Beech Tree News Network

Everyone knows about the British Invasion of the ‘60’s: The Beatles, Dave Clark Five, etc.  You might not know this: there was a second British Invasion.  In the 1980’s, there were loads of British bands on pop radio. The AXS Top 10 show I watch regularly ranked the top 10 on a recent episode.   First up is Tears For Fears.

The 4th of July is one of my favorite days of the year. For decades, family members who are able gather at my house for the evening to eat and watch fireworks. We overflow the house, spilling out to the porches, the yard, and the garage. As one of six children, a mom, and a granny, I look forward to this family gathering.

During our never-ending cleanup of Garey’s parents’ place, his sister, Charlotte, said to me, several times, “You are so organized.”  I always thought, but didn’t say, “No, I just have a lot of self-discipline.”  I’ve learned how to do things I don’t want to do for the reward ahead.  I’ve had others in my family tell me that I have a lot of patience, as they watch me stay with an unpleasant task until it is complete.  I think the same thing then, as well.  “No, I just have a lot of self-discipline.”

The Old Testament scriptures were written “that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). Patience, comfort, and hope come from what we learn of God’s character and principles revealed in His dealings with His people. Sometimes applications for us are not readily apparent, but sometimes they are. In Deuteronomy 8:1-10, Moses reminds the people that wandering through the wilderness had purpose and taught principles. Enduring trials, temptations, and tests will accomplish some things if we will let them, or if we will let Him.

One of my favorite things to do as a kid was go to Pizza Hut on a Friday night.  For many years it was part of our family’s New Years Eve tradition.  One of the best things about Pizza Hut, obviously except for the pizza, was their arcade room.  My favorite was Wrestle Fest.  Back then, a game cost 50 cents.  Does anyone know the first game to cost that amount?

In the last three years of the Biden administration we have seen rising prices, record levels of illegal immigration, and communities flooded with illegal drugs. To make matters worse, the Biden administration has taken aim at the very heart of our communities across Western Kentucky.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a male mockingbird can mimic as many as 200 different bird songs.  Their repertories mostly depend on the species of birds that inhabit the area.  “Having a large repertoire of songs apparently makes a male mockingbird attractive to the opposite sex” (tuscaloosanews.com).  If that is true, the Hugh Hefner of mockingbirds lives in my yard, and his playmates have nests in my grapevine and peach tree.

Oh, you didn’t know? It’s once again time for a few tidbits you might not know or have forgotten.  We start with a few things I learned a few months back.  On April 16, the cast of the Cosby spin-off A Different World was on ABC’s The View.  That’s not a show I frequently watch but I thought this might be interesting.  

I am thankful for properly working appliances. Most recently my range had a problem. An oven element did some sparking, flaring, and smoking as a piece that broke off ‘welded’ itself to the bottom of the oven, prompting me to turn off the oven as well as the breaker. I considered having the oven repaired, but decided that the age of the appliance and the possibility of other unidentified problems might make replacement a better option. Appliance shopping is a chore, but sometimes a necessary one.

I’ve told you before that there wasn’t much love lost between my dad and me, for reasons I won’t rehash here, but there were things I admired about my father, as well as things that downright tickled me.  

He was a man of integrity and honesty.  I admired that.  He came from nothing, with little education, and in spite of that, he did really well with his life.  If you go back to my hometown and ask about my dad, overwhelmingly, people will say, “C.L. was a good man.”