Bluegrass
Opinion
That whatchamacallit

That whatchamacallit

Columnist John Moore speaks Southern. He learned it in his grandfather's blacksmith shop. Photo John Moore Southern folks don’t need proper nouns. We have whatchamacallits and thingamajigs. My grandfather had the only blacksmith shop in Ashdown, Arkansas. That’s where...

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You can go home again

You can go home again

Columnist John Moore's cat, Sammy, has helped renew his faith in hope. Courtesy John Moore There’s an old English idiom that says, “To have no truck with.” It basically means that someone doesn’t go in for syrupy or emotional stuff. I’ve never been overly sentimental....

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Yes ,Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

Yes ,Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

“DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.“Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. “Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’“Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? “VIRGINIA O’HANLON.“115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.” VIRGINIA, your little friends...

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What’s cooking

What’s cooking

Columnist John Moore collects cookbooks. Especially ones with a family touch. Courtesy John Moore The transition to digital is understandable in some areas. Watching old movies is easier online. But when it comes to reading, I still prefer a hard copy. A book....

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Sears habits DieHard

Sears habits DieHard

Columnist John Moore grew up with just about everything coming from the Sears catalog. You can buy reprints of the old catalogs, such as the one pictured, which is available on Amazon. Courtesy John Moore For much of the twentieth century, the Sears Roebuck catalog...

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What’s in a number?

What’s in a number?

Columnist John Moore's mother turned off her landline and the phone number he grew up with is now gone. He's taking it harder than he expected. Courtesy John Moore My mom turned off her landline. For 50 years, my parents had the same number. 898-2446. Now, it’s gone....

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Child’s play

Child’s play

Columnist John Moore's mother sent him one place often when he was a child. Outside. Courtesy John Moore Red Rover. Sandlot baseball. Hide-and-seek. Cowboys and Indians.  The latter today is likely lacking political correctness, but it shares with the others a...

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Truly giving thanks

Truly giving thanks

Columnist John Moore looks forward to Thanksgiving specifically because of the thanks. Courtesy John Moore Thanksgiving, at its heart, was created for one purpose. To thank God for His blessings. The Pilgrims knew hardship well. They had survived disease, starvation,...

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End of the line

End of the line

Columnist John Moore has always loved cabooses. He painted this on canvas when he was around 11-years-old. Courtesy John Moore My sister and I always looked for the caboose. That unmistakable red car at the rear of the train that held the men who always waved to us....

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