Entertaining the grandkids

By Joe Rector Our grandson Madden came for his annual summer visit. For two folks who haven’t had children in the house for a few years, keeping up with a young’un is sometimes difficult. For the most part, however, I think the boy has had a good time, and I know his...

Sleep through all this grumbling

By Joe Rector Just like most elders of any time period, I’m having trouble with some of the crazy ideas that folks have created. To be more specific, I’m lost as a last year’s Easter egg when it comes to being “woke.” Perhaps my failure to understand is due to my age....

Porch Light

  By Joe Rector Today’s youth have missed out on so many good things that we old people enjoyed. Don’t tell me how much better life is now because I realize how fortunate we are to have all the technology that supposedly makes things easier. How could we ever...

Porcelain Cat

By Joe Rector I remember when Amy and I were young. We married in December 1974 and moved into UT student housing on New Year’s Day. Our first place was a concrete block box with a concrete slab that was covered with some of the ugliest and cheapest carpet ever made....

Pace yourself

  By Joe Rector Last Memorial Day, the nation was closed down tightly as Covid-19 ravaged even the smallest towns. This year, things were much different. Responsible folks chose to get vaccinations, and enough have done so that we can cautiously come out for the...

Old Cars and Old People

  By Joe Rector I bought a new Pathfinder in 1987. In past columns I’ve talked about that car. The truth is I love that hunk of metal. Too many memories, good and bad, have been made in that car that getting rid of it is unthinkable. Amy isn’t thrilled with the...