I reckon I need to begin with an apology. Things have been a bit busy of late and my posts have suffered. I find myself answering E-mails inquiring if I am still among the living. Well believe it or not, I'm still kicking. But I fear there may be one or two out there that... Continue Reading →
“Stumbling Blocks” or “Stepping Stones”
As I write these stories my fervent hope would be; they become as real to you as they are to me. I want you to know the boys,see they're home town when you close your eyes, even feel what they feel. That statement may seem a bit "campy" but please dear reader, do me the... Continue Reading →
The Troublesome Red Head and his Family
David Byrge; Better known as "Stick" by most. We're gonna look at his family next, what forces came together too forge such a personality. As parents, I believe we often forget that our kids are (for lack of a better comparison), tape recorders of a sort. They spend their young lives constantly recording anything and... Continue Reading →
Is there really a “Normal” family?
As promised, here is the first in our visits with the boy's families. I thought big David would be a good place to start since his family serves as "home base" for our boys. As a child I knew a big David, and his family was very similar to the David in the books, and... Continue Reading →
“Class Separation” In the Lunchroom
The school lunchroom...never at any time of the day was social status, athletic ability, or academic achievement more glaringly on display. I think we all remember the rules, we all remember our little "click," and we remember there was a social line that "we just didn't cross." In this excerpt, we get the chance to... Continue Reading →
Let Me Introduce You to “The Copper Lady”
Around here we got a habit of classifying any and all manner of machinery as "female." I don't know why, that's just the way it's always been. Truck, car, tractor, still, makes no difference, "The ol' girl," or "Fire her up," are common phrases. If she refuses to start or breaks down, then things get... Continue Reading →
“Hope” Boiled down
In Chapter 31 Our boys find themselves on a mission, alone on a dark road, in the middle of the night, in a cold heavy rain, and scared outta their minds. Tempers were starting to run high and as most of us do, they were starting to doubt themselves. There's a lesson here. If you... Continue Reading →
Time to meet the Witch
Well... here it is, the central theme in the first "Tin Cup Clan" book. I admit I've put the ol' girl off for awhile, after all, there were other subjects we needed to address. I need to begin by reminding all, there are always at least two sides to every story. The Witch is certainly... Continue Reading →
The Measure of a “Best” Friend
How would you define the word "friend." What's required of us to "be" a friend, or to "have" a friend? I reckon those simple questions have perplexed folk for about as long as the good Lord's blessed us with thought. Some say a friend is someone you can share the deepest darkest parts of your... Continue Reading →
School Bus Etiquette: (Just where are we s’posed to sit anyways)
Here's an excerpt from T.C.C. (Mystery of the Leech cemetery witch). Most of us remember the unwritten law of seating on the school bus. Where did you sit, how was the view from your section? This was our section and how it looked from a fifth grade point of view. I hope this brings back... Continue Reading →