A Life of Words

Sunday marked 13 years since Robert “Robin” Mason Workman, one of my three older full siblings who spent the first 44 years of my life not knowing me, left this world for another at age 61. A death that, like my best friend Doug’s in 2002 at 45, left me asking God why. Why would … More Saluting my big brother Robin, a Vietnam vet and a hell of a ballplayer who joined our parents in heaven 13 years ago

For almost a year, I’ve had the chance to do some writing on the side — and I’m not talking about here on my blog. I mean crafting stories about people, giving me the opportunity to interview them, learn about them, and gather details about what they’ve been dealing with from a health standpoint. My … More Making the most of an opportunity to write — about people and their health successes

This sentimental image from 1944 shows my biological father Bob Workman holding my brother Crystal “Crys” Edward Workman on the front porch of the family’s rented home at 315 32nd St. in far east Huntington, West Virginia, just across the Guyandotte River from the tiny community with the river’s name. It’s a split-second of poignant … More A split-second of poignant perfection dating back to 1944: My birth father and my brother

Here’s a post I wrote for Facebook six years ago today, updated and tweaked for sharing here. In addition to reading this, I hope you’ll take a couple of minutes to listen to the three attached recordings of my birth mother Betty’s beautiful singing voice. As it always happens, when I listened today, they gave … More 11 years ago, the parents I never knew came back to life on three worn reel-to-reel audiotapes

Growing up, I never looked like anyone in my family. During the summers when I’d tag along with Dad for his work as a lingerie salesman for Hollywood Vassarette, as he’d call on the women buyers at Houston-area department stores like Foley’s, Sakowitz and Palais Royal, they’d all say how handsome I was and how … More Happy birthday to my fabulous big Sis — so thrilled I finally found someone who looks like me!

William Paul Rowe served his country in the U.S. Army for just over 20 years. He’s one of the rare — and extraordinary — Americans to have fought in three wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Miraculously, Bill was never wounded in combat, despite being in perilous battlefield situations in each. Last Saturday (Dec. … More Happy 94th and a heartfelt thank you to an American hero — a cousin I didn’t know until nine years ago

A few dozen folks gathered Friday afternoon (Dec. 3) in the fourth-floor lunchroom of The Dallas Morning News at 1954 Commerce St. on the east side of downtown. There were refreshments — even booze — and light snacks, but it was by no stretch a party. Another several dozen who couldn’t make it in person … More After a remarkable run of 31 years at The Dallas Morning News, Keith Campbell retires, saying: “I love you all. I love this place.”

Ever heard of an 11 p.m. happy hour? Well, my copy desk friends and colleagues at The Dallas Morning News and I had one Tuesday night — a virtual happy hour via Zoom! And we had a blast! It’s been a long, long time since the journalists of The News have all been together in … More What could be more fun than a Zoom happy hour after hitting deadline at the newspaper?

The pitcher let loose. In the left batter’s box stood 14-year-old Aaron Adair, his feet shoulder-width apart, weight on his back leg ready to explode forward. Left hand curled around the bat handle and stacked firmly on top of his right, he gripped 32 inches of aluminum, parallel to the dirt, over his left shoulder. … More The Laughing Survivor

Look at these bright, smiling faces. They’re amazing, gracious, compassionate, loving and supportive folks. You can tell that just looking at them, can’t you? And I’m lucky to know them all. As many of you know, I’m an adoptee, born in Huntington, West Virginia, in February 1961. I went through most of my difficult youth … More Meet some folks I’m darn blessed to know. They’re not exactly family … but they are.