We were a bit perplexed … stunned, really … when we poured into the Mule Barn truck stop coffee shop at the crack of dawn and saw our fertilizer mogul, Dewey Decker, in earnest conversation at a booth with his girlfriend, Emily Stickles, and they had papers on the table wedged between the coffee cups [...]
Irma has it figured out. She’s a bona fide, egg-laying member of the “Production Red” hen sorority and she knows her rights. This is really remarkable when you consider the braincase of your average barnyard chicken is wedged between some feathers and those big expressionless eyes and has about the same capacity for rational thought [...]
We buried Marshall Sprack last Saturday, and we will miss him. Ol’ Marsh was the cheerful old-timer who could be seen each day walking his two tiny dogs around the neighborhood. He always had a smile and wave for everyone. He was a very private guy, however. We all knew him, but didn’t really know [...]
It occurred to me the other day just what a blessing it is to be a grandfather. The children think we’re all powerful, a fount of knowledge and wisdom. Then they turn three … We could all use coot lessons. Yes, the enigmatic old coot in every small town like ours has wisdom corralled, knowledge [...]
Do you feel that itch coming on? It’s time, you know. See the kids out flying kites? That’s a sign. See little green bladelets in the lawn. That’s a sign, too. It’s almost full spring, and that itch tells us it’s time to do something. This is when we need to forget almost all our [...]
“I believe I’ll write some Celtic music,” said Dud one morning at the world dilemma think tank down at the coffee shop. “I’ve been studying it.” “I didn’t know you were Celtic,” Steve said. “I’m not, but I do get occasional bouts of depression and that qualifies me. I’ve thought about it a lot. Maybe [...]
“I believe I’ll write some Celtic music,” said Dud one morning at the world dilemma think tank down at the coffee shop. “I’ve been studying it.” “I didn’t know you were Celtic,” Steve said. “I’m not, but I do get occasional bouts of depression and that qualifies me. I’ve thought about it a lot. Maybe [...]
The weather warmed up the other day. On the weekend, where it would do the most good. And Dud Campbell dressed warmly and went out for a walk. His eyes saw our town, the old, dead, brick drugstore on the corner with the clock that hadn’t worked since the invention of daylight savings time, and [...]
