Author: Tony
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The Walking Maple
Out of the early morning mist he materialized, for all the world like a phantom of folklore. As my eyes adjusted to the sight, the feathered edges became more distinct, the shadows lightened and the silhouette of a man stood before me. He was some distance off yet, but my eyes, sharpened by instinct, took Read more
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Drifting With Granny
I will never forget the late summer afternoon when my crazy Granny Tharpe proved that she was ahead of her time by having the top part of her left ear pierced. You know, just like all of the young folks do today. Only Granny did it way back in the mid-sixties long before it was Read more
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Off The Beaten Path
I half expected to run headlong into a woolly mammoth. The little valley I found myself in actually appeared to be that untouched, that pristine. It was early May several years ago when I first discovered this treasure. I had noticed something on the map that intrigued me. So I figured the coordinates, picked up Read more
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The Haitian Boy
When I first stepped off of the little plane, the blast of tropical heat mixed with the underlying acrid odor of post-earthquake Haiti hit me like a brick wall. I had prepared myself for this but for once the reality was stronger than the anticipation, and a wave of fear went through me as the Read more
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Grandpa and the Blues Harp
I can’t recall the exact date. The best I can figure, it must have been somewhere around the middle of June back in 1967 or there abouts. I was eight years old at the time, spending the summer months with Granny and Grandpa Tharpe. As I recall it was a pretty morning. The sky was Read more
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Great Uncle Wilkie’s Light
Let me tell you a bit about my Great Uncle Wilkie. First and foremost though, let me make it clear that he was my great uncle by marriage. If I was blood kin to him, I would never admit it for fear of being banned from proper society. Uncle Wilkie was indeed one of the Read more
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Having A Smoke With Momma
When I was thirteen years of age, the Rowell clan lived in a couple of single wide mobile homes way out in the woods a few miles outside of Lexington. The older trailer house was for my brother Mike and me, and the newer trailer was for mom and dad and my little sister, Janie. Read more
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Dear Mom
It has been over twenty five years now since you left us. It seems like yesterday. I remember the last time I saw those emerald green eyes of yours looking into mine. As you drifted off into your final sleep, I hugged you and while looking in those eyes that had watched over me for Read more
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Tāšu
I sat a little back from the group, watching. My chair had one front leg a bit shorter than all of the others, so I had to lean back on two legs to keep motion sickness at bay. This set me back just enough to observe without interfering too much. It gave me the proper Read more
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“Don’t Be Afraid”
As the dawn breaks and the mocking birds sing one last chorus of praise in the night; the morning breeze brushes your cheek and the scent of wisteria mixed with just a hint of yellow jasmine comes to you on the air. The mockers grow silent as a menagerie of their fellows take up the Read more