Stories from the Steps

prayer

  • Vol.1, Chronicle 37: Keys, 8/27/1984

    KEYS, A 40 YEAR STORY OF MISS JULIE AND HER POOL BOY: Miss Julie gave me these keys for Christmas 2023. They used to work the locks of Maclellan Gymnasium on the UT-Chattanooga campus. Today, technology has rendered them useless… Continue reading

    Vol.1, Chronicle 37: Keys, 8/27/1984

  • Volume 1, Chronicle 36, Lottie’s Song

    Today, August 10th, 2024, marks 21 years since my grandmother passed away. What follows was written a year ago to her namesake great-great-granddaughter. I thought about brushing it up with a rewrite as I scrolled the socials on a sleep… Continue reading

    Volume 1, Chronicle 36, Lottie’s Song

  • Vol.1,  Chronicle 31: Mirages

    MIRAGES OF GRIEF, THE PRODIGAL, VOLUME 1, CHRONICLE 31, STORIES FROM THE STEPS: Maya Angelou wrote, “I answer the heroic question ‘Death where is thy sting?’, with it is here in my heart & mind & memories.” I seem to… Continue reading

    Vol.1,  Chronicle 31: Mirages

  • Vol.1, Chronicle 28

    VOLUME 1, CHRONICLE 28, BOTH INDEPENDENCE DAYS & PLYMOUTH ROCK: INTRO: The 6 or 7 minute read that follows in 3 chapters, is my pastor’s fault. This Sunday past, he basically told our congregation, those that weren’t thinking of beating… Continue reading

    Vol.1, Chronicle 28

  • Father’s Day

    VOLUME 1, CHRONICLE 26, FATHER’S DAY 2024, ABSENT YET PRESENT: Sometimes I write, to paraphrase Maya Angelou, because it’s agony to bear an untold story in the soul or like today, I’m an empty penitent seeking a filling communion, seeking… Continue reading

    Father’s Day

  • Edna & a cake pan

    VOLUME 1, CHRONICLE 20, EDNA & A CAKE PAN: This is your paternal great-great-grandmother. Twenty three years ago today, May 17, 2001, we lost her. Also pictured, her cake pan. The pan is mine now & I treasure it like… Continue reading

    Edna & a cake pan

  • Vol.1, Chronicle 17: 2 years in Sundown

    VOLUME 1, CHRONICLE 17: 2 YEARS IN SUNDOWN, NOW & THEN. As I say good morning to another night, I’m struggling with do I need to say something or do I have something to say? John Steinbeck said, “I write… Continue reading

    Vol.1, Chronicle 17: 2 years in Sundown

  • Vol.1, Chronicle 15: Dash

    VOLUME 1, CHRONICLE 15, DASH: This weekend I received a text from one of the great cheerleaders* in my grand crusade of fingers poised over the typewriter keys to be the next great Southern writer like Faulkner, Capote, or O’Connor.… Continue reading

    Vol.1, Chronicle 15: Dash

  • Vol.1, Chronicle 13: Good Friday Stripes

    GOOD FRIDAY STRIPES: “If I’d a’ had somewhere else to go, I’d a’ went.” Recently passed NASCAR great Cale Yarborough made this statement in 1970 after an unavoidable crash at historic Darlington Raceway. Few drivers are spared from collecting, win… Continue reading

    Vol.1, Chronicle 13: Good Friday Stripes

  • Vol. 1, Chron. 12

    DADDY’S, WEDDINGS, & FULL TREES: Yesterday morning, I drank coffee in a dark silence broken only by the light & sound of the TV & The Andy Griffith Show. I’d seen the episode, “Opie the Birdman”, the one where Opie… Continue reading

    Vol. 1, Chron. 12