Columns

The morning is hushed and still. A golden light shimmers through the air as the early rays of the sun hit the sparkle of freshly fallen raindrops on the banana leaves here in Papua, Indonesia. I lug my laptop out to the porch and prop my feet up on the…

“How would you like your steak cooked?” the restaurant server asked, pausing for me to answer. The others at our table erupted in laughter. They knew the answer. “Rare! Cool on the inside and seared on the outside.” There’s a standard joke in my family that with a bit of…

I glanced around the sanctuary to see where the heating vents were located. Selecting a pew not too far away from one was difficult because the vents were in the ceiling. I sat down and began arranging my coats, sweater, and mufflers to be easily accessible if I needed them.

I jammed my hands as far as I could into the pockets of my jacket, hoping the rough, gray wool would provide more warmth to my cold fingers. Beth, my daughter whose graduation we were celebrating, was focused on the sign at the side of Samford Park that welcomed visitors…

The doors opened and I entered the emergency room. I quickly scanned the room and noted that it was about half-full. Inwardly, I groaned, expecting a bit of a wait. Beckoning to me, the newcomer, was a hospital official at a small desk toward the back of the waiting area,…

I have always enjoyed bird-watching. It’s easy to do when there are bird feeders just outside the back door — cardinals and blue jays fight, mourning doves strut about the lawn looking for seeds kicked off the feeders, while mockingbirds wait their turn. To see majestic raptors soaring above lakes…

“You’re invited to a garden party!” the card announced. Yippee! Nice parties are few and far between here in Papua, a province of Indonesia — at least the ones like the garden parties and teas I enjoyed back in Alabama. There were several reasons why this invitation was special. Heather,…

“The main thing is that you must …” I stopped my advice-giving and tried to continue speaking slowly. I gasped for air and was surprised that I could finally draw a deep breath to fill my lungs. So I resumed delivering my gardening instructions. Actually, no, I did not. As…

“Have you given blood yet? We could go over after band practice.” It was 1972, my freshman year of college, and the annual “Beat ‘Bama” blood drive was being held in the student activities building. Having grown up in Auburn, Alabama, where Auburn University is located, I…

Calvin, of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, once resolved not to make any New Year’s resolutions. He was going to wing it and see what happens. Hobbes, the tiger, then inquires whether Calvin was intending to stay on his present course. Calvin’s answer was in the affirmative,…