Oliver's Twist

Save Your Strength

My dad fought in World War II. He never talked about it. The only story he ever told was something that happened on the way over to Europe. The ship he was on had a boxing tournament, and Dad won...

A Picture of Love

Kristin was buried today. She was 19. She had been in and out of the hospital her whole life, but she finally lost the battle. At her funeral, there were pictures of her, and trophies, and ribbons, showing the triumphs...

Give Me a Bump, Lord

I got too close. No other explanation for it. The bees were flying, I was nosy, and I got in their flight path. So several of the girls reminded me to keep my distance with a little head-butt. They had...

I Surrender

I have started making the dreaded New Year's resolutions. As usual, diet is near the top of the list, as it is for many Americans. Then, there is the one about working harder, and the one about learning to speak...

Doing the Do's

Last night I was talking with a friend about the church and its reputation in town, and at the same time we both said, "Unfortunately, we are known for what we don't do." We did not mean that we should...

What's in a Name?

I was born in West Virginia. My grandmother was Maybelle Hatfield, before she married. One of my Hatfield aunts is married to a McCoy. Nearly everyone in the USA has heard of the historic feud between these two infamous families....

At Our Best

One of my favorite movie lines is from the movie Starman. Sitting in a coffee shop, the alien looks across the table at the human and says, "Do you know what we find the most beautiful about you? You are...

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

For the July 4th weekend, I joined six fearless ladies from Highland Street in Memphis for a weekend on a 50-foot houseboat. When we left Memphis, we were sure of only two things: We had a cook and a captain,...

In the Cleft of the Rock

He was lost. The desert stretched before him, endless, dry, forbidding. He wiped the dust from his forehead. His sweat evaporated immediately, leaving only dry salt that irritated his face. He saw it coming. The wall of sand raced toward...

When I Was a Child

When I was a child, my mother made me wear big white socks that she had worn until they were too stretched out for her. They were so big I had to put rubber bands around the tops to hold...

The Case of the Inerasable Tool Bar

"I have this tool bar that I can't get rid of." "Go to View, Toolbars, and unclick it." "It won't unclick." "Go to this site and download their software. It will find it and remove it for you." "I am...

An Hour's Wage

It was late. He had arrived early that morning, before anyone else. It was just a spot in the road, indistinguishable from any other spot. But soon it was crowded with men. The young ones were snatched up first. Off...

The Life of a Bee

The bee stung him right on the thumb! He just brushed it off, puffed a little smoke on it, and went on with his lesson. This past weekend, I participated in a short-course for beekeepers. Two mornings of classes, and...

A Tale of Two Fisherfolk

The man gets up early in the morning, goes down to the bay, tosses his seine out into the water, and catches a net full of minnows. He puts them into a tank and sells them to fishermen (and fisher...

Home Again, Home Again

Wow! I have been home for two weeks already! I am just now coming out of the fog of jet-lag and holiday-company-overeating-lag. We left Tasmania on November 12 and spent Thursday in Singapore repacking for Myanmar (Burma). Singapore is sort...

Speak English!

[Editor's note: Barbara is in Myanmar (formerly, Burma) where Internet access is restricted. She asked us to post this latest entry.] G'day Mates! How ya going on? Feeling like a bit of tucka? Just grab a cupa, and Bob's your...

From Sea to Shining Sea

Ok, hang on. This is going to be a fast trip. It has been a while since I have been able to get on line, so here is a synopsis of the travel to Tasmania. We left Bangalore by train...

Bangalore

Rain! After a month of being in India, we have finally run into some rain. Funny how something so simple can bring such a feeling of normalcy, of all's-right-with-the-worldness. Bangalore is a city of about six million people, near the...

Kakinada by Train

Monday, October 11, 1:36 am, I struggle to put on my socks and shoes, climb quietly down from the top berth. I sneak quietly past a sleeping J.C., notice that Betty has disappeared somewhere in the night. I pick up...

Don't Laugh!

India is a diverse country with 28 states and 7 union territories. There are areas in the North East, near Bangladesh, where foreigners are not allowed to travel, and in other areas special permits are give out judiciously. We often...

Third Eye Blind

Today (October 2) is a holiday in India. It is Gandhi's birthday. The streets, normally crowded with people going to work, are nearly deserted. Bicycle rickshaw drivers sit idly along the side of the road. Busses zip by, not stopping,...

There's a Cow in the Street!

As I explained last time, the traffic here is horrendous. The larger streets have a median. The street, by the way, has no lane lines. Since no one even pretends to stay in a lane anyway, it makes perfect sense....

India Revisited

I found a new internet cafe. The last one I was in was up some rickety steps in a little room that did not even have a ceiling fan. With temps in the 90's, it was hot! On the way...

In India

Finally, an internet cafe! Well, the last time we talked, I was worried because J.C. took the back seat out of the van so he could get more luggage in. Betty rode to the airport in the back of the...

Under Way

I have to warn you - I am a reader, not a writer. When I write, I get bored! So I usually have pity on fellow-readers by not inflicting them with my writing. Now that you are sufficiently warned: First...