“The Magic of Licorice” by Neal Murphy

February 24, 2023 - I must admit that I love the taste of licorice. I always have. Now I know that most people don’t, and it is difficult to find any who can “take it or leave it”. You either love it or hate it. My wife is in the latter category. I have had to limit my intake of the sweet, black, chewy, delicacy since our marriage.

“They Have to Come Out” by Neal Murphy

February 16, 2023 - I had been to Dr. Harris several times with infected tonsils during 1965. We were living in Houston, Texas at the time when he finally looked me straight in the eye and said, “They have to come out, and soon.”

"The Perils of Piano Playing" by Neal Murphy

February 10, 2023 - My wife, Clara, has been playing the piano and organ for many years. She is quite good at it as she has been invited to play music for numerous weddings and funerals over the years. However, there is a side to playing the keyboard that is quite dangerous. One would think that sitting at a piano and playing would be about the safest thing a person could do. This is not the case with Clara, as you will soon detect.

"And the Band Played On" by Neal Murphy

February 3, 2023 - Who would have thought it? Finding some documents hidden away in a cedar chest for over fifty years has had a negative effect on my ego, sort of like finding out for sure that Santa Claus does not exist. Let me explain what I mean.

"The Long-Tailed Cat" by Neal Murphy

January 20, 2023 - There is an old saying, “I’m as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!” The meaning behind that saying is the longer a cat’s tail is, and the more rocking chairs in a room, the greater the chance of the cat’s tail being mashed. Of course, it does not have to be a rocking chair as far as the cat is concerned.

"Did I Read That Sign Right?" by Neal Murphy

January 9, 2023 - A friend recently sent me some examples of signs of various natures whose authors apparently did not read them after completion. I am constantly amazed at the apparent lack of the proper use of the basics of the English language by our current generation. The following examples are not mine, but I would like to pass them along for your amusement:

"The New Model" by Neal Murphy

December 27, 2022 - As a pre-teen growing up in East Texas, my hobby was keeping up with the changes in automobiles. I could identify for anyone the make, model, and year of any vehicle I saw on the road. I actually cut out pictures of new automobiles I found in magazines and put them in a binder by year.

"Kids and Church" by Neal Murphy

November 28, 2022 - It seems that children see things regarding church through kid’s eyes, and they don’t always hear it right. One of my earliest memories is that of being in church with my father, Cecil. I recall that I kept trying to talk out loud during the service and Dad would tell me to be quiet. After church Dad was holding me in his arms when Bro. Russell Smith walked up and asked me how I liked the service. I replied, “Well, I didn’t like it.” Bro. Smith inquired as to why I didn’t. I told him, “Because nobody gets to say anything but you.”

“The Hills of San Augustine” by Neal Murphy

November 21, 2022 - Many cities are known for the hills surrounding them. Rome is known as the “city of seven hills”. There is also a Seven Hills in Ohio. San Augustine can also boast of several hills surrounding the city. In the 1950’s when a teenager, I had experiences on each one of them. There are four hills surrounding the city – actually three hills and one dip.

“Clara’s Culinary Calamities” by Neal Murphy

November 14, 2022 - 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.

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By Neal Murphy