Opinion

After a long and arduous night watching the results of the 2024 election, I attended the funeral of a dear friend’s mother. The service was held in a church to honor a Christian woman, so the music was sacred and moving. Her memorial was sweet, and the message endearing. While seated in the pew, worshiping and reflecting, I noticed something. In one song, the lyrics stated, “You turn graves into gardens… You turn beauty to ashes…” Some of you know the melody. Despite the touching nature of the tune and what it represents to a believer, I began to reflect upon how often gardens are referenced in funerals—at least lately.

With Republicans regaining majority control of the Senate, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is making his bid to become that chamber’s majority leader. U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, had previously announced he would step down as party leader. Republicans will hold at least a 53-45 edge in January, with Senate races in two states still undecided as of Friday morning.

Carl Sandburg--his poetry collections winning three Pulitzer Prizes-warmed the hearts of Americans with his beautiful description of how tides roll in, “on little cat feet.” He would be hard-pressed to similarly describe crowd’s arrivals at our house each year on October 31. They’re in all shapes, sizes, ages and all manner of dress--but, unlike fog-they arrive as if on tidal waves, eager to gather their popcorn.

A growing number of Texas homeowners are forgoing buying homeowners insurance as premiums skyrocket, according to a recent report from the Texas comptroller. Recent natural disasters – hurricanes, severe storms and wildfires – have prompted some insurers to limit or even eliminate coverage in Texas.

I do not know who Murphy was or what great knowledge he possessed to develop his law, but I am not a fan. The law says, “Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong...” Murphy made other claims as well. He was a “glass half empty” type of fellow.

The deeper dive one takes into life’s hourglass of time, the more likely it is to ponder nuggets of health news that might affect longevity. One jumped out at me the other day when a physician’s findings gave me an additional reason to keep as close an eye on my cane as I do my cell phone.

Texans who wish to vote early in the Nov. 5 general election have until closing time Friday, Nov. 1 to do so. Secretary of State Jane Nelson is encouraging voters to double- check their precinct numbers and candidate selections before casting their ballots.

“When you squeeze a lemon, you get lemon juice… when you squeeze an orange, you get orange juice… Why is it that when you squeeze a Christian, you get everything but Christ?” These words I once heard in a sermon and they often rumble around in my psyche. The gist of the statement communicates the connection between behavior and identity. Our behavior reflects how we perceive ourselves and tend to act according to what we know and understand.

Bob Hope, beloved humanitarian, comedian and patriot, may have been America’s best ambassador of international goodwill--ever. He was able to “localize” his jokes and stories no matter where he appeared.

The federal judge who has repeatedly found Texas in contempt for not fixing its foster care system has been removed by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a three-judge panel faulting U.S. District Judge Janis Jack’s “highly antagonistic demeanor,” The Texas Tribune reported. The three also reversed the $100,000 daily fine against the state’s defendants — the Texas Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Family and Protective Services, which runs the foster care system.