Being social

A new book explains why small conversations matter more than we think One of the most important decisions I’ve made in the last three years was to spend less time online, especially on social media.

Soccer is so much better in Spanish

Ihave officially watched more soccer over the past few weeks than in my entire life. Dad, mom and I watched the final on Sunday in English, but I went to Maricela’s after halftime and watched the rest of it in Spanish.

Checking out a dawg at the city library

(Judge Bill Whitmire is at a conference this week, so enjoy this 2017 column from publisher emeritus Bill Cooke, who still has this dog.) Neighbor Grover sez birds of a feather f lock together, and usually right over his pickup. Checked out a dawg the other day at the library.

LOOKING BACK

10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO 100 YEARS AGO T.J. Neeley, representing the State Highway Department, has men and teams at work this week repairing the old Rockdale-Milano road so that it can be used for a detour while the new highway is being graded up.

Passive or active

“And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) Hard is no fun. And yet hard is what exposes our faith or our lack of faith. When we travel what Psalm 23 calls the “valley of the shadow of death” we find who we trust and what we trust.

Walking the pavement of heaven

Agood Samaritan was walking home late one night when he came upon a drunk on the sidewalk. Wanting to help, he asked the drunk, “Do you live here?” “Yep.” “Would you like me to help you upstairs?” “Yep.” When they got up on the second floor, the good person asked, “Is this your floor?” “Yep.

LOOKING BACK

10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO  100 YEARS AGO Operators interested in the possibilities of deep oil in Milam County are watching with close attention the progress of two tests now going down in the southwestern portion of the county, one just northeast of Gay Hill, the other near Nile.

New threats to Milam County agriculture

Ranching and farming involve a whole lot of watching and waiting. Watching the weather. Watching the markets. Watching the condition of your cattle and your pastures. Sometimes the biggest problems start out so small that they’re easy to miss until they’ve become a much larger issue.

Vacation pictures of food from Mexico

FALLING FAR FROM THE TREE In our family text messages, I am getting a little angry at not being on vacation in Mexico with three family members. Ken and Christine are staying at a house in San Miguel de Allende, and the house has three employees, and one of the employees makes their meals for them.

The American Dream

Many long generations of Americans have seen their children fare better than themselves.