To paraphrase the late Mark Twain, “Today marks my 59th escape from the gallows.” Age doesn’t really bother me as much as it does some. I don’t think I was ever vain…
Category: Editorials
Learning As I Go: Teaching Chickens How to Roost
I rounded the corner and spied both of my boys and my husband in the small chicken pen out front. Ever since those chickens moved in, David has tried to convince them…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Never Forget
Today, September 11, is a day Americans will never forget. Today, 18 years ago, America endured the worst terror attack in its history. Today, 18 years ago, America came together. We all…
At the middle desk: You can prevent it
It’s a taboo subject that doesn’t get talked about enough, in my opinion. But it should, because a lot of the warning signs come from within and often get pushed to the…
From the sunny side… Remembering that day
We are once again approaching the anniversary of a dark day in our recent history. Sept. 11, 2001 was one of those days that has become seared in the minds of many….
Emerald’s Gem Box: What will you be remembered for?
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and…
At the middle desk: Wake me up when September ends
September is upon us once again and, if I’m being honest, I dread it annually. Mostly because of the heartbreak that’s occurred during the month in certain years. But because of the…
From the sunny side: Life goes on
Many years ago the duo of John Lennon and Paul McCartney entertained us all with their Beatles hit, “Obladi Oblada.” A repeated line of the song says that “life goes on.” That…
Learning As I Go: Something is Better than Nothing
Life has gotten busy. Fast! The boys started back to school and they are both playing soccer. My college classes are back in full swing along with several writing projects waiting in…
At the middle desk: Behind the scenes
I had a college professor tell me once that a study had been done that found the sport of football somehow makes a connection to a guy’s brain. I don’t remember the…
From the sunny side: Football, birthdays and new cartoons
I had a college professor tell me once that a study had been done that found the sport of football somehow makes a connection to a guy’s brain. I don’t remember the…
Learning As I Go: Encouraging the Encourager
If you have ever spent extended time around me, you have learned a few things: I ask hard questions, I’m a bit of a jokester and I love to encourage people. It’s…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Heaven, like Earth, needs children too
Tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 22, marks what would have been the 47th birthday of my younger brother, Forest. Forest Selman Greene was born on Aug. 22, 1972, and was the fourth child born…
From the sunny side: Happy Birthday Smokey
I have always had an affection for Smokey the Bear. When I was little, my grandmother gave me a “Smokey the Bear” teddy bear. He had a badge, hat and the rest…
Learning As I Go: The Pieces of My Heart
When my first son was born, my heart was full. There were so many firsts that we experienced and there was so much life we did together. And then my son Daniel…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Sign up for our new e-blast newsletter
“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” – Winston Churchill In life, we must all learn to embrace change. To expect change. To wish for change. For…
From the sunny side: Memories
I imagine more than a couple of you saw that headline and sang to yourself, “Memories, like the corners of my mind. Misty, water-color memories, of the way we were.” If you…
The Editor’s Desk: Matters of the heart
My father and I largely differ when it comes to politics. I consider myself left of center—he’s staunchly conservative and relatively miffed at some of my political perspectives. But, there’s nothing but…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Happy birthday to us! 55 years and counting
August 5, 1964, was the first edition of the Madison County Carrier. My parents (at the young age of 25) founded and started this newspaper with no newspaper experience at all; but…
Learning As I Go: Choose to hold your kids
Tonight was the first night in eight years that David hasn’t had one of our boys sitting with him and falling asleep in his lap. Eight years. How did that even happen?…