All in Columns
Many are paying heaps of lip-service to the unselfish and heroic behavior of those who are serving during the current health care crisis and its uncertainty. I cannot help but wonder how many of us truly understand the sacrificial nature of the work doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, and first responders are doing: the long hours, the constant vigilance, the unending possibility of exposure to themselves and their families.
I looked out into an empty classroom today and I had to hold back the tears. What I miss most as a teacher right now is being able to help act as interpreter, a secret skill middle school teachers possess that we don’t talk about very often.
At least once a month I hook up all of the family phones to a laptop and extract the photos. I seem to be alone in this, as most people store their photos in some magical cloud that Steve Jobs tethered to the Apple corporate headquarters in Cupertino, CA. By the way, has anyone else noticed the weather started to get crazy around the time the Apple iCloud was introduced in 2011? Mother Nature doesn't seem to be fond of selfies.
Hopefully the tide is turning. In a letter to all state governors last week, President Trump announced that his Administration would be releasing new guidelines for state and local officials that will allow them to be more flexible in response to the coronavirus and to seek a balance between public health & economic stability. We are not going to eliminate or cure all the illnesses of this world, but we can reach out to those who are suffering and perhaps ease their pain.
I have been ordered, under threat of arrest and imprisonment, to minimize my contact with friends and family who live across town or in another city. I have been ordered, under threat of arrest and imprisonment, not to assemble with others to express our jointly held opinions or practice our jointly held faith.
Since Gov. Cooper ordered the closure of schools on March 14, teachers, principals and central office staff members across the state have been scrambling to transition their educational programs from in-class, face-to-face classrooms to materials students can complete at home.
I had an epiphany the other night… you know one of those thoughts that cross your mind after you’ve eaten one too many Double-Stuffed Oreos at 1:00 a.m. because you couldn’t fall asleep and were watching The Mentalist before you turned off the lights. I realized I could no longer say that I have never experienced the fearful grip of a pandemic, the subsequent stay at home order issued by a governor, and the absolute panic of going to four different stores at 7:00 a.m. and seeing no toilet paper on the shelves.
Spring has sprung a bit early here in eastern NC. Nature is bursting out of (a sort of) winter. At this time of the year, the sighting of various insects, including actual honey bee swarms, causes a good bit of confusion.
Correai's issue was down to tissue. He and his bride live in Apex, which is the Latin word for "no toilet paper". They weren't in emergency status yet, but after a week of trying to shore up their supply came up short, I was asked if I could find any in Kinston. Since Correai is a Level 3/Pop-Tart/shovel friend, I jumped at the chance to help.
For the past week, Sandra and I have experienced some of the fall-out from decisions made regarding the coronavirus.
Last Tuesday I walked in the door and the first thing I hear is "I don't think anything is broken".
Today you will probably see a great deal of green. Most of us find wearing some bit of green better than getting pinched for not wearing that color on St. Patrick’s Day.
One of the many discoveries I made during my years of Dale Carnegie teaching was that one of the greatest desires of human beings is to feel important, whether at any level of achievement or at any age. Sometimes we tend to overlook that even the young and the very young need positive recognition.
Six years ago Mother Earth Brewing partnered with G.I. Joe’s Living Military History Museum to support the efforts of this museum to honor veterans, past and present. On Saturday, March 14, Mother Earth is sponsoring the 6th Annual Stew & Brew.
The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China, and its subsequent spread around the globe, have produced serious consequences — medical, social, and economic. Thousands have already died, including dozens in the United States. Many more are seeking testing and treatment, putting tremendous strain on hospitals and clinics. Responding to such events is a core function of government in a free society.
At this point, even the nuttiest cashew in the jar would have immediately given up their quest for a Varsity hot dog, no matter how great Lewis Grizzard made them sound. But not Earl.
For the first time in 10 years, the annual Freedom Classic baseball competition between teams from the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy had to be canceled in Kinston. Mother Nature played a mean trick by dumping the only snow we are likely to see this season on our area the evening of Thursday, Feb. 20. The coaches from Navy and Air Force moved this year’s competition to the home field of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. But what about the preparations and sponsorships of this year’s Freedom Classic? Will sponsors get their money back?
I know someone is thinking about the popular argument “If you went to visit the president of the United States or the Queen of England, don’t you think you’d wear a suit and tie?” Maybe so, but not if the POTUS was my dad or the Queen was my mom. When Christians are gathering to worship, we gather to worship our Heavenly Father. We are not meeting with a strange dignitary. We are meeting with someone we have a loving relationship with. He knows our every thought. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and His concern is not your clothing. His concern is with your heart.
I have been a basic country music fan all my life, but some music is just simply GOOD music. The success of a song is often determined, not just by who performs it, but who wrote it. There is power in music, folks, especially when it comes from the heart.
On Saturday I received a letter that had the potential to change the course of my life, the lives of my loved ones, and the lives of those freeloading, barnacle-like friends of mine who are always asking me to cosign for them.
