FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 66

I have seen players bring their girlfriends to the Y before and have them sit while they play. I had never done that – I just didn’t see the point of a girl sitting over on the bleachers for two hours while a bunch of sweaty boys and men duked it out on the basketball court.

OUT TO PASTOR: Did I really say that?

I was working on my computer when The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage walked in and said, “Are you ready to go?”She caught me by surprise. I looked up from my computer and, staring at her, said, “What are you talking about?”“You remember what you said this morning?

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 65

After the song, Preacher Harvey got up in his dark suit and stood ten feet tall in the pulpit. “BROTHERS, SISTERS, AND FRIENDS,” he belted out, snatching everybody’s attention right out of the gate and demonstrating his mastery at projection.

OUT TO PASTOR: I thought she said ‘doughnut’

As hard as I try, and believe me, I try, I don’t always hear correctly, especially regarding The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 64

I walked Corrina to her door, moving slowly up the herringbone brick walkway and up the old red-brick steps to the front porch.“Do you mind if I holler at your mom and dad?”

OUT TO PASTOR: Nothing is more satisfying than doing nothing

We were facing Hurricane Milton, and everything was being shut down. Milton was to hit us on a Wednesday night. Because we were in the center of where it was supposed to come, we were not allowed to get out and drive on the streets.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 63

“Some teenagers were drag-racing that night,” Mama said, telling the story of the tragic night on a narrow two-lane Alabama highway, “and they came up over a hill going ‘a hundred,’ the police said. Daddy didn’t have time to swerve, so there was nothing to do but take the impact head-on.

OUT TO PASTOR: You break it, you fix it

Every once in a while, I hear or see something that reminds me of my father.

OUT TO PASTOR: As if I didn’t already know

I’ve been accused of many things throughout my life, but having a great memory is not one of them.It’s not that I don’t try to remember things – I just can’t remember things I’m supposed to remember.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 62

The change of scenery from the Doocy’s yelping and hollering over the red ants to my standing on the McClain’s front porch as Corrina came out later that evening was an indescribable juxtaposition, although the incongruity was nothing new for the summer. I saw it every day.