“A Rude Awakening” by Neal Murphy

April 18, 2024 - I thought that I had selected the best location for a cot in the rustic bunk house the night of May 14, 1954. I was proved wrong.

When I was a senior in San Augustine high school our class selected for our Senior Class trip a dude ranch in New Braunfels, Texas. It was customary for both the Junior and Senior classes to have a class trip to help celebrate the end of the school year. This location was just about the right distance for the forty graduates to travel by bus for a weekend outing.

“The Whole Nine Yards” by Neal Murphy

February 23, 2024 - I heard someone say that they had purchased a new Ford Galaxy with “all nine yards of goodies”. I once heard a woman say that she really gave that other woman a piece of her mind, giving her the “whole nine yards”. I am sure we have all used that phrase from time to time. But, what does it really mean? So we are giving some one or some thing nine yards of what? As with most of these sayings, its history is unknown.

“The Blue Roof” by Neal Murphy

February 23, 2024 - In the late 1940s my dad installed a new composition roof on our house. For some reason he selected a dark blue color instead of the usual brown. Little did he know at the time that this decision may have saved a life.

I was in elementary school around 1944 and our family was eating breakfast that morning. Dad would be going to his job at the courthouse and Mom to her beauty shop. They would drop me off at the grammar school for a day of education. Just a routine day before us.

“The Only Factor” by Neal Murphy

February 9, 2024 - I did not know it in the middle 1940s when I was in elementary school in San Augustine, Texas, but I was breaking the law. In fact all we students were lawbreakers. Some of you might recall this event that the courts now say was very detrimental to our very souls. Yet, most of us grew up to be intelligent and useful citizens in spite of the learned judges’ opinions.

“Five Things Nobody Told Me About Aging” by Neal Murphy

January 31, 2024 - I was shaving the other morning and I noticed something – my ears looked larger than I remembered. I examined them closely and sure enough, my ears are larger in my old age. Then I noticed my nose, it, too, is getting bulbous. Could my nose and ears still be growing? No one told me about that aspect of aging.

"The Ink Blotter" by Neal Murphy

January 22, 2024 - Thinking back on my “schooling” in San Augustine, Texas, I recall that I was not allowed to use anything except a #2 lead pencil in my studies. At least, not until I entered the fifth grade under Mrs. Margaret Wade. Of course, I was allowed also to use crayons to produce several colorful drawings during these early years. In Mrs. Margaret’s class, things changed.

“How’s that Again?” by Neal Murphy

December 29, 2023 - You’ve often heard the expression “children say the darnedest things”, which originated with Art Linkletter. It is a true saying or observation? The following comments have been collected by health and science teachers from their students’ test papers, essays, and reports.

"The Wrong Side of the Bed" by Neal Murphy

December 26, 2023 - Have you ever been told by your spouse that “… you must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed today?” I think we all know what that expression means, don’t we?

“Tarheel Moonshine” by Neal Murphy

November 22, 2023 - Every Friday found myself and Lee Pardue in the company car making sales calls to our more productive agents. I was employed by an insurance company based in Burlington, NC at the time. Lee was my Underwriting Manager. Since I was new to the company these trips were a good way of meeting our agents.

“Wearing Your Hat Indoors” By Neal Murphy

October 25, 2023 - If you are a stickler for etiquette, you know that every courteous gentleman will always remove his hat or cap upon entering a building. This rule applies to ALL hats – no ball cap or beanie is exempt. And while the rule certainly feels antiquated, it also begs the question: Why do we do this? After all, there’s nothing about hats that seems inherently offensive.

Shelby County Today

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By Neal Murphy