Before television became a household necessity, a second home for many of us in the middle of the last century was the movie theater. A picture show (as we called it) was easy to find, usually in walking or driving distance from our homes. Dominating the picture-show business during the Fort…

(DISCERNING READER ALERT: This column was published on Sept. 23, 2018)

Do you ever wonder what makes people tick? Why they behave the way they do? These days, I wonder about that a lot – exactly what drives human behavior.

Hispanic Heritage Month is here, so let’s assess the impact of the growing Latino population on Texas politics.

The current generation of children have been severely handicapped. Many kids have helicopter parents and are not allowed to roam and play in their neighborhood. 

The year 1940 ushered in the most successful football program in Lee history to date. Dan Stallworth had been head coach at Horace Mann in 1939 and was promoted to Lee that year, assisted by Red Bale who had been coaching there since 1936. In 1938 Lee was one of several schools which refused…

In last week’s column my appraisal of chow-chow, a popular relish, may have been unfair. Apologies go out to all chow-chow fans whom I may have offended. Writers are supposed to write about stuff they know about, and, truth be known, I don’t know diddly about chow-chow. 

(DISCERNING READER ALERT: This column was first published on Sept. 20, 2002.)

Back when Greg Abbott was attorney general, and running for governor, he used to say, “I go into the office in the morning, I sue Barack Obama, and then I go home.” 

As I was getting ready to go to the grocery store the other day, I asked my husband what he needed to add to the list. He told me we were getting low on toilet paper. That triggered a memory that took me back to last year when we had the toilet paper scare; when people, for some crazy reason…

The 20th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks has passed, and American forces have finally left Afghanistan.

We keep wishing for our lives to return to “normal,” meaning “like it used to be.” So many of us went home and may never come back to this building and the congregation of brothers and sisters that we used to attend every Sunday. Many churches lost steam when in-person services shut down. 

Something that drives kinfolks and friends crazy is that I’m picky. Sorry, but I’ve always been that way, nitpicking on matters big or small and at times – according to those who have my number – on nothing worth worrying about.

(DISCERNING READER ALERT: This column was first published on Dec. 3, 2001.) 

I am not going to open with the cliché of “I remember where I was when…” even though technically I just did.

Ordinary days. We pass through them before we realize there are way more piled up behind us than there are ahead. As I was puttering around the house doing, well, something ordinary, I thought of the title of a book by Ann Howard Creel, called, “The Magic of Ordinary Days.” Is there magic in…

The state of Texas passed a law outlawing abortion after six weeks into a pregnancy. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to rule on the law, and Texas clinics are complying for now.

Now that everyone is back in school, you will have a great year if you are fortunate enough to have teachers who are unique. They will dare to be different, will teach outside the box. Maybe you will have a French teacher who will make you want to go to France. Or an English teacher who lets…

Pruett Park was the Tri-Cities athletic field from 1920 to 1927, used for football, baseball, rodeos, boxing matches, and public meetings.The night after the last football game was played in November 1927, the goal posts were burned in a ritual marking the close of the stadium. Robert E. Lee…

As September begins, my summer plans fade away. I had many. Starbase. Fredericksburg. 

(DISCERNING READER ALERT: This column was first published on Aug. 22, 2006.) 

A week and a half ago, Sun reporters devoted a good amount of ink to local transportation stories.   

Last week my husband and I celebrated 58 years of marriage, a.k.a. wedded bliss. Well, it is that also, but not all the time. Much hard work, compromise and love has gone into staying the course these 58 years. 

The Ganders started the 1924 season in fine form with an eye on the state title under new head coach V.E. Earp. They were good in every position except quarterback and advertised in the newspaper to fill the position, saying that “any good fast man that wants to play at this position would b…

Imagine sitting in a chair, but feeling like you were off to your own private adventure. 

(DISCERNING READER ALERT: This column was first published on Sept. 7, 2007.) 

Donald Trump had to know it was coming, even if -- to use a Bible Belt expression -- he was preaching to his choir. “You know what? I believe totally in your freedoms,” he said, at a rally in Cullman, Alabama. “You got to do what you have to do, but I recommend: Take the vaccines. I did it -…

The effects of aging can be seen on our physical body, but what about the brain that powers that body? Encased in the bony cradle of the skull, it is not visible to the eye. But, when it is not functioning as it should, the body certainly shows it. 

Now that school back in session, parents of high school juniors and seniors need to start thinking about the cost of college. Grandparents who are footing the bill are in the same boat.

“What did you learn in school today?”  Is there a question in history that has been asked so often and produced so little information? Response is often, “Not much” or, just a look as if your child doesn’t compute. Maybe you get a puzzled look or a blank stare.