At 17, I’d never heard of T. Boone Pickens or Carl Icahn, but overnight, my teenage fears grew the way they did in springtime when tornadoes tore through nearby towns, ripping roofs off houses and lives off their foundations.In 1985, the Youngest Gen-Xers...
Mary’s Swap Meet in Oklahoma City
Mary's Swap Meet in Oklahoma CityWhere the air is a stew of Oklahoma dust, fryer grease, and the musk of penned animals.Where the air is a stew of Oklahoma dust, fryer grease, and the musk of penned animals.Castoffs July 9, 2025I grew up in the dust of thrift stores,...
Modern-Day Tent Revival in Oklahoma (Pictures)
Driving through Hughes County, Oklahoma, I passed a tent revival pitched by the side of a two-lane state highway. I whipped a U-ey right there in the middle of the road and circled back to snap a few pictures. It was around 10:30 a.m. and the sun had climbed high...
The One Thing Gary England Taught Me
Gary England, 1939-2025 Gary England, the most iconic severe weather meterologist in U.S. history, died yesterday. He was 85. England was the chief meterologist for KWTV-9 here in Oklahoma City, and the most trusted source in Tornado Alley. I had a few interactions...
Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery
Karen Silkwood died on Oklahoma Highway 74, 50 years ago this month. ABC Audio's new podcast, "Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery," is hosted by two Oklahoma journalists, one of whom, Bob Sands, is a former colleague. I nominated Bob for an award many years ago...
America Found: LeFlore County, Oklahoma
America Found:LeFlore CountyLeFlore County Oklahoma -- Home to the world's tallest hill. Actually, kind of stunning.LeFlore County Oklahoma -- Home to the world's tallest hill. Actually, kind of stunning.America Found: Leflore County July 29, 2025LeFlore County,...
God Bless America and the Peacocks, Too
Peacocks for Sale in OklahomaIn Oklahoma, peacocks are considered domesticated animals. In Oklahoma, you can buy a peacock at the flea market. Latest Trip To Mary's July 20, 2025At the flea market this morning, beneath the blistering canopy of July and half-spoken...
During the pandemic, I had some of the happiest days of my life.
I am part of a private online group of writers publishing journal entries every day during the month of June. [A Journal Entry, 6.3.21] Happiest Days During the pandemic, I had some of the happiest days of my life. Starting in March 2020, Robert and the kids were...
Oklahoma City Bombing Survivor Tree, 1995 (Original Photos)
I was going to share these images of the Oklahoma Survivor Tree on the 25th Anniversary of the Oklahoma Bombing but then COVID happened and time got away from me. They were taken in 1995 following the implosion of the Alfred P. Murrah building. (Photo Credit: My...
World War I-Era Pictures of Medicine Park, Oklahoma and Settegast Park, Houston
Lost Generation | Medicine Park, Oklahoma This is third in a series of picture posts featuring pages from the WWI-era photo album I found at Mary’s Flea Market in Oklahoma City. This selection features historic images of Houston’s Settegast Park and Bath Lake in...
Vintage Galveston, Electric Park, Camp Bowie (1918) Photos in World War 1-Era Scrapbook
Vintage Galveston Vintage Galveston, Electric Park and Camp Bowie pictures are among the images I discovered in a rare World War I scrapbook in 2018. I purchased it at a local flea marketing in Oklahoma City. This is Part 2 in the blog post series highlighting these...
Lost Generation Pictures in Rare World War I Era Photo Album
The Lost Generation, b. 1883-1900 The Lost Generation was the 9th generation of Americans. Born between 1883 and 1900, they were defined as a Nomad generation by two prominent historians, the late William Strrauss, and Neil Howe. Generation X shares their archetype...