FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 76

Everything continued as if a boy in an old blue truck had never driven out on the job and was co-winner of the blue-ribbon award for “Fight of the Century,” voted on exclusively by the chain gang bunch out on the brick job.

OUT TO PASTOR: Don’t call me stupid– just whisper it

One thing that irritates me is people talking behind my back.While in the mall recently, I passed two people, and I heard one say, “Doesn’t he look stupid?”Tempted as I was, I didn’t turn around and inquire what they were talking about. Did they think I looked stupid?

OUT TO PASTOR: A needle named “Miss Ouch”

My father has been gone for 15 years. It hardly seems that long, but time goes by, and you can’t stop it. One of his “jokes” was, “Son, I’m so sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Then he would laugh, and I would, of course, join in with his laughter.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 74

I also didn’t notice that the black Studebaker pulled up about the time the boy got out of his truck, and Mr. and Mrs. McClain and Corrina were standing out past Red’s truck, watching the whole scene.None of that had time to compute in a mind going a hundred miles an hour.

OUT TO PASTOR: My days of wonder in the hospital

My plans for the New Year were horribly changed – by me ending up in the hospital.Around the middle of the month, it seemed like I may have had the flu. After all, everybody around me had the flu, and I just wanted to fit in with society in general.