Rich: The joy of the rain

It was in the gloaming of a hot, July evening. I was dressed in jeans, an Elvis tee shirt, and farm boots, cleaning weeds near the stream that runs under our driveway.A bristling wind suddenly lifted the leaves, and I saw the skies darkening further. I called to the dogs.“Y’all c’mon.

Rich: My cousin

It was a simple gesture.Probably meaningless to anyone but me.We were at the funeral home, celebrating the well-lived, godly life of our Aunt Kathleen.

Rich: The wedding gift

It was a wedding gift. We never knew from whom it came, even after all these years.I just opened the front door, and a quart jar of clear liquid sat there. My first thought was that it was water.Then I saw the note. “Congratulations on your marriage.

Rich: Fried baloney sandwiches

It happened in Kentucky a while back.Perhaps 13 years. I don't know the name of the small town where we stopped.

Rich: Sad happenings in a small town

Hemingway, South Carolina, is a tiny town of less than 500 people.There, one of my favorite people was born.

Rich: It’s time for 2025

Know this upfront: This story won’t make me look like a saint, but God knows I’m not anyway, so I might as well tell the truth.Years before Tink and I married, I bought a three-acre parcel of land that adjoins the Rondarosa.

Rich: Memories of mistletoe and more

I remember and cherish the Christmases of my childhood.

Rich: The good publisher

In today’s newspaper world, one person works for two or three.They sleep less, drink much coffee, and rarely have time to fellowship with co-workers.I used to say that I believed one of the hardest jobs is that of a manicurist -- slumping over a small, white table and working relentlessly.Having...

Rich: The homemade dress

One of the privileges of our blessed life is the interesting people we meet, from carpenters to old-timey moonshiners to movie stars and country music legends.A beautiful woman who recently crossed our path is the daughter of Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman.

Rich: Taking chances and learning

Every family leaves a legacy of some worth that lasts three or four generations. Sometimes, one good man rises to see the need and wisely chooses his cases.