In all my life, I’ve not heard that many jokes about toilet paper. However, ninety-nine percent have been within the last two weeks. I’ve lived through snowstorms where people bought out certain shelves like milk, bread, and canned goods. Now I can say I’ve been through one hurricane season and see that people buy some…
Boys will be Boys, part 3
The switch! When hearing those words, some immediately think of changing from one thing to the next. Others may think of light switches. For me, I think about a thin branch that smacked my childhood rear end. If us boys ever got out of line, our great-grandmother would smack our rear ends with a switch.…
Boys will be Boys, part 2
While growing up, having an older brother meant that I had someone who was exposed to life’s cruel ways before I was. My guess is that life hurt him so much that he felt the need to prepare me. Therefore, he was rather hard on me, I suppose trying to toughen me up for the…
Boys will be Boys, part 1
A fond memory of my childhood was watching wrestling. Every week it when it came on, we would gather around the television and watch our favorite wrestlers get in the ring to fight it out. At my friend’s house was where the most excitement occurred. Weeks would pass that led up to some pay-per-view that…
Mr. Fix It
Most people are used to throwing away anything that breaks. Years ago, the neighboring city had regular days where people within the city limits could sit stuff out on the curb for trash pickup. Furniture, radios, and televisions were all thrown away. It is said that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. In one…
The Right One
It is fascinating to me, as I believe it, how God sends people into our lives. It could be said they are sent at just the right time. However, even when it seems like it is the wrong time, it could turn out to be the right time. Years ago, I met a young man…
Teepee Gone Wild, part 2
The extent of the three boys’ learning about Native American Indians did not stop with the unfortunate teepee event. It was still deemed necessary to further investigate the Indians’ way of living. In school they were also taught about the types of living for Indians, such as farming, hunting, and gathering. There were no white-…
Teepee Gone Wild, part 1
It feels like if there was ever a warning to be issued with a product, it should be one issued to the parents of young boys. History is taught to them, even at early ages, sometimes with the intent on showing them not to relive the past. Among the curriculum for such history is the…
Low Pay – Sign me Up!
Years ago, a man came into my classroom and spoke about an internship the local city was offering. He warned us that the pay wasn’t much, but it gave valuable experience. When he announced what the pay was, most of the students wrinkled their noses and chose not to pursue it. Even though it didn’t…
Carry All That?
When I was a teenager, my father regularly took my brother and I hunting in the fall. My brother was really into it. I, on the other hand, was in it for the trip. We even had a best friend that tagged along with us on occasion. One time when we were all together, my…