The ER photograph is of a young woman, her hair in a loosely hanging ponytail; the beating she received was so severe her face is little more than a palette of reds and yellows, except for the long, deep bruises under her eyes, so dark they’re almost black. I recognize this… Read full post »

Grandaddy quit school at 13 to work on his family's farm; at 18 he came here from Ireland and worked hard in construction.  Grandaddy worked hard at everything he did and used to say he could do what he damn well pleased, because he worked so hard.  He raised his sons… Read full post »

In that day, the serpent possessed the keenest sight of all the living things. And once while he lay waiting in the top limbs of a tree, the serpent saw the Man, and said to him:

"Adam--you are a faithful servant to your God--tell me, what did He say to you,… Read full post »

EX-HOMECOMING QUEEN BEATS SISTER WITH FAKE LEG IN TRAILER

That's something, isn't it ? 

I’ve worked in alcohol and drug counseling, needed it myself here and there, and honestly, I don’t mean to badmouth AA, or NA, or anybody’s A, if it’s… Read full post »

It’s medicine-red, and vaguely tastes like cherry kool-aid; they don’t waste sugar down at 201 Poplar.

I haven’t had any Percocet since 6:30 this morning.

201 Poplar is the Memphis City Jail; I hear it’s a little nicer on the women’s side. My clothes and hair are soake… Read full post »

"You must have wanted it to happen."

It went on for hours at a time. 

Think of all the lies she'd have to tell on my [account].

Of course she lied. She… Read full post »

Another profanity-laced tale from Memphis, TN.   -and for the Cap'n, hope you enjoy it.-

On May 19, 1977, 20-year-old Colleen Stan was hitchhiking in California and accepted a ride from a young couple with a baby; Janice and Cameron Hooker had come to an agreement that if Janice could… Read full post »

His eyes are closed, his breathing’s shallow.

He brought our newspapers in when we went out of town.  Every time he mowed his lawn he mowed ours too.  My parents said he was the salt of the earth. 

His eyes are closed,… Read full post »

Okay I took a few liberties with this story...but not that many...   Anybody remember this on the news, about a year or so ago ? What the hell is wrong with people...

Danny’s trial was only about a… Read full post »

A profanity-laced tale of my own sheer idiocy.

Okay, so back in the '80's I'm working at this burger 'n 'beer joint, and after we closed for the night at this burger 'n' beer joint we used to hang out with the manager for hours, drinking free beer and smoking… Read full post »

“She’s not responding to the Thorazine…let’s switch to Haldol, and start her out at…oh, say…point five milligrams and see how she does with that.”

In here, everything is 70’s Government Issue, all browns and orange-beige, except for the gown you&rsquo… Read full post »

I was only four, but I remember when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. I have lived in the South all my life, and I have seen how truly vile prejudice, and bigotry, can be.  For those of you who live in more enlightened areas of the country, who don't… Read full post »

Albert Camus said that charm is a way of getting the answer "yes" without having asked a clear question. The art of flirtation is part of a woman's charm, if she's good at it, of course, and though I find her less than charming, I'll give Sarah Palin this--she's a hell… Read full post »