Daddy’s insistence on respect from his family made it all the more rewarding when indignities befell him. Daddy was the first the see humor when we found ourselves in awkward or embarrassing situations, but did not like being the butt of jokes. Naturally, we loved seeing him embarrass himself. Daddy worked alternating shifts at the paper mill. Continue reading
Month: April 2015
Kissing Cousins
Bud and I were discussing family relationships with my little old Cousin Kat from a small village in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She was born a Perkins, married a Perkins, and explained there was another group of Perkins living in the same small area, explaining they were all unrelated.
“Weren’t you and your husband and the other Perkins family at least distantly related?”
“Oh no. We are all descended from different brothers.”
“Oh.”
Great Idea! Joke
Her: We’ve been going together seven years. Let’s get married.
Him: Great idea. Who’d have us?
Dozens of Cousins
Neither Corwin nor Kelvin could be rounded up for this cousin picture. They had other fish to fry.
Aunt Essie, like all of my aunts, was a wonder of fertility, if not child-rearing acumen. She had seven of the meanest boys outside Alcatraz. Thank God, her reproductive equipment gave out before she managed more. I thought Mother was just exaggerating when she said they’d all end up in jail or dead before they were thirty. She was wrong. Only four of Continue reading
Ralphie Wins and Loses, Bigtime
Daddy got another phone call from Ralphie, the kid down the road.
“Mr. Bill?”
“Hey, Ralphie. What’s going on?”
“I wrote a poem at school and won a contest.” (On his last phone call, he’d reported making all D’s and F’s and having the papers to prove it)
“Well, that’s great, Ralphie! I’m glad you’re doing better at school.”
“I won first at my school, then at district. But when they took it to state, the judge said it came out of World Book and they threw it out.”
“Well, why did they do that?
“Because it came out of World Book. Bye”
Guest Post: Joe Writes His Wrongs
It is my pleasure to host Joe Writes his Wrongs as my first guest post, Joe is working hard to get his life on track after a tumultuous period. I congratulate Joe and admire the work he is doing. Helping others is definitely the way to go. Good luck, Joe. I know you’ll do well.
Life after prison
As someone who has spent the last 6+ years in prison for non-violent drug offenses, finally there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Continue reading
Guest Blogger lbeth1950
Reblogged from art by Robert Goldstein
“Hell No, I Just Got Here!”
Repost: 
Robby Bobby Peters’ school career didn’t really start well. Sharing the same first grade class as his older brother Frank who was giving first grade a second try, he didn’t really get the big picture. He left his seat and headed for the playground when class got dull. Since Frank knew his way around, he grabbed Robby Bobby, dragging him back to his Continue reading
Butterflies Are Impossible
Reblogging from Anchors and Butterflies
Many of you are familiar with lbeth’s stories and writings. Her husband Bud is evidently a ‘closet’ poet and captured these beautiful thoughts in a poignant piece that has touched my heart for many years. I first saw it as an insert for the memorial service for my teenage son, and it touched the depths of my soul.
To try to control beauty or love is to squash its very essence.
Nutsrok 