Parades in my Texas town were just about the most exciting happenings of childhood.  In old family albums are photos taken by my grandfather of the 1918 Armistice Day Celebration with streets jammed with men and women and an Uncle Sam-driven, mule-drawn…

A story by Lois Toone West (1920-1992), my mother, reprinted as written in the 1960s What’s so unbelievable about a dog’s being able to understand the human language?  “Nothing,” my family would be quick to reply. But what was unbelievable that day to one “member”…

I still flash on embarrassing memories that make me cringe inside, especially those that happened during the years from 12 to about 18 when we are most vulnerable to self-criticism.  My sister and I, of course, had passing crushes on boys who we valued for…

It was bone cold, the wind sending chilly gusts around our legs and up loose backs of our jackets.  I pushed my muffler up to warm my nose.  We were three American visitors steadily working our way through the quaint streets of Canterbury, one of…

This is the third and final part of the memoir of George Olsson Short, whose family love of baseball was a feature of his boyhood in the Texas of the 1920s and 1930s. After earning a living he went to Europe to fight for his country.…

This is the second in the series of three parts which are a compilation of the writings of George Olsson Short, whose family love of baseball was a feature of his boyhood in the Texas of the 1920s and 1930s. After earning a living he went…

Snake stories in Texas are hardly rare.  One story, however, deserves recounting. A caller to the shelter said she had seen a “huuuge” snake go under their house.  With its large front porch, it was the only home remaining on a corner intersection that had…

In the old Hebrew Cemetery in Corsicana, Texas is a headstone with only two words on it, “Rope Walker.” Almost nothing is known of the man in the grave except the manner of his death.  It is a tale of physical bravery and emotional mystery…

This is Part 1 of 3.  George Short was my husband’s uncle.  This is HIS story.  This story was serialized in the online magazine, http://www.texasescapes.com Part 1:  http://www.texasescapes.com/GOS/1-My-Father-Zola.htm Part 2: http://www.texasescapes.com/GOS/2-From-Hitting-Homers-to-Hitting-the-Hun.htm                                     Part 3: http://www.texasescapes.com/GOS/3-Surviving-WWII-and-Coming-Home.htm   Baseball, Love and a Love of Baseball A compilation of the writings of George Olsson…

The small notice in our local evening newspaper was seeking homes for exchange students.  I cut out the ad and called the phone number the next morning.  They made an appointment to meet us, check out our home and give us a list of possible…