Rich: What to write

A famous friend of mine was with me at an event, and I came home with three stories. I sat down and composed them in a breeze.She was perplexed. “I was at the same event, and I didn’t see that. How can you see a story where I don’t?”I thought about it for a moment, then answered.

Rich: The trophy

The good Lord has a sense of humor. Of this, I am very certain.

Rich: The real world

A few years before singing star Glen Campbell was forced to give up his fabled career due to illness, I spent a couple of hours listening to his stories.Actually, I was the guest of his opening act, Grand Ole Opry star Roy Clark.

Rich: My regret

Fifteen years ago, I wrote a column that I came to regret as soon as it was published.Whenever I hear someone say proudly that he has no regrets in life, a string of regrets runs through my heart and quickly humbles me (‘umbles as we say in the mountains).What I wrote hurt at least a couple of...

Rich: The South’s ways – Charlotte radio show

Excitedly, many years ago, I was a young girl who was a novice author, publishing with Penguin-Putnam, one of the world’s largest publishers.After a four-day auction, the book’s illustrations about the grace and hospitality of the South sold, and I was stupidly stunned to find myself on shows like...

Rich: The joy of leisure

On summer days, our swimming hole stays pretty busy.

Rich: I called Mama

The weekend morning was close to becoming afternoon when I pulled myself out of bed and headed to the kitchen for a cup of coffee.It seemed as if the entire house came to life. Tink came bopping down the stairs from his office, and the dogs eagerly joined us.

Rich: The beautiful sisters

When I was in junior high, I discovered three beautiful sisters in high school.

Rich: The dinner table

It’s just a memory now.And, perhaps I won’t recall it precisely because of the decades that have passed, but I will tell it as best I can.I was what people used to call a “late in life child,” so my siblings were much older.

Rich: The family we became — part 2

Nashville suburb, the two superbly talented families came together and produced a night of such startling magic that I frequently held my breath.