Columns

 Since our move here to “the home place,” which is an Amish term used for the homestead where the parents used to live, we have been blessed with the opportunity to host some large church gatherings and events.   This week was an occasion as such when we had our annual hog butchering.

The drought is over. It has now rained enough everywhere that the USA is soaked. Lakes are filled and yes--I’ve had enough. It was raining about everywhere on my recent road trip to Miami, Florida and points in between. In between rains it was very hot.

There are some basic truths about life that little children have learned, some of them the hard way, such as: 1. No matter how hard you try, you cannot baptize a cat. 2. When your mom is mad at your dad, don’t let her brush your hair. 3. If your sister hits you, don’t hit her back.

Why do we celebrate the nation’s Independence Day with fireworks? I tried to do some research on this and all the information I came up with was about the flag and how the words to the National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, came to be written. Why fireworks to celebrate?

Walking is often deemed the cure-all of what ails those of us who have reached a certain milestone (birthday) in our lives. But not everyone agrees. Here are some facts forged from reality. 1.

It’s easy to lump today’s teenagers into one cell-phone crazy, foulmouthed, selfish, rude and poorly attired group. After all, that’s the image that is projected to those of us with fond memories of when children (of all ages) did what they were told. Period!

by John Bill Martin The English teacher in me keeps finding unique ways of dealing with construction of the English language and some different ways of looking at it.

By John Bill Martin Staff Writer Hi handsome. My name is Rose. The first day of a new college year our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know. I stood up a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

We were dressed and ready to go out for the New Years Eve Party. We turned on a night light, turned the answering machine on, covered our pet parakeet and put the cat in the backyard. W e phoned the local cab company and requested a taxi.

Wessylyne, the fourteenth child of Emily and Wesley Alford, was born near Clearview, Oklahoma. Her schooling began at Little Hill Elementary School in Okfuskee County. She graduated from Clear-view High School in 1948 as class Valedictorian. She received her B. S.