[March 19, 2024] Who said the “old days” weren’t wonderful? Back in those old days when outside drive-in theaters were all the rage, our family saw plenty of movies on a giant outdoor screen, usually on a Saturday evening. Hundreds of cars – or it seemed like hundreds – were parked next to a short metal pole with… Read More »
“Hey, drink this.” I was freezing cold in Dad’s jon boat as we puttered down the Ouachita River. The bayou Bonne Idee was closer but Dad wanted us to go where he’d heard the fish were biting. Off we went, my brother Philip and I were on another fishing trip with Dad. Dad seemed to have been born… Read More »
[March 9, 2024] The bayou water was like glass, not a ripple, nothing moving except our aluminum flat-bottom jon boat as it slowly glided along with its silent electric motor. It was also dark out, black as ink. I held the flashlight. Dad navigated the boat. Earlier that day, Dad said matter-of-factly, “Hey Douglas, let’s go gigging.” I… Read More »
[March 1, 2024] Karma is a mean dog sometimes. The first time I’d ever heard of it, I thought “moonshine” was some disease, and after tasting the vile stuff, I had no reason to alter my mind. As a struggling High School student (I wouldn’t say I liked school), I was attracted to some unsavory types. Bad choices,… Read More »
[February 24, 2024] Growing up, we kids never channel surfed on our television set. There was only one clear channel. Plus, we rarely watched television because our Dad set strict limits. One of those rare times we were permitted to watch, we saw the 1941 movie “Sergeant York” on our old black and white. The young man, Alvin… Read More »
[February 23, 2024] I woke up in a sweat, my heart pumping and my mouth dry. It was the same dream I’d had since I was a little kid and before I could remember my dreams. It was not a nightmare, not too scary or crazy, but not uncommon either; it was a frustrating dream that little kids… Read More »
[February 18, 2024] For the gazillionth time, my Mom told me to get my elbows off the table and to stop chewing with my mouth open. Supper time was the most important meal of the day, and everyone in our family was to be there – like a rule – I was told to help by setting the… Read More »
[February 15, 2024] Fanny slammed on the brakes of the School Bus she was driving, and then, as she stood up, she turned around and yelled at us, mostly Junior High School kids from Bastrop. “Shut up with that racket. I can’t drive with all that screaming.” That’s a close quote, as best I can remember, but I’ve… Read More »
[February 6, 2024] Miracles do happen. I’d been delivering newspapers on my bicycle back in my old High School days, just a few blocks from where I lived, and standing next to a green-colored, early 1950s Studebaker Champion car was this older man who looked meaner than dirt and older than Moses. With his shirt sleeves rolled up,… Read More »
[February 5, 2024] A few days before the start of my Junior year in High School, me and a few of my best buddies sat around a large fire pit eating, drinking soda, and yakking it up about whatever we wanted. The conversation strayed to many topics, and most of all, we spoke of girls. All summer, we… Read More »