Hired help, Dolphin rings and a lesson in contentment I wasn’t born a thief. The first few years of my life I am almost positive I didn’t steal a single thing. Until I turned 6. My aunt Ella was working as a housekeeper and since it was summer vacation, I…

When I was a little girl, I had a VERY unhealthy fear of angels. Yes. ANGELS. From HEAVEN. So if I was afraid of angels with their soft white wings and a direct line to my Heavenly Father, imagine what else I was afraid of growing up! …

The spilled milk of friendship When she threw her carton of milk at me, I knew it not going to be a good day. It was only 7 AM, and we were sitting in the kitchen area of the Girls, Inc. of Hamblen County. I was confused, because she was…

Need to recharge? How about pre-charge? We have all had our share of days where we are filling burned out. Overdue deadlines, noisy offices, even job insecurity can make us feel like we are running on empty some days. And usually when we get to the point of burnout, there…

My favorite movie as a child centered around a group of…ahem…women of the night. that were in danger of losing their shared home. It was 1982 and I was 8. The movie? Dolly Parton’s “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” I did not see this movie at the theater though…

I follow the rules. Mostly. But in the case of Covid-19? As SOON as a vaccine was available, I signed up. And within just a few weeks I found myself sitting in a vacant JC Penney in the Eastfield Mall along with hundreds of other people. By the end of…

I wasn’t born a thief. The first few years of my life I am almost positive I didn’t steal a single thing. Until I turned 6. My aunt Ella was working as a housekeeper and since it was summer vacation, I went with her. She always gave me the same…

My BFF is a Monster (And I had no idea until now) It was over 40 years ago, but I still remember the icing sticking to the roof of my mouth. It was the perfect mixture of shredded coconut, powdered sugar, butter, and just a dab of McCormick blue food…

The 4th of July on Panorama Drive My Aunt Gertrude thinks firecrackers are the work of the devil. She thinks movie theaters are, too. And short skirts. And tank tops. And women who wear a lot of makeup. So I knew better than to ask her for money to visit…