The simple question sent my mind reeling backward through time to those hot, hot, muggy oppressive days of summer. The question was from a neighbor commenting on how hot and uncomfortable the month of July has been. Temperatures have resided in the mid 90s with the heat index well into the 100s. Ours is a… Read more »
Just Like Television
“I’ll go first,” Buck instructed. “Then Chris, come in. Tyrone, you hang around outside near the door. Don’t cause no suspicion now. Got it?” Buck, from the drivers’ seat, stared at Tyrone in the rear view mirror. Chris, from the passenger seat, waited for Tyrone’s answer. Tyrone nodded but without conviction. Quiet and darkness set… Read more »
The Book Festival
She saw him before he saw her. The flash of adrenalin shooting through her body upset her equilibrium. Excitement pumped in her chest. Uncertainty crept through her mind. Should she? Yes? No? Duck and hide? The old woman, talking in her ear, droned on incessantly. “So Simone… Blah! Blah! Blah!” The old lady continued. Simone… Read more »
What’s in a (nick) name?
On January 21, 1952, at 7:30 pm at Holy Family Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, I entered this world. My parents christened me Thomas Gossom Jr. after my dad. While that is my given name, over the years I’ve also been given other names. Some of these were out of fun; others are a play on… Read more »
Traveling with Thom!
We’re getting ready to go on a vacation this summer. I’m ready, Thom’s ready… we both need the time away and off from the day-to-day of work and life. Thankfully, we have a fantastic Travel Agent, Tammy McDaniel, who plans and executes amazing adventures for us. Whether we need a trip to see, go, and… Read more »
It’s Finally May!
Since 1997, the National Association of Branch Campus Administrators (NABCA) Annual Conference has been held in April. I’ve known about it and went to it as a Member since 2008 and I’ve planned for and coordinated it as Staff since 2012. So why do I look forward to and long for the month of May…… Read more »
The Milkman
Chris McNair has died. My first memory of him is of my being a little boy and greeting him as he brought the milk to our front door. A gregarious man, dressed in white and driving a White Dairy Milk Truck he was the milkman who my parents and aunts knew. Later, after I finished… Read more »
Daddy
I’m in love with my dad. Do I love him? Yes. But I’m talking about being in love. I like him. I like being around him. He’s funny. He makes me laugh. He’s special. You see I didn’t grow up throwing the ball with him in the backyard. We never sat by the fireplace and… Read more »
My Fitbit
I never have a good answer about what I want for Christmas, my birthday, whatever…because I don’t really care what people get for me other than cash and gift cards (something useful…). “What kind of things could you use? Any electronics?” My dad asked. “I can’t think of any off the top of my head.… Read more »
Brandt
We met him in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris twenty years ago. He always said he was attracted to my wife’s (joyce) stylish hat, or at least that was his story and he stuck to it. An art history professor, an American living in Paris, he invited us to join him on a tour he… Read more »