My story begins in Dime Box…
About Me
It was over twenty years ago when I came across the Japanese aesthetic concept, “Shibui” (also called “Shibusa”). To Japanese writers and artists, Shibui combines simplicity and complexity. Simplicity, modesty, and imperfection are three of its seven elements. Included is the idea of beauty arising out of imperfection through mending. Such a concept for writing and art seemed appropriate when your creations are intended for “the salt of the earth.” rather than for the literati or the art critic. I know this sounds kind of weird, but it works for me to express my ideas to a wide assortment of people. So when I first started writing a newspaper column about thirty years ago, and applied these concepts, I felt they worked well for my purposes. When I wrote a column on carrot cakes, people said they thought it ironic they could be entertained by such a nothingness topic. That’s where I come from, but who knows where I am going! I still don’t after all these years!
My “Images” Columns
Muddy Roads Worse Than Flooded Streets?
Wharton was the first town I’ve lived in wherein there was street flooding. East Bernard was the second. …
Full Worm Moon Coming Soon
To prepare for today’s column, I asked my computer what was important about the month of March. It…
Cost of Frontier Life
It is amazing that over five million people emigrated from Germany to the United States in the 1800’s,…
The Last Smatterings of Lent
As a retired pastor, I am occasionally asked why I don’t write more columns that are good sermons…
Time to Look at the Other Half of Me
When someone suggested recently that I write more about my Wendish heritage, I laughed, knowing folks were tired…
Magnolia Tree Memories
1966 was the year I moved to Wharton and began teaching at Wharton County Junior College, the college…