In just a few days, our neighbors to the north will host one of the most mind-numbing, not to mention gross, tests of physical fitness and gastrointestinal fortitude one could possibly imagine. How someone came up with the idea for such an event in the fi

I recently received a letter from a reader by the name of Angeline Watford. She lives in Darlington County just north of Hartsville. In the letter she details a true story about her pet, a dog named Lucky. Never, ever pass up the chance to hear a story ab

If you buy into all the New Year superstitions mumbo-jumbo, it might be wise to steer clear of a certain newspaper editor during 2020. Having more to do with my taste buds and stomach than with superstitions and luck, I adhered to the custom of eating mo

What better way to start off the New Year than with some sound advice from an old friend – Ann Landers: - - - Advice for All on New Year’s Day Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you’ve always wanted to do

Wondering what the most popular toys were this year? So was I. According to Amazon.com, these are some of the toys that had the kiddies screaming with glee when they were unwrapped this morning: • CANDYLOCKS. Get a whiff of this. This doll, which sells fo

I love Christmas lights. Not the glowing bulbs strung on Christmas trees or the blinking and flashing offering some sort of season’s greetings. The Christmas lights I speak of are people who shine the true lights of Christmas, hope, peace, joy, and, by fa

A crisp wind blew as we walked back to our hotel on Christmas morning. It was 1981 and we were in Barcelona, Spain. I was in the Marine Corps and deployed with the 32nd Marine Amphibious Unit aboard the USS Saipan. A mere 19 at the time, this was my secon

The Christmas holidays glitter and glisten with all sorts of traditions. One of them is the telling, reading, singing, and watching a television program about a certain reindeer with an extraordinarily shiny nose. Everybody, young and old, loves the story

The unmistakable smell of Thanksgiving drifted from kitchen to dining room to living room and all throughout the house. After days of planning and preparation, the feast was nearly complete. The table was perfectly set. Dozens of dishes lined the kitchen

Alcohol and sharp instruments? Yes, it does seem like a decidedly dangerous combination, but bar and pub patrons have been hoisting pints of frosty malt and hurling darts at round boards for centuries. I myself have thrown a few back while at the same tim

The best way for me to describe the writing of Pat Conroy is to say his words had a way of drawing you into his story. Sometimes the words would take you by the hand and gently guide you into captivating scenes of breathtaking beauty. Other times they wo

Led by the spirit of Halloween and the gloomy gray skies overhead, I decided to venture out last Thursday to do a little mid-morning adult trick or treating. Rather than go house-to-house in search of holiday treasures, I went from bin-to-bin at Bargain

Ready to get your spook on? In honor of Halloween, I thought it would be fun to share a few ghost stories from around the Pee Dee. There is little or no truth to any of these tales, although I’m sure some out there would swear on their mother’s grave that

It would be hard to misinterpret the unbridled enthusiasm of Catherine Ritch as anything but a passion for the Navajo people. The Stallings, N.C. resident and author of more than two dozen books spoke to a gathering of the Florence Sidney Lanier Literary

I learned something new this week while attending a funeral service for an unclaimed veteran at Florence National Cemetery. Having served as a pastor for several years, I have officiated many funerals. At least two have been with military honors. I have