By Neal Murphy

"Running the Trot Lines" by Neal Murphy

July 22, 2021 - OK, you fishermen know about trot lines. You know how to make one, how to tie it to two trees across a river or stream, and how to drop lines which contained the hooks. Let's assume that there are some who do not know about trot lines. This story is for you.

"The Bug Letter" By Neal Murphy

July 12, 2021 - Everyone has received one from a large company at one time or another. They are very easy to identify for they have certain characteristics regardless of the topic.

I recently complained to my cable TV company because the signal was constantly going out. In fact, cable service was down for three consecutive days. Based upon the monthly premium that I pay for this service, it should be mirror-clear 100% of the time.

“Adam’s Off Ox” by Neal Murphy

June 25, 2021 - Many of you have no doubt heard a person say that he didn’t know someone else from Adam’s off ox, but you may not have stopped to consider the peculiar aptness of this folk expression. I recall my grandparents and parents would use the phrase quite often but I never thought to delve into what the words truly meant. What is an “off ox”, and who was Adam? What did this have to do with not knowing somebody?

"Earlobes - What Good Are They?" By Neal Murphy

June 14, 2021 - The other day I had a pimple on an earlobe. It felt a little sore for a few days and then went away. It got me to wondering about earlobes. Why are we humans blessed with them? I did a little research and found some interesting information about them which I will share with you.

"The Fender Bender" By Neal Murphy

May 14, 2021 - When I got married I owned a 1950 Chevrolet two-door sedan. It was a pretty vehicle, and it had served me well during my college days. Now, after marriage and contemplating starting a family, I felt that a newer, larger car was in order.

I found a nice used 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air four-door at Butts Chevrolet that appealed to my new paternal nature. It was black and white with fender skirts on the rear fenders.

"Shaggin' Golf Balls" by Neal Murphy

May 7, 2021 - Growing up in deep East Texas during the late 1940s did not allow me to learn much about the sport of golf, or “cow pasture pool” as it was known around these parts. There were no golf courses around the area and no one in my immediate family played golf, so the game was foreign to me until the year 1950. I met a man who introduced me to golf clubs and balls. He was a well-dressed gentleman who owned an insurance agency in town. His name was Bill Polley.

"What's Happened to the Whippoorwill?" by Neal Murphy

April 30, 2021 - Anyone who has camped out in East Texas has probably had this experience: You’ve spent the evening sitting around the campfire after a satisfying dinner. A nice gentle breeze cools the evening air as you settle down for a night of blissful sleep. Then, it starts - “Whip-poor-will, Whip-poor-will”, the sound of a bashful bird serenading you.

"Booted, New Orleans Style" by Neal Murphy

February 5, 2021 - In the year 2000 my computer did not crash, nor did the world come to an end as was predicted by many people. However, I did visit the Crescent City in June for the very first time. I have lived within a four-hour drive but never felt the urge to actually visit the city until my daughter, Kay, called me with some news.

“Entertaining Angels” (Part Three) By Neal Murphy

October 1, 2020 - “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)

Our daughter, Kay, had recently married and was living in St. Joseph, Missouri. Our son, Doug, was attending college in the same city. In the summer of 1980 my wife and I had enjoyed a weekend with them, driving there from our home in Ft. Worth, Texas.

“Entertaining Angels” (Part Two) By Neal Murphy

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)

September 24, 2020 - Around January of 1974 my insurance company transferred me to our new office in Littleton, Colorado. Living in Colorado was a blast for our family. My wife, Clara, had taken a job at Denver Children’s Hospital in downtown Denver. She was working for the chief cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. George Pappas, as his secretary and assistant. It was a very exciting, though stressful position.

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