Stories from the Steps

athletics

  • GRIEF, DENTYNE & DEMENTIA: “It was Dentyne”. That line from “Hoosiers” is my favorite movie quote ever. Hickory Husker basketball coach Norman Dale instructs his guard, Buddy Walker, that the man he’s guarding is chewing gum & he wants Buddy… Continue reading

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  • Vol.3, Chronicle 3

    VOLUME 3, CHRONICLE 3, IT’S INTIMATE: Prologue. The piece that follows (Presented in its original one big paragraph, I’m sure to the chagrin of a long time friend now on the other side of the globe. He advised me on… Continue reading

    Vol.3, Chronicle 3

  • An 11 year old with a bookie…

    STORIES FROM THE STEPS, VOLUME 3, CHRONICLE 2: Let me tell you a story about an 11 year old with a bookie & what that boy learned 52 years ago today & offer a slice of ‘70s life.      I got… Continue reading

    An 11 year old with a bookie…

  • Vol. 2, Chronicle 35: Genesis

    FOREWORD: Three years ago, December 16, 2022, these steps met their final student footprints. In the past three months, they met their demise.      I didn’t know it lying on that couch in Pearl, Mississippi that “Stories from the Steps”, with… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 35: Genesis

  • Vol. 2, Chronicle 33 1/2

    SHALLOW THOUGHTS FROM THE DEEP END WITH MISS JULIE’S POOL BOY IN HIS P.E. OFFICE, 4 ½ days ‘til Christmas Break edition: This week, MJPB pondered a silent pool phone while side hustling in the physical education world. He pondered… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 33 1/2

  • Vol. 2, Chronicle 33

    DAD’S & STAGES, AN SEC TICKET STORY: In a few hours, people who paid an average of $796.42 a ticket, will see Kalen & Kirby take the stage & pit their 10+ million dollar salaries & million dollar NIL payrolls… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 33

  • Vol. 2, Chronicle 32

    NOT MUCH TO BE THANKFUL ABOUT(?): These last 13 months have been, if not the most challenging period of all my circuits around the sun, they’re certainly in the team picture.  According to one fella that crossed my path this… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 32

  • Vol. 2 Chronicle 31

    LIFE ADVICE FROM OCTOBER, HOMECOMING 1976:        On the 26th day of October in 1976, it was Homecoming at a little school that now exists only in memories. This past week, as dementia opened another front in its dirty little war… Continue reading

    Vol. 2 Chronicle 31

  • Vol. 2, Chronicle 26

    (4:45AM & THE GOSPEL OF MARK, NOT SO) SHALLOW THOUGHTS FROM THE DEEP END WITH MISS JULIE’S POOL BOY: On this day one year ago, Miss Julie unlocked the pool gates at 4:45 in the morning. She did it not… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 26

  • Vol. 2, Chronicle 24

    SUNDAYS & SEPTEMBER 7th’s WITH THE APOSTLE PAUL:  On September 7, 1974, exactly fifty one trips around the sun ago as I write, I watched the white with orange “T” helmeted Tennessee Vols play UCLA on TV. Like all our… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 24