“About Cedar Trees” by Neal Murphy

May 21, 2025 - The house that I grew up in was surrounded by six or seven large cedar trees. I never paid them much attention during my early days, except that they smelled good and my dad was allergic to them.

"San Augustine's Last 'Hello'" by Neal Murphy

May 12, 2025 - The call was to ring out the old and bring in the new in San Augustine the night of March 18, 1950. That was the night that the last call was made on the old telephone switchboard at 11:42pm by Mayor Guy Z. Moore. After the proper switches were made by telephone technicians, Mayor Moore made the very first dialed call on the new telephone system.

"Do Cats Have Nine Lives?" by Neal Murphy

April 21, 2025 - When I was very young I heard people say that cats had nine lives. I did not know exactly what that meant but thought it was a lot of nonsense. However, as I have grown older, I have grown wiser. I realize that there is actually a lot more to this saying than at first meets the eye.

“America’s First Documented Ghost” By Neal Murphy

April 11, 2025 - How many of you readers believe in ghosts? How many are on the fence about this? How do we reconcile accounts of ghost sightings by honest, reputable people who evidently witnessed a strange event? I have never witnessed a ghost sighting personally, but have, I believe, been visited by angels, but that’s another story.

Among the strangest ghost stories ever recorded happened in the unlikely state of Maine. I have nothing against Maine, but I do believe that if I were a ghost I would select a more populated area should I want to reveal myself.

"Camp San Augustine" by Neal Murphy

March 10, 2025 - Most of us older folk remember when San Augustine was the home of a German prisoner of war camp. This camp was hastily built in the spring of 1944 on the site that was the fair grounds for many years. The site is now the location of the Rodeo grounds and high school football practice field on state highway 147, just north of the high school.

"Brass Monkey Business" by Neal Murphy

March 3, 2025 - I suspect that we are all familiar with the colloquial expression concerning brass monkeys. Most of the sayings have to do with weather – cold weather. When and how did this idiom arise, and what do brass monkeys have to do with the weather? Research on this reveals interesting information.

“Favorite Hymns" by Neal Murphy

December 23, 2024 - The New Testament in the Bible tells us that hymns were sung by Jesus and the disciples. The word “hymn” from the Greek language is “hymnos,” meaning “songs of praise.” Hymns are different from Psalms according to Ephesians 5:19. Other than that not much is known about Christian hymns during the first three centuries of the Church.

“Call Me a Taxi” by Neal Murphy

December 10, 2024 - The comedian Don Rickles used to have a joke – “Call me a taxi. OK, you are a taxi..” It was usually good for a few laughs. However, if you are in need of a taxi around these parts you are out of luck. All this reminds me of an incident that happened back in 1987 to my wife, Clara.

"Texting" by Neal Murphy

December 3, 2024 - There is an old saying, mostly true, that says, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” My wife, Clara, recently proved an exception to that adage. She purchased a new cell phone, the one with all the bells and whistles. Not only does it make and receive phone calls, it takes still pictures, moving pictures, gets you on the web, and I assume will prepare dinner.

“A Few of My Unfavorite Things” by Neal Murphy

September 30, 2024 - I suppose that you could call this a partial list of my “pet peeves”. Webster defines the word “peeve” as – “A vexation, to cause to be annoyed or resentful, to irritate, to vex”. All of these feelings befall all of us at one time or another. The following are a few of my most irritating peeves:

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By Neal Murphy