In 1988 George Michael was all the rage, beating out Michael Jackson for the top spot on the charts with the unlikely combination of titles “Faith” and “I Want Your Sex.” His concert tour that year included Texas Stadium in Irving. George Strait and Randy Travis were more my speed so I paid little attention… Read More Hortense Fudpucker

I returned to work from maternity leave as Manager of the Word Processing Center. In June of 1985, I hired a friendly woman named Peggy. Debi Morris came to the bank to have lunch with me one day and was introduced to Peggy. Later, Peggy asked if Deb and I were sisters and I explained… Read More Puppies and Politics

At the age of 30, I registered for college for the first time. My goal was to earn a degree in education and teach school so that I could be off work when Susan, and other prospective children, were out of school. Within two years, I accumulated a decent number of hours by taking classes… Read More Training Triumphs

My go-to phrase when facing disappointment is “When God closes a door, don’t stand there pounding on it, turn around and look for the window.” After my abrupt exit from the Star-Telegram, I reworked that saying as something like “When a door closes in your face and breaks your nose, look for an ice pack… Read More It’s in the Bank

The last months at work before my maternity leave were a delightful time of baby showers and advice in the break room from experienced mothers. Debi Morris hosted a baby shower for my work friends and Carolyn Hinds, my other sister by choice, hosted a church party. My Star-Telegram family was so generous; almost every day… Read More The Cost of Crusading

Parenthood changes everything. Budgets were reworked, closets were cleaned out, and all conversations led to “the baby.” I loved my constant companion reminding of what I should eat and that I should get up and take a walk around the block. I attacked my sales goals with even more determination because ads equaled money and… Read More The Way Things Were

The Star-Telegram was not at a loss for headlines in 1979. The world took notice as a clergy-inspired revolution in Iran swelled to anarchy putting millions in the streets and resulting in deadly stand-offs with the Iranian military. The Shah of Iran was overthrown and replaced by an Islamic Republic, thus destabilizing the alliance between… Read More New Horizons

In January of 1978, I received my pin commemorating five years of employment at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. As I gratefully took the pin, I was so glad that I did not take my father’s advice on that day Hazel Bowen called. Dad perpetually saw the glass half empty. He warned me at the time… Read More And Justice for All

So, I never admitted that I impersonated that gentleman’s long lost love. When I heard talk about the crazy guy who kept calling and insisting to talk to Hazel, I just feigned shock and amusement. I was quite content as a member of the Star-Telegram family. I had a good car, more than one dress,… Read More The Colonial Bike Ride

The best part of having a good job was freedom from poverty. When I was slinging hash at the café, I was thankful while counting pennies to pay rent and walking to work to save gas; but it made me want to break into a yodel realizing I could now put two dozen eggs in… Read More Callers Beware