A Simple Country Writer

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So it’s Christmas again and I am collecting stories and memories from Christmas Past. It is an exercise in storytelling and interviewing, but also to share those values that are universal during the holidays.

Click on the link ‘Christmas Memories’ to hear the first episode.

Share your story in the comments section of this post. Continue reading →

Gov.-elect Bev Perdue is traveling around North Carolina this month, holding summits with business leaders and trying to gauge just how much of an uphill climb she will have when she takes office in January.

And she’s been reading a little, too.

In an interview with the Triangle Business Journal, Perdue said she is looking back 75 years ago to O. Max Gardner, the Old North State’s Depression-era governor, for inspiration on how to deal with the current economic crisis.

And with good reason, since the state is looking at a possible $3 billion budget shortfall next year.

Is Perdue setting herself up to be the next Depression-era governor? Continue reading →

… You are cordially invited to the farm for a Good Ole-Fashioned Pig-Pickin’ and Hay Ride.

Bring the Missus and the kids. There are plenty of activites for the whole family!

Oh, by the way, can you float us a loan to keep the farm running this year?

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Well folks, I’ve decided to move the blog to WordPress and I am still working out the kinks in the template.

But, hopefully soon, we’ll have a fully-functional blog with new posts, new features and more.

In the meantime, thanks for reading.

ok …

It seems now that the Solid South has been split.

When it was all said and done, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida went for Barack Obama. Just barely, though.

The rest of the South voted for John McCain — as expected.

Now political observers are saying the South is losing its hold on national politics and that the Democrats don’t need to South to maintain its majority.

They couldn’t be more wrong. Continue reading →

It occurred to me, walking out in the cool damp night to my car, that we have elected a black man as President of the United States.

How far have we come. People in other countries could never fathom how big this is for America.

But this election is beyond race. This election, this moment in history, transcends race or gender or class.

It is a victory over divisiveness.

It is a victory for the moderates, for the workers and for the rich.

It is a victory for those who struggle and those who are comfortable.

It is a victory over lingering prejudice and a leap of faith that this country has needed to make.

A leap of faith not because Barack Obama is black, but because we have been so dejected and mired in conflict. We lost our confidence and our way in the world.

This is a victory over fear. Continue reading →

Where are we now, seven years after we were attacked on Sept. 11, 2001? Continue reading →

Editor’s note: An update has been added to this post.

Now that the VPs have been named and the campaign is in full swing, it’s time to bring to voice a concern that has plagued me as I’ve watched the campaign.

Barack Obama will lose the South.

Despite the vast numbers of African-American voters that will turnout to vote for him. Despite the energized youth vote that could make or break the election for Obama. Despite the polling numbers where he is inches with John McCain. Despite winning the North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina primaries.

Barack Obama will not win the South. Continue reading →

My grampa, John R. McNeely, died early this morning.

John was a one-of-a-kind character who spent his life doing what he wanted and traveling where he wanted to go. He had an independent spirit and simple confidence that earned him the admiration of everyone he met.

He taught me how to write — through his letters. I have 25 years worth of letters from him — letters talking about everything and nothing. Letters about the weather and the latest news. Letters telling jokes. Letters with his thoughts and feelings. Continue reading →