Do you remember your first time? Is the place etched in your memory, the sounds, the smells, the people you were with? Is your first time a permanent piece of you, a fixed and unforgettable slice of time? Firsts are important. They define our understanding, shape our future expectations, lay a foundation for what will …
One of the great reasons to live in East Tennessee, and Soddy-Daisy, in particular, is the climate of safety and security. Out here in the suburbs and rural areas, crime is nearly non-existent. Sure, there is drug crime and petty crime, but serious, violent crime is virtually unheard of. In my 25 years living here, …
Remember when you were a kid and a new kid showed up? The new kid had different habits, customs, ideas. He couldn’t help it – he came from a different background, maybe a different culture. It was all okay until you played Monopoly. It seems everybody has their own idea what the rules are to …
I used to spend time on the river. No, not like that. I don’t own a boat or a place on the river. I listed and sold homes on the river, and one in particular was on the Tennessee River, just before the gorge, so I used to have to drive down there regularly. But …
My parents were poor – Dad was California poor; Mom was Kentucky poor. Dad wanted more and became self-educated, a man always learning, always expecting us kids to do the same. Mom was okay with her Kentucky roots – as they say, she was never “puttin’ on airs” but was content with who she was. …
“Where the Heck is Soddy Daisy, Tennessee?” is a great t-shirt. And a great question. If I am on the phone with a customer service rep, and they ask my address, I always say that I live in “Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee – and yes, that’s a real place!” If they are personable enough, I tell them …
I am not the kind of guy to make an oath to God. You know what I mean – you find yourself in crisis, cry out to God and promise that – “God if you save/heal/deliver me I will do X.” There are several good reasons to not do that, one of them being right …
It is 2020 and we find ourselves in the midst of a pandemic. There are many opinions on the subject, so I will just stick to the facts here. In the USA we have had over 5.5 million infections resulting in 178,692 deaths. Almost 3 million have fully recovered. That leaves a big number – …
Because of my own significant health issues, I have taken the current crisis seriously. I avoid large crowds, do not go out much and keep my distance around people. If I do go out, I wear a mask. So there I was, masked, at the Walmart pharmacy in Soddy- Daisy, and when I went to …
We find ourselves wrapping up an extensive (and expensive) exterior remodel project. It started out with our old (ca 1964) house needing a paint job. But what if… and now it has morphed into new siding, structural changes, new deck rail system (looks like money!) and just a general correction of decades of several owners’ …
Life On Purpose 