Clear for departure
My father is 83 now, and his health is declining. In mid-April, my brother called: "You need to get up here now."
Being the community
In Raleigh's Moore Square and around Main Street in Durham, we ignore people who we assume don't have housing. Rocky and those like him go to Love Wins or the Maurin House to find eye contact, to hear a "good morning," to be a part of their cities.
High places
Quietly, by the guidance of our flashlights, we climbed a very long, tight spiral staircase up to the top of the Duke Chapel tower. And not just the bell-tower top, but beyond that.
Blade running
There it was, for half price: a snow blade/grader attachment for my almighty DR All-Terrain brush mower. "Who doesn't need one of those?"
Life idea
Anyone who credits himself with "Guitar, miserable whine" does not suffer from excessive self-regard.
A pint for Oscar
She plunked an Oscar next to my beer glass. "Finally! I'm recognized!" I shouted, my arms stretched toward the ceiling.
Little brackets
For a dozen years, I checked the small print of the box scores and theater reviews.
Dancing babies
What if this was making love? What if this was sex? What had Boyz II Men made me do?
Daily bread
"I tell you," my Italian grandfather said to me once, gravely, "the pope should never ski."
Caring for hair
Come April, for the first time in his life, Oliver's hair will be longer than mine. Maybe it's time he gets his own canister of Dippity-do.
Too late
In the wee hours of a midweek morning, the loudest bone-rattling boom I've ever experienced awoke me.
Hatching the bloom
I'd thought I was running a chickens' retirement home. But here they were, in the face of flurries and frosts, announcing as only chickens can, "Hey, look around, it's spring!"
A fishy story
Years ago, I grew tired of the struggle to stop mosquitos laying eggs in my cistern. After some truly bad ideas, someone suggested that I drop a goldfish into the tank...
Dust cover
Last week's news that the Nice Price in Carrboro would be closing hurt more than a little. Losing a trusted bookstore is like having a friend move away.
Ünrest
Polygrip and Depends and other such items targeted for the older demographic seem to get by without the umlaut. They also appreciate proper capitalization, but I'm not here to sound grump.
Letter chain
We climbed our family trees and listed limbs we liked.
Tall tale
With my favorite winter companion, a 12-year-old orange Husqvarna chain saw with a 16-inch bar, I can play out all my Paul Bunyan and Johnny Appleseed fantasies.
Always board
Need travel Scrabble? We must have five sets.
Swingtown
When I taught my young sons how to play backgammon last year, I added some nontraditional nomenclature to the mix.
Natural balance
I was behind the house getting an armload of firewood when the peaceful morning cracked with the terrible sound of a great tree on its way down.
Regarding: A Pint for Oscar
Dear Bill Kirk,
I’m not surprised to read that you remember the night you …
by OldOak Homestead on A pint for Oscar (Front Porch)
Apparently no livestock were kept on that inherited farm.
by Fuzzsonic on Dancing babies (Front Porch)