep […]
Canned Vegetables
As a youngster, I got to help Grandma in the kitchen when she brought in a bushel of green beans from the garden. Snapping off the stem and breaking the bean in half was a skill that even a four-year-old could learn. I looked at the mountain of work and wondered how many people had […]
One of a Kind
For several years, I carried a small stone in my pocket. It wasn’t a diamond or ruby, but it served an important purpose, which made it valuable to me. Occasionally, I pulled it out and showed it to someone. I turned the stone and let the light shine off its colorful, polished surface. “Don’t you […]