A Life of Words

When I knew Julia Heaberlin as a colleague at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in the mid- to late-1990s, she was a seasoned journalist and outstanding editor who oversaw a Features staff of mostly veteran reporters/writers offering readers engaging, entertaining stories every day. I never worked on her staff, spending the bulk of my 13 years at the S-T in … More From newspaper journalist to bestselling author, my former colleague Julia Heaberlin is on a thriller ride

We all have anniversaries that mark important moments in our lives — weddings being the biggest and most special. LinkedIn even reminds us when we and our career connections have work anniversaries.  For me, June 10 and 11 will always be marked as anniversaries on the calendars in my heart and mind because they’re the … More Wedded to these June anniversaries — because they brought me to my biological family and changed my life

If you believe in miracles, you can believe, like I do, that Hayden Skaggs and Kevin Curnutt are living, breathing, inspiring miracles. Hayden, 20 years old, has been one for only a matter of days, after surviving a horrific accident while driving home to North Texas from Eureka College in Illinois. He was on his … More Two miracles, 42 years apart: Kevin Curnutt’s story is now a book; Hayden Skaggs’ story is just unfolding

Saturday (May 6, 2023) was the anniversary of my commencement at Texas A&M a mere 40 years ago — not that I would’ve remembered the date. I’m just going off what my journalism degree says. I guess this constitutes a milestone? And to think I almost screwed things up for myself, cramming photojournalism, broadcasting, and … More 40 years after graduating from Texas A&M, thankful for a professor’s mercy that helped me reach the finish line

Kay and I were treated to a very special evening of music Saturday. I’ve bragged about this amazing pianist here before, having marveled at the gifts she brings to our congregation each Sunday at The Welcome Table Christian Church near our home in SW Arlington. I’ve seen online videos of her displaying the classical training … More Enjoying a chance to see our gifted church pianist in another venue — showing off her classical chops

Our family had quite an adventure earlier this week — or actually, our sweet 16-year-old rescue terrier mix Maisy did. We’re still not certain exactly how, but she managed to escape from our house for over an hour late Tuesday afternoon, left our SW Arlington subdivision, and made it nearly a mile from our home … More Our geriatric rescue terrier Maisy’s runaway adventure ends in a rescue, thanks to the kindness of strangers

My good friend and former Dallas Morning News colleague Frank Smith and I will be heading Friday morning to — as many fellow Aggies like to refer to our beloved university — the holy land. We’re making the three-hour drive to join current Texas A&M communications students and former journalism students for a special induction ceremony. (There … More Heading to Aggieland to honor friends for journalism career achievements, catch some big-time basketball

Dad and I are birthday twins, 31 years apart. Well, not exactly twins — his birthday is Feb. 27 and mine’s Feb. 28. He was born in 1930 and passed away in 2014; I came along in 1961 and, thankfully, am still here. As I grew up in our family of four in the Houston … More My dad, my long-lost brother and me: 3 birthdays, all bunched together on February 27-28. How cool is that?

A night with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra — like the one I spent Friday with two friends and former Dallas Morning News colleagues — never disappoints. Far from it, this collection of world-class musicians amazes, captivates, delights and shines from first note to last during every piece in every program. The brilliance the DSO achieves with such … More A great Friday night spent with friends, listening to a world-class orchestra — and a pianist who left us in awe

During all my years in this wondrous and often challenging adventure called life, which will reach 62 years on the 28th of this month, I’ve missed out on a lot of places and experiences. For instance: I’ve never been to New York, California, Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon. I’ve never water skied, hiked up … More It took me almost 62 years, but I finally read the brilliantly poignant, personal story that is Anne Frank’s diary