On Second Thought

When I was nine, I performed math tricks for my dad. He would mention several numbers and challenge me to calculate the sum for his buddies. Most times I succeeded. Considering my audience, I admit this was a low bar. About 20 years later, my Uncle Joe shared his company’s latest invention, hand-held calculators by Texas Instruments. Very soon, my […]

November was quite a month at our house. My husband, Marty, and I have become the benefactors for two dentists, and we’re crossing our fingers we will be invited to spend at least one weekend a year each at the seaside villas we are bankrolling for these fellas! A few streets off the ocean, our dog Charlie’s vet will be […]

We were sitting outside a TGI Fridays on the third Saturday in October 1992, not far from Neyland Stadium. The crowd was festive. Servers were busy and large screen TVs were everywhere. Our group included my son, Chad, and I, along with his mother and her sister, Brenda Jean. Brenda and her daughter, Debbie, had traveled to Chattanooga for a […]

I want to meet the writers and directors of all of these holiday movies that are on every station at this time of the year! I want to know how they think the fella who shows up with one box…ONE box of decorations, is going to cut it? Apparently the writers want us to believe their character has stored said […]

The first Friday in December is Arbor Day in South Carolina, signaling the start of tree planting season. Why not add an ornamental native tree to your garden that is easy to grow, thrives in full sun to part-shade, adaptable to well-drained sandy, rocky, or clay soils in a range of pH levels, moderately drought tolerant once established, and requires […]

During my childhood, there was much to worry about. There were no urgent care centers, no monstrous medical facilities, or informational websites. Scary sounding maladies triggered our nightmares. Without reliable information or nearby medical care, wild rumors and scary possibilities dominated outdoor activities. Lockjaw dominated every playground conversation. The only thing scarier were tetanus shots, which prevented lockjaw. Mad dogs […]

I absolutely LOVE this time of the year! In a peculiar sort of way, I’ve always associated autumn with new beginnings and the cleaning of slates. Sort of an “out with the old and in with the new” kind of thing and that, along with the matchless beauty of the season, is a win-win for me. I grew up as […]