Don’t step on my blue suede shoes

“Well, it’s one for the money, two for the show, Three to get ready now go, cat, go But don’t you, step on my blue suede shoes.” — Rock and roll standard written and recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955. It was a hit song for Perkins in 1955 and for Elvis Presley in 1956.

When I can’t breathe!

In the heart of East Texas where I live, where the pine trees whisper secrets about what could have been and the sun casts a golden hue, I encountered a homeless man whose untold story of loss tugged at my heart.

I still don’t like needles

“But the mere sight of a needle makes me pass out, I can’t even knit!” — Mrs. Betty Slocombe’s character in the 1977 film “Have You Been Served.” “On a scale of one to ten …,” the nurse began. “Pain? About a one or two,” I responded. “On the stupid scale, about an 87.

Pancho Villa’s surprise attack on border town

In the wee hours of Mar. 9, 1916, peasant guerrillas cut a hole in the international fence 60 miles from El Paso and scurried toward Columbus, New Mexico. A desperate Pancho Villa had launched the first armed invasion of the United States since the War of 1812.

Elvis comes to Texas and goes home The King

E ighty-eight thousand paying customers packed the Astrodome on Mar. 3, 1974 for Elvis Presley’s two sold-out performances, his last at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. “He went off to Texas and came home famous,” Elvis’ mother once marveled early in her son’s incredible career.

Another day, another cat-astrophe

Toby, old boy, you’ve really done it this time. To be honest with you, I’m really surprised you’re still alive. “I know, I know. And for the nine lives of me, I have no idea what I did wrong. I was just being me. I can’t stop being me, you know.” Are you serious? You don’t know what you did wrong?

How can women bridge the retirement gap?

March 8 is International Women’s Day, a day for celebrating all the accomplishments of women around the globe. But many women still need to make up ground in one key area: retirement security.

A walking stick for leaning

Nick (not his real name) avoided me, for the most part, except to intimidate me by spewing ugly words. And even though he offered horrible phrases, I’ve longed he might trust in Christ.

Hoop dream

Factor This is usually a busy time of year for me, and it has been as such this year as well. Currently, soccer, baseball, softball and track seasons are underway. Basketball is in the thick of playoff season not to mention coverage for the Steel County Bee.

The passing of neighborhood stores

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” — Well-used term, credited to French critic Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr (1808 - 1890) ------ Taking stock of what has silently disappeared over time, I thought about neighborhood grocery stores last week.