In the spring of 1974, my family and I had acquired my grandpa’s cherished farm, a place where I had joyfully spent nearly every sun-soaked childhood summer. Bursting with excitement, we moved from the Sunshine State, eager to embrace our new, rustic life. I was particularly thrilled about tending to the cows and transforming into […]
I Should have been a Cowboy Read More »
Years ago, I walked into the quaint country store and took a seat on the old slide top Coke machine. The elderly gentleman behind the counter looked up from his newspaper and asked about my day. I shrugged and said, ‘Took off today—rained too much last night, and the ground’s too wet to disc.’ He
Growing up as a child in the 60s, my life was an adventurous journey, as we frequently moved between army bases all around the world. However, my true refuge was my grandparent’s farm in North Todd. Every summer, we’d spend a month or two there, and I eagerly looked forward to my cherished routine. At
1978 in Todd County was the kind of year when my buddies and I, fueled by youthful exuberance and a questionable fashion sense, decided our trucks needed straight pipes. Why? Because we were on a mission to be the coolest kids in town—or at least sound like it. I remember one particular weekend, our Friday
Loud Trucks, Jail, and a Starry Eyed Teen Read More »
Thirty nine years ago today, January 19th, 1985, on a cold frosty morning, my cousin Allen Latham and I eagerly embarked on a duck hunting adventure to Lake Barkley. The morning air was calm, crisp and serene, hinting at an impending snow around lunchtime. As seasoned duck hunters, we knew this snowy forecast promised excellent
A Frozen Fight for Survival. Read More »
During my high school years at Todd Central, I was generally a good student, maintaining average grades despite a few missteps. On one memorable day, my friends and I arrived at school and impulsively decided to skip the day’s lessons to swim at Powell’s Lake. Unfortunately, our absence didn’t go unnoticed. The following day, we
A Trip to the Principal’s Office… Evade and Escape… Read More »
When I was growing up, we always came home to our grandparents North Todd County, Ky farm for a few weeks each summer. At five or six years old, I was crazy about chickens. For the time we stayed with my grandparents, I was the Chicken King. I fed, watered, gathered the eggs and guarded
The Mystery in the Treetops… Read More »
For as long as I can remember, I harbored a strong desire to be a pilot of my own plane, a dream that seemed unattainable due to the high costs associated with obtaining a pilot’s license and purchasing a plane with all the necessary upkeep and insurance. Nonetheless, I clung tenaciously to that dream. Then,
My Dream of being a Pilot Read More »
It was a cloudless October day, and I found myself at the small Barkley Lake Airport, eagerly waiting for a private jet to arrive. After a short wait, I spotted a dot in the sky that gradually grew larger as the jet approached the runway, executing a smooth landing. My buddy Tim the pilot, greeted
Hold on to your Dreams Read More »
As a typical teenager growing up in Todd County, I was just like everyone else, deeply enamored with country music, especially Hank Williams, Jr. My buddies and I would often cruise around, enjoying a beer while listening to Hank’s tunes on an eight-track. Those songs like “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound” and “All My Rowdy
Hunting with a legend Read More »