Monthly Archives: June 2015

I was sitting in the University of Tennessee’s Circle Park, reading a book on metaphors and pondering what I’d do with my life. College was almost over, real life loomed ahead of me and I had no clue what was … Continue reading →

Show up, take the beating, don’t quit and get stronger I’d like to think that this morning’s workout was a good metaphor for my life. I gasped for breath at times and felt like I was going to puke. I … Continue reading →

“The more things change, the more they are the same.” – Alphonse Karr Last week, I sat in a banquet honoring a man who had the courage to stand up for what was right. And because of that courage, a … Continue reading →

It’s 5:55 a.m. I’m not looking for life lessons — I’m trying to catch my breath. My heart rate has been highly elevated for nearly an hour and my muscles are burning. The thought of quitting dances seductively through my … Continue reading →

With Father’s Day coming up, I thought I’d jot down 10 random things I love about being a dad. 10. Watching the kids sleep. Sure, it’s the least stressful moment of parenthood, but there’s something remarkably magical about watching their … Continue reading →

My mop glided quietly across the tile floor. I had a method of hitting two rows of squares at a time, thus making my work go by quickly. I still had a couple of classrooms to mop. It was 8:30 … Continue reading →

My leap of faith began from paradise. I had a great job, amazing bosses, fantastic coworkers and I lived in San Diego, California — a city with the finest weather in the U.S. A southern voice on my answering machine … Continue reading →

Met Dan Ackroyd last night. He’s been around Jackson quite a bit lately — so meeting him is getting easier by the day. I spoke to him for a couple of minutes as the Medgar Evers Scholarship Banquet ended. Let … Continue reading →

As his world crumbled around him, Gary Brandon couldn’t help but notice the taste of gun oil. He sat alone in his one-room apartment twitching the .38’s trigger. One pull. That’s all it would take to end his pain. One … Continue reading →

As the University of Tennessee’s football team walks out of their locker room and onto the field, there is a sign above the door that each team member touches. It reads, “I will give my all for Tennessee today.” I … Continue reading →