Stories from the Steps

sacrifice

  • Vol.1 Chronicle 42, Nat’l Coaches Day

    NATIONAL COACHES DAY ‘24, A STUDY IN BLACK AND WHITE OF WHAT YOU NEED: Yesterday, October 6th, was National Coaches Day. I’m intentionally late in posting on October 7th, but we’ll get to that. Coaches do so much that no… Continue reading

    Vol.1 Chronicle 42, Nat’l Coaches Day

  • Vol.1 Chronicle 41

    (4:45AM DAD’S & A POOL & THE GOSPEL OF MARK, NOT SO) SHALLOW THOUGHTS FROM THE DEEP END WITH MISS JULIE’S POOL BOY: Miss Julie unlocked the pool gates at 4:45 this morning, not to fix the pool’s condition but… Continue reading

    Vol.1 Chronicle 41

  • Vol.1 Chronicle 39

    FOUR GENERATIONS: On one of the final 4 Sundays of September 1968, my parents, after escorting me & my sister up the only staircase (pictured) in our church at the time to 9:45 Sunday School & then down it to… Continue reading

    Vol.1 Chronicle 39

  • Vol.1 Chronicle 38: Farewell 9/2/2021

    CHINSTRAPS & HEROES, A FAREWELL TO JIMMY: I wasn’t expecting to cry today. I especially wasn’t planning on one of those heaving cries that convulses down to the gut. I’d already been a little emotional in dreading next week, a… Continue reading

    Vol.1 Chronicle 38: Farewell 9/2/2021

  • 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 34

    I ALMOST STAYED OUT THE HALLWAY: “Stay out the hallway” was written in black on 2” white athletic tape, advice on a gym door for students where me & Miss Julie voted last Tuesday. That advice in some form, has… Continue reading

    Vol.1, Chronicle 34

  • Vol.1, Chronicle 32

    THE WEDNESDAY FOOTBALL FIX, 1974 WITH LOTTIE & JULIA: As days sometimes thunder by slowly & the years are greased lightning, I find myself recognizing deeds that went by without applause. I find the words in Maya Angelou’s “Continue” both… Continue reading

    Vol.1, Chronicle 32

  • 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 29

    (CITY MEET, FINISH WHAT YA STARTED)THOUGHTS FROM THE DEEP END WITH MISS JULIE’S POOL BOY: It’s pre sunrise, Friday 5:39AM, & Miss Julie’s Pool Boy pours his second 28 ounce cup of emotional support coffee. Miss Julie has long since… Continue reading

    Vol.1 Chronicle 29