Mentor

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Ring the Bells

Ring the Bells

By Johnnyswim and Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors

November 1, 2023

Editor’s note: Two months in a row, I’m sharing the music of Johnnyswim and Drew Holcomb.  This is a far more upbeat, toe-tapper but with similar deep meaning to last...
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Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison

Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison

September 29, 2023

Editor’s Note:   Warning: Do not read this book if you don’t have a strong stomach for explicit language and homosexuality, which I don’t by the way and yet the...
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October Laugh

October Laugh

September 29, 2023

In honor of college football season, I recall the funniest actual quote from a football coach I’ve ever heard.  About 25 years ago at the Big Ten season opening news...
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Goodbye Road

Goodbye Road

September 29, 2023

Alice and I stood with Caitlin and her boyfriend at a music festival along the Chattanooga River.  The lights came on, a church-sounding organ began, and a man’s voice filled...
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Dearly Departed

Dearly Departed

By Shakey Graves

August 31, 2023

Editor’s note:   A few years ago, I featured Shakey Graves playing “Roll Them Bones” because I enjoyed the song but was also fascinated by the idea of a one-man...
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September Book of the Month

September Book of the Month

August 31, 2023

None…not one of the four books I read were worth noting!  Apparently, I must learn to be more selective.   
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Many a Mile to Freedom

Many a Mile to Freedom

By Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi (Traffic)

July 31, 2023

Editor’s Note: As with so many songs that I share, this came up on my old I-Tunes library the other day.  A bit of a jam, with a very pretty...
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The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water

By Andrea Camilleri

July 31, 2023

  Editor’s note:  A recent book review cited Mr. Camilleri as one of the greatest mystery writers of our times.  I love mysteries, so having never heard of Camilleri I...
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August Laugh | Terry McCarthy

August Laugh | Terry McCarthy

July 31, 2023

Our mother called humor “medicine for the soul”.   My brother, Terry, easily the funniest McCarthy, is currently in hospice and I overheard this exchange while the nurses were working...
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Keep Calm and Carry On

Keep Calm and Carry On

July 30, 2023

Since I began delivering newspapers at age 10, I’ve spent time every morning consuming the day’s news.   Then, a few years ago I started to notice that I was...
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I Can Change

I Can Change

By Lake Street Dive

July 2, 2023

Editor’s note:  Continuing on this month’s theme, here’s my current favorite singer in a soulful tune about change. Favorite lyric: “Tracing an old pattern Drawing the lines from where I...
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July Laugh by Maria Salmon

July Laugh by Maria Salmon

July 2, 2023

A teenager brings her new boyfriend home to meet her parents. They’re appalled by his haircut, his tattoos, his piercings. Later, the girl’s mom says, “Dear, he doesn’t seem to...
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MTA

MTA

By The Kingston Trio

May 31, 2023

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Write to Understand

Write to Understand

By James “Scotty” Reston

May 31, 2023

"I write in order to understand what I think."
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Music Lessons

Music Lessons

May 31, 2023

What is music’s role in your life?   Reflect for a moment; enjoy the rumination.   For most, there are songs and artists who played in the background of some...
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The Stranger

The Stranger

By Albert Camus

April 27, 2023

Editor’s note: Simply haunting.  I now understand why it became a 20th century classic.  Like fine art, it invites interpretation, one of which is that Camus created a commentary on...
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Positively 4th Street

Positively 4th Street

By Bob Dylan

April 27, 2023

Editor’s Note:   This song’s appearance on a playlist caused me to look up the date of its release.   Turns out it was a month before I turned 13....
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Found Forever

Found Forever

By Caamp

April 2, 2023

Editor’s note:   I’ve been enjoying these lads from Athens, Ohio, for a few years now and still I find another and another song that strikes me both for its...
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Life Altering Books

Life Altering Books

April 2, 2023

What books changed how you think?   The list below is a small but significant sample of the ones that have changed mine. The Bible , Old Testament; New Testament...
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If I Needed You

If I Needed You

By Townes Van Zandt

February 28, 2023

I recently spent a few days alone with Caitlin and Kevin, two of Alice’ and my three.   We love music so spent time trying to impress each other with...
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Trust

Trust

By Hernan Diaz

February 28, 2023

Editor’s comment:   I read this because the Times book review called it a “brilliant literary puzzle about…the warping force of wealth”.   They did not understate it as I...
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