The Torn Sole

Josh's shoes were worn, torn. They flipped and flopped when he walked. He thought all the kids could hear his shoes and see his torn soul.

FADING LOVE
by Rebecca "Bo" Clinard Kirkpatrick

This poem by Bo Kirkpatrick reflects on the loss of a loved one.  Love may fade away over time, but there are always moments that jolt the senses to bring the faded love back to center state in the heart and the mind.

Thank you, Ms. Kirkpatrick, for sharing this poem.

Hicks, a local legend in the newspaper publishing business, owned and operated the Monroe County Democrat from 1967 until 1990. During his remarkable career, Hicks won several prestigious national awards including the Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award for Courage in Journalism and The Golden Quill Award for editorial excellence in 1969, and The John Peter Zenger Freedom of the Press Award in 1972. In addition, Hicks and his staff won dozens of First Place awards from the University of Tennessee State Press Association. During his career as a journalist, Hicks worked in various capacities for several newspapers in Knoxville, Clinton, Oak Ridge, and Virginia Beach, VA. Hicks was a 1949 graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Journalism, and served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War.

The Story of Samuel R. Bush
On August 12, 1909 Southern Railway Engineer Samuel R. Bush blew the whistle as his engine left the city at the Park Avenue bridge near his home on Park Avenue. A series of low, soft blasts signaled to his family that he was leaving the city on his daily run north toward Bristol.  Loud blasts would announce his return later in the day.

Friends

This is a twisted little story just for fun....hope my 'friends' don't mind 

Jerry fumbled with the the small bag of white powder
Concealed in the palm of his moist hand.
His eyes followed the steam rising from Drake's
Coffee until they met Drake's trusting face.
Drake spoke:
"Sure am glad to see you again, Jerry.
It's hard to believe . . . Jenny and I had thought
Our best man died four years ago. That's when
We got the last letter from you." A reminiscent
Silence gripped the room for a moment.
A breeze blew in from the adjoining gardens.
"What are you doing these days?" queried Drake.
Jerry glance at his hand.
"Just odd jobs -- for friends."
Drake suddenly leaned forward. "Why don't
You join my company? Good pay -- and I'll 
See that you advance quickly. I'd do anything
For an old friend -- anything. How about it?"
Anything - Jerry paused for a moment. "Sounds great.
By golly, Drake, I think it's a grand idea."
The bag was open.
"Thanks for accepting," said Drake. "I'll go
Get Jenny. Will she be surprised to see you."
"Surprised?" thought Jerry as he poured
The powder into Drake's coffee. "Really?"

I have a confession to make...

During my year as a teacher of VIP math at Byington-Solway Technology Center,  I violated Knox County Schools polity every Friday...hear the story to know how and why.

Mornings are Later Now

Mornings arrive later now; the methodical and predictable strolling of this vast universe through time makes it so. How calm, quiet and motionless feels this seasonal morning that hurls through time with incomprehensible speed and force; we ride along for only a brief moment on its infinite journey. But let us be thankful for our moment to ride along among friends; to do what we can to make each morning, however late, be better. Too soon our evening will come and we must greet it with no regrets.

As always, have a wonderful day 

Growing Up On the Farm
Growing up on a farm is great fun -- especially when you no longer have to be a farmer.  My grandparents' dairy business closed the year I was born and I was lucky enough to have the freedom to roam the farm as a kid growing up there...many wonderful memories and stories about the family farm can be told.