Category: In “What Would Granny Say (and Other Somewhat Embellished Memories)
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The Sabbath
I will never forget one blazing hot Sunday afternoon a long time ago, when I wanted a Coca-Cola and I wanted it bad, but Granny didn’t have any. So being the first rate pain I was, I determined to get her to drive down to the store a mile or so away to get me… Read more
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We Ought To Be Committed
My Granny and Grandpa Tharpe were avid Atlanta Braves fans even through the bad years. Make that, especially through the bad years. I will never forget as a child sitting in my Granny’s old house, nestled safe and sound under one of her hand crocheted afghans sitting and watching the Braves lose. Night after night… Read more
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Tug of War!
It was a searching look I saw before me. As I gazed across the divide between us, I discovered that the eyes of my opponent were reaching into mine, trying to gauge my strength, my resolve, my determination. I returned the favor and got little reading. His eyes were veiled, as were my own. I… Read more
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Integrity
I have often talked and written of my Granny and Grandpa Tharpe, my mom’s folks, as I have tried to relate what truths I could from the Word of God. I have mentioned Mom and Dad, as well, and some of the lessons that they taught me that helped produce the man I am today,… Read more
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Broken Pieces
In the early spring of 1999, I disremember the exact date, my brother, sister and I headed down to Panama City, Florida to meet with my father and several other members of the family to say a few words over my Momma and finally lay some of her remains with the remains of her parents,… Read more
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The Bear Whisperer
It was one of those days just made for hiking. The temperature was hovering around 65 or so, the wind was light and the air enjoyed that particular brand of clarity that only comes from a combination of altitude and last night’s rain. As I walked, the sunshine filtered through the poplar and sycamore leaves… Read more
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What Would Granny Say
My Granny Tharpe was not what one might consider proper in the way society defines proper. She was a bit gruff and a bit tough and altogether one of the neatest people I have ever known. She was such an odd combination of tenderness and toughness, of kindness and strictness, of femininity and don’t mess… Read more
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Whiskey Slough
Whiskey Slough is a magical place for me. It’s filled with mystery and mosquitoes, memories and moccasins, alligators, allegories and the cool green shade of summers past. When life begins to weigh upon my soul, I often find myself journeying back some fifty years or so to a memory nestled beneath the outstretched arms of… Read more
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Diamonds and Stones
At last I had found peace; peace and quiet and a calmness of spirit that I hadn’t felt for a long time. It was late summer back in 2006, and my ordeal of prostate cancer was almost over. At least the surgery and acclimating myself to the changes in my life were nearly over. That… Read more
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What and Why
For coming up on thirty years, I have been hauling my carcass all over the world doing mission work of one kind or another. I just love it. I have been on medical missions, construction missions, rescue missions, disaster response missions and disaster recovery missions and have been greatly blessed each and every time I have… Read more