A Life of Words

To say I was thrilled to have a brief phone visit Thursday with the gentleman at left in this cool 1970s photo would be an understatement. Jan. 7 marks Dr. Gilbert Alonzo Ratcliff Jr.’s 83rd birthday, and he and his late wife Betsy have been the definition of family to my family since 2005.  We … More Happy birthday — and thank you — to Dr. Gil from all of us

“I thought you might enjoy it … and have something to remember your mother by. I’ll talk to you later. I love you. I love *all* of you, very, very much. Have a merry, merry Christmas. Bye-bye.” clyp.it/5hwclvrq (Betty Talks to Her Children) Every Christmas in recent years, I’ve listened to those words over and … More “I love you. I love *all* of you, very, very much.”

In the weeks leading up to Christmas 1954, the family leasing 121 Perry St. in east Huntington, West Virginia, was brimming with anticipation and excitement. In a home where a father’s heavy drinking and years-long molestation of his oldest child — unknown to the boy’s mother — had brought unhappiness, fear and pain, a much-needed … More Christmas, Betty and her family

Fifty years ago on a cold, rainy, foggy Saturday evening, tragedy visited my birthplace of Huntington, West Virginia. “This town died today,” a local hospital nurse would say that night, according to an Associated Press report. Save for those few who hadn’t made the trip, the bulk of the Marshall University football team and staff, … More 50 years after 75 lost their lives, We Are, And Will Always Be, Marshall

Last week, I posted a tribute to my best friend Doug, who left a huge hole in countless lives and hearts 18 years ago when he died suddenly at the age of 45. In those 18 years, Kay and I have done a very poor job of spending time with his kind, giving, compassionate and … More Making up for lost time with a sweet friend, the wife of another dear friend we lost 18 years ago

A few hours ago, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram family — which I’ll always be a part of after working there from April 1987 to February 2000 — received devastating news about the passing of one of the kindest, most easygoing, funny, professional and skilled friends and colleagues we’ve ever had the privilege of working with. Stephen … More Another friend and former colleague gone too soon — one of the *really* good guys

I’m a little late, but happy heavenly birthday to two enigmatic souls who are a huge part of me: my adoptive mother, whose birthday was Friday, and my biological father, whose birthday was Saturday. Olga Eneida de Freitas Christlieb, shown on a happy Christmas morning in the early 1970s, raised me and therefore greatly influenced … More Happy birthday to 2 people who are a big part of me — even though I never met one of them

I had the most wonderful phone visit with this gentleman this morning. He’s Bob Nelson, and he was my Dad’s best friend growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota. Bob turned 90 in April and is still going strong, just using “a stick” — a cane — occasionally, although he says he doesn’t really need to. … More Just what I needed — a long-distance, long-overdue chat with Dad’s childhood best friend

As I fell in love with baseball at a young age, one of the players I couldn’t get enough of was this guy. Tom Terrific truly was to me, even if it seemed like my team, the Houston Astros, could never touch him. My editing shift for The Dallas Morning News was almost over Wednesday … More Tipping my cap to a fallen baseball hero who truly was Terrific, on and off the field