By Neal Murphy

“Booted, New Orleans Style” by Neal Murphy

September 23, 2024 - In the year 2000 my computer did not crash, nor did the world come to an end as was predicted by many people. However, I did visit the Crescent City in June for the very first time. I have lived within a four-hour drive but never felt the urge to actually visit the city until my daughter, Kay, called me with some news.

"Random Thoughts" By Neal Murphy

September 17, 2024 - I sometimes wonder about the thought, or lack of it, that goes into the making of signs these days. I have seen road signs and even warnings on medicines that don’t seem to make sense or just state the obvious. I think the fear of frivolous law suits has contributed greatly to all of this unnecessary information.

I have pondered the following signs over the past few years and settled on my own conclusions. Do you agree?

“The Blue Roof” by Neal Murphy

September 10, 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.

“Being In-laws” by Neal Murphy

August 26, 2024 - Our daughter, Kay, married in 1979 while in college at Liberty, Missouri. Her new husband, Marti, was also a college student. Being “in-laws” was a new role for my wife and me, and we wanted to get off to a good start to impress our new son-in-law. After the wedding the bride and groom left for their honeymoon. We were left with the task of transporting all the wedding gifts from the church to their new apartment approximately twenty-five miles away. This necessitated our renting a U-Haul trailer to accomplish this task.

“Clara’s Culinary Calamities” by Neal Murphy

August 2, 2024 - When we were married in 1958 Clara knew nothing about cooking. Since I knew a lot about eating she made it her mission to learn all about preparing food fit for a king. I knew she must have thought of me as a king because she was always presenting me with burnt offerings. My, how things have changed over the years. I no longer receive burnt offerings from her as she has become a great cook.

"The Disappearing Family Doctor" by Neal Murphy

July 22, 2024 - I can recall that back in my early days in San Augustine, Texas there were four family doctors who treated our family at various times. I recall that their names were Dr. Rulfs, Dr. Ellington, Dr. Brake, and Dr. Bennett.

I remember that on several occasions I became ill and my father, Cecil, called Dr. Brake to come to our house and check me out. I still recall his rather large, black, doctoring bag which contained his exam equipment. On rare terrifying occasions he would give me a shot to help cure what ailed me.

“The Disappearing Barbershops” by Neal Murphy

July 8, 2024 - I have been thinking recently about the disappearance of barbershops in our town. I can recall that during the 1930’s and 1940’s there were three barbershops in our small town, perhaps even into the 1950’s.

The first barbershop of record in San Augustine was the Lockhart Barber Shop located at 112 North Harrison. In a three story building, the facility was also a tailor shop and a storage house for furniture owned by C. J. Childers. The building was owned by city mayor Lamar Blount, and was a total loss when it burned in October of 1919.

“Bury The Hatchet” by Neal Murphy

June 24, 2024 - So you and your friend have had an argument. There appears to be no solution in which each can save face. What can you do? We have all found ourselves in situations in which severe difference of opinions have resulted in total severance of contact. Perhaps the answer would be what the American Indians did, bury the hatchet. But, is this a figure of speech, or a literal action?

"The World's Funniest Puns" by Neal Murphy

June 10, 2024 - You may be like me and enjoy puns. They are short and to the point, and sometimes require a bit of thinking in order to get the point of the pun. What is a pun, anyway? Going way back in time we find an Italian word “puntiglio” which means “a fine point.” It is hence a verbal quibble, and is most likely the source of the English word “punctilious.”

“The Baptist Fox” by Neal Murphy

May 10, 2024 - The night of June 3, 2005 was hot, humid, and dry. The drought conditions in deep East Texas had continued unabated all year. Both man and beast were in search of cool air and wet water.

Shelby County Today

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