Beech Tree News Network

June brings to mind weddings. In our country, June is a very popular wedding month.  Although I did not marry in June, like many of you, I have observed the exchange of many wedding vows during that month.

Every now and then I like to share some thoughts--some from others and some I've contemplated my almost 79 years. Someone has said that all a man will ever really own are his own thoughts. Just as you can't roller-skate in a buffalo herd, it's hard to think worthy thoughts in one too. I speak of the clang and clatter and hubbub in which we live. I was talking to an older lady in a doctor's waiting room awhile back and a fire alarm test suddenly erupted - horns, whistles, etc.

My friend, Sue (Minton) Hawkins was killed in a traffic accident last Tuesday, and I have to wonder why.  She was just forty-eight years of age, and her life had finally taken on the kind of direction and purpose that she had always wanted it to.

One night when I was around 7 years old, my dad came to tuck me in bed, I explained to him that I was lonely and asked if I could have a baby brother.  My father just smiled and said he would talk to my mother about it; 9 months later I got my wish, a baby brother.  He was cute, cuddly and smelled like baby lotion.  Then the cuteness wore off and I decided I wanted an older brother instead.  So I asked my parents if they would adopt a boy in order for me to have a big brother.

I see comments on Facebook about living in "this town" or getting away from "this town."  I don't really understand what is so bad about "this town." My conclusion on comments of that nature are that some have made a bed, and now they don't wanna lay in it.  As I have mentioned before, our lives are made up of choices.  Choices that we all make daily.  I feel like too many choices are made without considering the end results.  Of course we know how we want things to turn out, but that doesn't always happen.

The randomness of occupational licensing regulations in Kentucky, especially for jobs often filled by lower-income citizens, has specific – and unfortunate – consequences.

For example, the fact that Kentucky law forces barbers to pay hundreds of dollars in fees and train hundreds of days before being allowed even to begin earning a decent living no doubt discourages entrepreneurial barbering.  

A new Institute for Justice study reports that Kentucky’s onerous licensing regulations randomly – and disproportionately – affect mid-to-lower income jobs.

Actor Ed Norton warned: “Fame is very corrosive and you have to guard very strictly against it.”

Unfortunately for Richie Farmer, star guard for the 1992 University of Kentucky Wildcats, a new report by State Auditor Adam Edelen indicates he did not guard very well against fame’s corrosive nature – at least not during his eight-year stint as the commonwealth’s agriculture commissioner.

This image of the girl sitting in the doorway was taken in Woodbury. This was a senior session. Personally, this is one of my favorite Senior Shots. It was SO hot that day. Since, I usually recommend shooting spring/fall... It's hard to look pretty when you're melting! (though my senior didn't seem to have that problem) :)
Check out Tiffany's work:  http://www.tiffanyphotographyky.com/ or on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TiffanyPhotographyKYpage

Sunday night, May 20, the Billboard Music Awards began with a performance by LMFAO.  Not often am I embarrassed by a music group, but this is one exception.  I seriously couldn’t even look at the screen during their performance. Afterwards, hosts Modern Family’s Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen welcomed us and had some hilarious skits.  They actually did those skits throughout the show, which was great. 

My maternal grandparents had a great influence on my life. They actively grand parented my siblings and me. My grandfather lived from May 29, 1901, to August 12, 1987. Though he’s been gone 25 years, his life continues to impact mine.

My granddad taught me many lessons. He taught me to work hard and then to take a break. He taught me not to leave a person totally by himself when working with farm or heavy equipment. He taught me to enjoy community softball and baseball games. And, he taught me the lessons below: