My niece's boyfriend thinks Dairy Queen has the best hamburgers in the world. He'll take a DQ burger over anybody else's. A lot of people agree with him because Dairy Queens are seen as frequently in these small West Texas towns as the solitary traffic light on Main Street. I prefer their ice-tea, although I… Continue reading Answered Prayers at the Dairy Queen

I spent most of my childhood next to my grandmother. She had thirteen children of her own, including my mother, but in many ways I was her fourteenth. When my grandfather died, she didn't like the idea of staying alone at night. Since we lived next door, less than a football field distance between our… Continue reading Riding with Grandma

The 20-something woman who cuts my hair had her baby two weeks ago, She cut my hair a few days before she gave birth to a healthy, but small baby boy. Six pounds. He'll grow. When I asked her if she had a name picked for her baby, she smiled and said, "Yes, Rhett." I… Continue reading Gone With the Wind

Those of us blessed--some would say cursed--to live in West Texas know that living here isn't city living. You learn there is scarcity in people, in water holes, and in eating places. In fairness, there is an abundance of wind, wind turbines, and sand-coated window sills. All of which put together makes a special place… Continue reading Best BBQ I’ve Ever Had

My friend Claire was raised in Jamaica. She likes to talk about an end of life experience the Jamaican people call "traveling." Claire explains it this way. When people are rounding the corner and it's clear the end is in sight, they begin to travel back in time. People at the bedside of the traveling… Continue reading Traveling

On a recent morning I would describe as just about perfect - when it seems God and nature are on the same page, which as we all know isn't every day - I was doing what my busy self always does, head down, focused on the task before me, toiling in the soil, determined to… Continue reading Lessons in Faith From Furry-Tailed Friends