Some questions for County EMS

This column should begin with high praise and appreciation for the dedicated EMS staff. During COVID, these folks have worked long hours while short-staffed. Their rescue vehicles needed replacement. The receiving emergency rooms were full, causing hours-long waits to drop-off very sick people.

Livestreams becoming new ‘normal’

Many were horrified to hear the members and Rabbi of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, who were held captive as they prepared for Shabbat. They had already started the livestream of the service when a man came to the door and was greeted.

Graham County’s lookout towers

Recently, a reader contacted me requesting information about the fire lookout tower that once stood on Haoe Bald. At one time, Graham County had three forest fire lookout towers: Haoe Bald, Wauchecha Bald and Joanna Bald.

A brief taste of victory

The COVID debacle has been a real boon to politicians and leaders across the nation. Somehow – at just the right time – they convinced leagues of Americans to be afraid.

Winds of change, they are a’blowin’

Normally by this juncture, I would have already penned a column about the upcoming forecast for this publication. I might have even thrown in the phrase, “Our Star will continue to rise.” Instead, I spent the New Year under the wonderful influence of anesthesia, hydrocodone and nausea medicine.

Zoom, doom, boom

People don’t communicate anymore: they Facebook, Twitter, Zoom, blog, text, Facetime, chat and email. We have become addicted to iPhones, desktops, laptops and the soon-to-be ubiquitous Artificial Intelligence. There are benefits to the boom in Zoom.

Be more like Tutu

The world has lost another treasure with the death of Bishop Desmond Tutu: the South African priest, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Bishop Tutu joined the church triumphant Dec. 26, at the age of 90.

New Year’s customs: greens, jowl and peas

Eating black-eyed peas, hog jowl and collard greens on New Year’s Day has long been a custom, especially in the rural south. The custom stems from the belief that eating all three ensures good luck in the coming year.

I have a few good years left as a storyteller

The plan was simple: Find a house in western North Carolina, sell a house in eastern North Carolina, move during a pandemic, uproot our 16-year-old from his life and friends … and find a job.

Remember kindness as we enter New Year

I am reminded of the guy who slipped and fell down a flight of stairs. He stood up, shook it off and said, “I’m glad that’s behind me.” The year 2021 is almost behind us. While along the way there have been many blessings and joys, there is also great sadness.