Give me that old time religion

On September 22, 1871, an elderly British lady, 82 years of age, was ushered into her heavenly reward. Earlier, in 1835, frustrated at being an invalid, left her feeling useless and questioning her very salvation. What young Charlotte Elliot did next would echo throughout history.

High quality time

Ispend most of my mornings the same way these days: sitting and talking to my folks. I come across it honestly. We moved into our current home back when I was in junior high school. From that time until she passed away, my “Big Mama,” my father’s mother, was our neighbor.

Life no bed of roses for Bob Wills

Bob Wills was inducted on Oct. 18, 1968 into the Country Music Hall of Fame, an ironic honor since the King of Western Swing never thought there was anything “country” about his sound.

Please check your guns at the door

I’m a Texan, but I choose never to pack a sidearm on my hip when I go to Walmart because frankly I’m not afraid of being waylaid by the organic summer squash or the bag of beans I plan to cook later tonight alongside a big skillet of cornbread.

Don’t leave your IRA to the IRS

If you’ve invested in an IRA for many decades, it may well turn into a key source of income for your retirement. Still, you might not deplete your IRA in your lifetime, especially if you also have a pension or a 401(k) and other investment income.

From death row to life

An inmate gave me a view into death row ... and beyond. A few years ago, I met an inmate who once sat on death row. Years prior, his sentence was changed from death row to life in prison, and it happened about ten minutes before he was to go to die. Now, that’s something that takes my breath away!

On wings like eagles

Over my lifetime I have traveled a lot, flying friendly skies for work and leisure. This past weekend I took a long weekend trip to fly and visit family. The visit part was great … but the skies, after many years of not flying, weren’t as friendly as I remembered.

Maybe I’ll bake a cake

“Oh, well, a-bless my soul, but what’s wrong with me? I’m itchin’ like a man on a fuzzy tree My friends say I’m actin’ wild as a bug I’m in love … I’m all shook up.” — 1956 Song lyrics by Otis Blackwell Someday, I want to be a column writer. When I grow up. Wouldn’t it be amazing?

Escaped convict turns over a new leaf

After Joe Horner’s battle with the buffalo soldiers on Oct. 11, 1874, the wild young outlaw seemed headed for an early grave. Who could have imagined that half a century later he would be the guest of honor at a state funeral in Oklahoma?

And now in space news:

This past summer, India became the fourth nation to land a vehicle on the moon. Its soft landing was a testament to India’s ingenuity, imagination and patience.