This Reminds Me

Every family has its stories.  It’s one of the attributes that defines a family.
I grew up with stories of my Hoosier mom – Wyoming – and her three sisters – Arizona, Oklahoma and Nevada – plus their four brothers – Hugo Denver, William S. Hart, Texas and Kirby.   My mother’s father – a despicable hillbilly [...]

Monday, I celebrate 30 years at AT&T.  People are losing bets all over Houston, where I started.

5′11″ no more….Hannah is taller than me now.  And as for 150….well, maybe in each thigh…..  Here’s what I look like now.

For my corporate anniversary gift, I chose diamond-crusted bling .

I love the big analog dial.  I [...]

Keith, Lois and Hannah bugged me for years to read the “Harry Potter” series. They always devoured the latest edition within a day of its release. Me?   I perpetually stalled.   My reading time is limited, and there always seemed a more enticing book at the ready. Keith finally goaded me [...]

Summarizing your life in six words.
Can you do it?
Lois read this book last week, then insisted I read it.  Hannah quickly snatched it.   We alternated reading our favorite six-word memoirs aloud before deciding to compose our own.  Drum roll, please – here are our original creations:
I didn’t let you depress me. Keith,  a [...]

Just in case you were wondering what Ted Nugent sounds like when he’s playing the National Anthem at the home of Texas liberty – the Alamo.

Keith was one of the 16,000 at the San Antonio Tea Party last night.  I would have loved to have gone, but someone had to manage the home front.
Keith’s video reminded me [...]

My bedside book now is The Lost:  A Search for Six of Six Million, the account of a Jewish writer’s search for the final fates of six relatives fallen victim to Nazi brutality.  The author can really tell a story.  I’m not Jewish, lost no family in WWII and yet I am captivated by this [...]

Hustling out the door at work today to catch the bus – which we take to save money – I heard a few phrases droning from the lobby TV about auto makers needing “more bailout.”  Their pensions aren’t secure, curse the luck.  Of course, AT&T quit contributing to ours years ago.
I checked my 401K balance [...]

I’ve always liked hanging out with people better than myself.  Fortunately, they’re easy people to find.  Smarter - happier - more godly – prettier - quicker - better organized - deeply generous – people.
I marvel at many of my friends who make such differences at food banks, hurricane shelters, free clinics, Sunday Schools, student mentoring, etc.  And now I have [...]

I haven’t been very happy this week.
I’m disappointed at the majority of the election outcomes.
I’m having to chant the tiresome, “Respect the office” mantra my elders taught me.
I’m not sure how I’m going to avoid acute media barfitis for four years.
But.
Still my country.  My county.
Still my flag.  My flag.
And now my Brownie in its color guard.

Keith’s mom will sew on [...]

Lately, I’m remembering the line in “Terms of Endearment” when Flap (Jeff Daniels) says to his mother-in-law (Shirley McLaine), “You always seem to forget your manners around me, Aurora.”

“You’re not special enough to overcome a bad marriage” is my absolute favorite movie line.  But that’s for another time.
I think we’ve forgotten our manners this election.  [...]