The old guy in the grocery line looked about two coughing spells away from the Promised Land. Gnarled and unshaven, he mumbled to himself while the clerk totaled his bill. He noticed me as he reached into his pocket for change and accidentally pulled out a set of teeth. “Hey,” he smiled, “remember me? I’m George, from biology class!” Suddenly, […]
Opinion
Quinn Minute – Middle School Smells
I’m not sure I had much sense of smell until sixth grade. The only aroma I remember before that was dinner rolls in the elementary cafeteria. But junior high was different. For the first time, many girls started wearing perfume. Guys started splashing on after-shave. The aura in a small classroom was astounding. Imagine walking into a flower garden and […]
Quinn Minute – Short History of Long Film Strips
Not long ago at a class reunion, several of us got to talking about “film strips.” If you attended elementary school during the 1950s through 1970s, you may remember these visual learning tools. Because there were so many of us, states quickly constructed schools to contain us. Educators developed scholarly “film strips” to help instructors explain complicated concepts. Film strips […]
Quinn Minute – My Frog Drawing
In my long and unproductive life, I’ve encountered several disgusting things…and I’ve stepped in a few of them. But few gave me more displeasure than dissecting a frog. This was a school requirement, and I dreaded it for weeks. My biology teacher, however, seemed to enjoy watching us approach a big vat of formaldehyde, grab a pair of tongs, and […]
The Protestant Funeral
Something To Think AboutIn the Protestant church, different denominations vary in their ritual and theology, but some constants bind their funeral ceremonies. The service is usually held in a church and is relatively short, lasting about 20 minutes. Sometimes, it may last a full hour and include the sacrament of communion, a remembrance of the Last Supper Jesus held with his disciples- Most […]
There Are Few Things Better Than Sitting on the Porch
For some reason, at least two mornings this past week I woke up around 3 a.m., and my first thoughts had to do with the 14th amendment to the Constitution. Now, why that happened is beyond me. But this morning, I woke up again around that time, and my thoughts centered around the days over in Rye Cove when family […]
Quinn Minute – Aunts, Uncles, Cousins
My friend Mel just got back from an aunt’s funeral, where he met family members he did not know he had. Personally, I’ve met more relatives at funerals than I have at weddings…but maybe it’s because weddings require an invitation. Last month, my uncle told me that my third cousin had died. No, two cousins didn’t die before her. She […]
Quinn Minute – Special Abilities
I’ve always been jealous of people who discover their talents early. There was this kid in my middle school class named Karen. She drew nature scenes better than anybody. Any time the school needed pictures of flowers, vegetables, baked goods – or even background scenery for school plays – they called on Karen. Sadly, she left school because the family […]
How Many Plots to Buy
Something To Think AboutHow many plots should my family buy? This is a decision that the family will have to make, based on what they can reasonably project as their need. We live in a highly mobile society and it is not unusual for families to be scattered throughout the country. Unless there is a reasonable assurance that the entire family will remain […]
His Holiness, Pope Francis Didn’t Miss His Opportunity
Pope Francis’ complete name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He was born in 1936. He served as Pope for 12 years, from March 13, 2013, until his passing on April 21, 2025. He was elected on the second day of the 2013 papal conclave and chose his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. During the recent Holy week […]
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