Working with an eighth-grader on his math homework my brain is aching for a mental salve to ease the pain. There’s been a slight but steady decline of math knowledge since my last bit of formal education. And the math I use on a frequent basis is more inherent than adhering to established educational modes; in other words, I see the answer but can’t tell you how I got […]
This is the eulogy I gave at my father’s funeral in November, 1993 at St. Anthony Church, Eunice, Louisiana. His smile always started out with his eyes big and wide; then his mouth would make this big round “O” and he would begin to chuckle. His eyes would then get real squinty and his mouth broke into a big, toothy grin. That’s when you knew you had just been the […]
One of my guilty pleasures was watching the uninitiated experience full-frontal Ronnie for the first time. You never knew exactly what Ronnie would do, but you knew the victim’s reaction would be one of shock, disbelief and finally the realization that he just met someone he’d never forget.
I don’t think there’s ever a wrong time to begin to take a reckoning of one’s life. I’m sure my kids think that at my age my affairs should be in order. So, contrary to past practices I may just start listening to them. Well, if there is one thing that will definitely keep me from getting into heaven it’s that banjo I stole from a nun. Yes, that’s correct. […]
Remember psychology class in college? I exhibited every symptom of every mental disorder discussed. I was schizophrenic, manic-depressive, anal-retentive – a veritable psycho ward all inside my head. Last April I was given the diagnosis of prostate cancer, so I was still reeling from that reality when a new pain appeared. At first it was just a dull ache in my right bicep, but still strong enough to wake me […]