Columns

The coronavirus epidemic has several parallels to the Spanish influenza epidemic that ravaged the world between 1918 and 1920, burning out finally in autumn of its third year. By then, it had killed far more people than World War I. Many people knew someone who had died.

The first time we met, I couldn’t stand you. Isn’t it funny how one of the greatest love stories of all time started out like a bad rom-com? I was young, and my little world was tightly controlled by my conservative parents. Breakfast was a dairy-soaked bowl of whole grain oats.

Quote of the Week…..“When I was a kid, my parents taught me to not believe everything I saw on TV. Now I have to teach them to not believe everything they see on Facebook.” This past weekend I had the privilege of attending the 100 th birthday party in Holdenville of my lifelong friend, Jewell “J.

Allen has a long and colorful history. The earlier Cold Springs name came long ago when settlers heading west passed through this area on their way to (where else?) further out west. Many stopped here because of the cold springs. Some simply stayed a bit, camping on the river.

I just made Japanese-style chicken from a recipe I found online. I printed out a list of ingredients and headed for the grocery store, because for some reason, I couldn’t find anything called mirin in my fridge. Or sesame seeds, or scallions, or a few other things the recipe called for.

I was visiting with my uncle George of Valliant, Oklahoma back in 1977 and we were talking about the great flu epidemic of 1918. I asked him, “When did you know it was really bad?” “Well, we knew it was bad when the undertakers ran out of coffins and they could not order any more by rail freight.

Dear Editor: We’ve been told we are at war with the infamous invisible Coronavirus. But so far, all we see, is that we are trying to save those already infected/wounded, which is of course a very important part in all wars.

You can teach an old dog new tricks. I am living proof that the above axiom is true. Case in point. After 72 frustrating years of refusing to eat mayonnaise (or salad dressing) in any shape form or fashion, I finally, in the four score minus seventh year of life, saw the light.

I appreciate the job Gov. Stitt is doing in many areas. I am also thankful that we do not have a Governor like Ralph Northam of Virginia. Northam has determined that churches should be closed but abortion clinics open during this time.

Dear Mr. Robinson, I am writing to you this month to express compassion and hope to those among my readers who are deeply troubled today by the uncertainty of our times.