First Friday Beach Bash here

The 13th annual First Friday Beach Bash is all set for Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown Milledgeville.More than 80 tons of sand will be trucked in, all in an effort to convert the post office side parking lot into a tropical beach destination.

World War II Heros

Tink and I were at lunch recently with a friend who started talking about his Grandfather’s bravery and medals won during World War II.When the war began, he was initially deferred because of college.But several months later, he was drafted. He then requested to become a pilot.

Elections not over ‘til they’re over

The good news is the primary elections are over. The bad news is the primary elections are not over; we now have runoffs. Then, it will all be over; except it won’t be all over. The general election is Nov. 3, so we still have that to look forward to.

The thief

The email, from my literary agent, popped up. He’s the wonderful man who first believed in me without reading one line I had written.

Voting integrity matters beyond elections

With primary election results arriving this week — unfortunately after press time for The Eatonton Messenger — voters in Putnam County and across Georgia once more will be relying upon the integrity and accuracy of the election process.Most of that trust is naturally tied to politics.

Keep talkin’ Southern, y’all

I’m a little late getting around to this but there is a survey out by a group called Writing Tips Institute, a website that teaches people how to write correctly.According to the survey, 51% of Georgians would like our dialect protected by law.

Southern rules for dinner

Tink and I had a precious friend named Roy Hodnett. Roy, the kindest, most perfect Southern gentleman had, with his pretty wife, Anne, raised their family in Virginia.He sold cookies for a living.That’s the way Roy always phrased it.

Orlean Castronis

The Georgia chapter of the National Football Foundation recently recognized Orlean Castronis with its Distinguished American Award. She is a retired former journalist and the widow of one of the most popular players and coaches ever to wear the Red and Black.

Random thoughts on random subjects

I would like to say I hate it when I’m right but, jiminy crickets, I am right so much that if I spent all that time hating myself I wouldn’t have time to hate broccoli. And I really hate broccoli.

A mother’s story

It is a line that Tink and I quote often, always with a shake of the head. We will carry it to our graves.A dear friend of ours – a successful entertainer from a storied family – had a cruel mother who left her children to figure out food, school and life for themselves.