the idle american

June 13th, 2013

Who are you busier than?

By Dr. Don Newbury

A guess–not even an educated one–is that the average person these days believes himself or herself far too busy for engagement in conversational drivel about, uh, who we are “busier than.”

Where we live, quasi-retired, our busiest hours precede twice-a-month housecleaner visits.

My wife simply can’t abide the thought of …

the idle american

May 30th, 2013

Go ahead, name something

By Dr. Don Newbury

Worthy cause enthusiasts postpone sleep until wee hours–sometimes beyond–trying to come up with names for days, weeks or months that might reap the highest order of recognition. Such names—or slogans—or other IDs–typically result in folks opening checkbooks to extend financial support.

One would have a difficult time finding a more …

the idle american

May 23rd, 2013

A champion for children

By Dr. DON NEWBURY

Folks were commonly born into poverty in the 1930s. For some, it was abject–daily bread was never guaranteed, and families were continually on the move in survival mode.

Dr. O. C. (Mike) Taylor, born to migrant farm workers, was subjected to life’s most jagged edges after his birth in 1932. …

the idle american

May 2nd, 2013

Out-smarted by a smart key

By Dr. Don Newbury

Introspection of retrospection should never be taken lightly. Generally, getting on with life is preferable to dwelling on what might have been.

On rare occasions, though, it is profitable to re-visit bad decisions, declare intent never to make them again, and share details of painful experiences. Perhaps I can …

the idle american

April 25th, 2013

Life was simpler then

By Dr. DON NEWBURY

Keene, TX, isn’t today—nor was it ever—Mayberry, RFD. With a few decades peeled back, however, history suggests there were some parallels. Keene “town characters” also wound up in unlikely “fixes” of their own making.

I’m talking about the kind Andy and Barney faced in weekly TV episodes where the duo …

the idle american

April 19th, 2013

Looking down the nose

By Dr. DON NEWBURY

When sensory body parts were assigned, growing evidence suggests that noses got a raw deal. They haven’t made much noise about it so far; what can they do—snort, sniff or maybe drip?

Noses stiffened in protest—to date, anyway–have either been ignored or shushed. Even the “see no/hear no/speak no evil” …

the idle american

March 28th, 2013

Crazy about an Impala

By Dr. DON NEWBURY

Unlikelihood hardly ever deserves boldface emphasis as much as a classic car for sale now in May, Texas.

A 1958 Chevrolet Impala.

It’s a 1958 Chevrolet Impala, and when May School Superintendent Don Rhodes saw it at Rick’s Automotive, he quickly stopped, eager to closely examine the immaculate …

the idle american

March 21st, 2013

High roads and bunny trails

By Dr. Don Newbury

The trails of life–marked by obstacles of many kinds–rarely intersect with bunny trails of blue sky songs and joyous egg hunts.

Haley Whatley

They draw closer, however, when a youngster sees few limits and imbues others along the trail with a “yes we can” attitude. That’s the …

The Idle American

March 14th, 2013

Teachers and Ides of March

By Dr. Don Newbury

Julius Caesar’s assassination marked ‘em, Will Shakespeare wrote about ‘em, and teachers seem destined to perpetuate ‘em.  Bad news–like “Ides” of old–blows in each year, “hammerlocked” with destiny on the wings of each windy March.

School personnel—lumped together—harbor fear premonitions of the school year’s final lap. They know that …

The Idle American

March 7th, 2013

Bring back the lay-away plan?

Dr. Don Newbury

He was as solemn as I’ve ever seen him. My Uncle Mort, looking down the gun barrel at his 101st birthday, was pensive, his thoughts filled with yesterdays and the snows of many winters.

“Our country’s in a heap of trouble, nephew,” he began. “There’s plenty of blame to spread …