"Brass Monkey Business" by Neal Murphy

August 22, 2025 - I suspect that we are all familiar with the colloquial expression concerning brass monkeys. Most of the sayings have to do with weather – cold weather. When and how did this idiom arise, and what do brass monkeys have to do with the weather? Research on this reveals interesting information.

“Backing Up” by Neal Murphy

August 18, 2025 - I always considered myself to be a good driver. I have driven ambulances, hearses, and police cars and have never had a mishap. Only one traffic ticket is on my record from 1967 (it was my wife’s fault, but that’s another story) in Houston, Texas. I have taken driver training courses and even a police pursuit course while in Colorado. However, with all that background and experience there is one thing I cannot do – back up a trailer.

“A Rude Awakening” by Neal Murphy

August 8, 2025 - I thought that I had selected the best location for a cot in the rustic bunk house the night of May 14, 1954. I was proved wrong.

When I was a senior in San Augustine high school our class selected for our Senior Class trip a dude ranch in New Braunfels, Texas. It was customary for both the Junior and Senior classes to have a class trip to help celebrate the end of the school year. This location was just about the right distance for the forty graduates to travel by bus for a weekend outing.

“Are Men Still Relevant?” By Neal Murphy

June 26, 2025 - It seems that the twenty-first century has produced a general feeling among the female of the species that men are no longer needed. I read articles and see programs on television produced by young, liberated feminists who espouse the idea that they have no need for a man in their lives. They are educated, own their own businesses, and only need a man for pro-creation. They can then rear their children alone – who needs a man around? Any time a program or commercial needs a dufus, guess who gets that part – the white guy. It would be a politically incorrect thi

“Tarheel Moonshine” by Neal Murphy

June 20, 2025 - Every Friday found myself and Lee Pardue in the company car making sales calls to our more productive agents. I was employed by an insurance company based in Burlington, NC at the time. Lee was my Underwriting Manager. Since I was new to the company these trips were a good way of meeting our agents.

“Tree Top Airlines” by Neal Murphy

June 5, 2025 - We all have many “firsts” in our lives – first kiss, first love, and first pet, all of which are memorable. I would have to add to that list my first airplane ride which occurred in 1959 in Texas, and it was a memorable event to say the least.

“About Cedar Trees” by Neal Murphy

May 21, 2025 - The house that I grew up in was surrounded by six or seven large cedar trees. I never paid them much attention during my early days, except that they smelled good and my dad was allergic to them.

"San Augustine's Last 'Hello'" by Neal Murphy

May 12, 2025 - The call was to ring out the old and bring in the new in San Augustine the night of March 18, 1950. That was the night that the last call was made on the old telephone switchboard at 11:42pm by Mayor Guy Z. Moore. After the proper switches were made by telephone technicians, Mayor Moore made the very first dialed call on the new telephone system.

"Do Cats Have Nine Lives?" by Neal Murphy

April 21, 2025 - When I was very young I heard people say that cats had nine lives. I did not know exactly what that meant but thought it was a lot of nonsense. However, as I have grown older, I have grown wiser. I realize that there is actually a lot more to this saying than at first meets the eye.

“America’s First Documented Ghost” By Neal Murphy

April 11, 2025 - How many of you readers believe in ghosts? How many are on the fence about this? How do we reconcile accounts of ghost sightings by honest, reputable people who evidently witnessed a strange event? I have never witnessed a ghost sighting personally, but have, I believe, been visited by angels, but that’s another story.

Among the strangest ghost stories ever recorded happened in the unlikely state of Maine. I have nothing against Maine, but I do believe that if I were a ghost I would select a more populated area should I want to reveal myself.

Shelby County Today

Menu

By Neal Murphy