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All alone in the forest . . . yet not alone at all
Saturday morning, alone in the mist and drizzle. Stillness envelops me. No sound but my footsteps, the drip of the moisture from the trees, the occasional songs of the birds.
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Stuck Inside the Classroom with the Playground Blues Again
As I’ve worked on my memoir, what’s become a massive act of self-interrogation, I’ve realized that my disconcerting experiences during the first grade that I’ve described above profoundly influenced my attitude about school for the remainder of my classroom days.
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The Ketchup Corpse Caper
One balmy June night in 1960, a small group of boys, mostly rising juniors and seniors at Tullahoma (TN) High, were gathered at the Dairy Bar, a little family-run drive-in restaurant typical of those found in small Southern towns before franchised fast food became ubiquitous. We’d met there to eat some burgers and kill a…
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Shonnie turns 50 on December 28!
Today, December 28, 2021, Shonnie Lyn Lavender celebrates her 50th birthday–half a century! And to commemorate this milestone event, you are invited to share a memory, what you love about Shonnie, and/or your birthday wish for her. You can share your message to Shonnie in the comments section, and be sure to include a photo…
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When Brucie Met Shonnie
Shonnie Lavender turns 50 years of age on December 28, and we’ve been together for approximately half of those five decades. In honor of Shonnie’s milestone birthday, I’m reposting my personal essay “When Brucie Met Shonnie.” And I’m inviting you to help Shonnie celebrate her 50 spins around the sun. Message me, and I’ll tell…
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My Gridiron Daze
What I learned from football . . . the good, the bad, and the ugly
