Stories & Blogs
Roy’s Sunday Letter for January 1, 2023
** Beth and I will follow a Facebook suggestion in 2023. We will individually write something good about the week on a slip of paper. The slips, week after week, will go into a jar. From time to time, we may decide to pull a slip from the jar to brighten the day and remind…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 25, 2022
The Sunday Letter for Christmas Day I will recall “The Best Of” Sunday Letter postings in 2022. Enjoy reading a favorite again, or a first read if you joined us during the year. My hope is that the January SL will inspire and support all of us as we step out and into 2023. February…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for Dec. 11,2022
** My friend Martha recommended that I offer my short story print book to small, rural libraries outside of Fort W0rth. I seem to have become lost in the larger FW Library system. Good idea Martha! ** I found this wording in a Fiction mystery: “I had this crazy idea; I could change the world.”…
Roy’s Sunday Letter December 5, 2022
** A Buddhist temple in northern Thailand has closed. Four monks and the Abbott have entered rehab for methamphetamine addiction. The villagers living around the temple are upset. The villagers earned “goodness” points by providing food to the monks. A cycle of connected lives interrupted. From last week, the Buffy Saint-Marie message lingers: “The key…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for November 27, 2022
** For sports golf watchers Gary McCord, Peter Kostic, (CBS), Roger Maltbie, Gary Koch (NBC) will not be describing 5 irons to a right-side pin placement in 2023. Fresh young faces will attempt to find the 1st tee. I never experienced the professional shoving aside of today … Jim Nance, I think I saw a…
Roy’ Sunday Letter For Nov. 20, 2022
** Something I did not know: There are 90 high schools with bar-b-que teams. Pass the sauce please! ** It is an odd world, no? The same Jeff Bezos who is laying off thousands of Amazon staff, named Dolly Parton for a $100 million Courage and Civility Award. Perhaps Dolly, always a progressive thinker, will…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for Nov. 13, 2022
** Luby’s Cafeteria closed. Cafeterias were a mainstay for families, elderly, and singles from 1950 – 1980. The tradition of moving a tray down a food line of limited choices lost its place to drive-thru, take out, expanded fast food menus, along with the pace of life 2022. Do you have a cafeteria memory??? Share……..
Roy’s Sunday Letter for Nov. 6, 2022
** Dave is an east coast elder and after reading my stories, he decided he had stories of his own, but how to begin? I asked Dave to list 15 significant events that have shaped his life. Narrow to 5, then to 2. Next, Dave drafted a half to three-quarter page story within 20 minutes….
Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 30, 2022
* My 2nd career as writer has become my passion. I care deeply for the ever-evolving characters in my stories. Each tell their own story, face challenges, make decisions made and take steps to be their true selves. I am always interested in what character, what story finds a place within you. ** In the…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 23, 2022
SL Reader Comments – What Is Still True? The everyday joy of grandkids….Smiling at children, and their smiles back….Connecting with college and Ft. Worth friends of long ago….Page one of a wonderous book, on whatever device….Pleasure in the shape and taste of homemade pizza. Other comments: Health & wellness; Happiness of family; Tears as sons…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 24, 2026
The Songs & Artists of Youth & Senior Years Music, both the sounds and the lyrics, were woven into my youth, working years, and now elder years. Today’s Sunday’s writing will present five of my forever songs. Most Sunday Letter readers were too young, or not even born, in 1966 when Joan Baez came out…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 17, 2026
Creating and Sustaining Community This week’s Sunday Letter has been inspired by Beth’s Delta Zeta Sorority’s magazine “The Lamp.” The current issue focuses on creating and sustaining sisterhood communities. Some readers of the Sunday Letter may participate in a local church, civic, or neighborhood association. Other readers may yet to have that experience or opportunity….
Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 10, 2026
MOTHER’S DAY 2026 Writing about mother’s is an opportunity as well as a challenge… Readers of the Sunday Letter may have experienced birth mothers, stepmothers, mothers-in-law or other family members who provided the role of mothers as best possible. Through our service at the Hope & Healing Place in Amarillo, we also know of mothers’…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 3, 2026
All About Goodness First Goodness: I had been dreading the clinic appointment with the Cardiologist. I had completed 3 recent heart tests and would hear test results and recommended next treatment…perhaps a Pacemaker or new medication. Instead, our MD explained my heart had a minor flow issue but were not health threatening. “See you in…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 26, 2026
About HOPE….How To Keep….Offer HOPE To Others Lately, as I have talked and listened to friends and family, I heard and felt their general despair. This despair seems to be from reports on the news, decisions being made by the unqualified, random acts of violence and harm to the innocent. I also heard and felt…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 19, 2026
Benefits of Letting the Old Man or Woman In Toby Keith wrote and recorded Don’t Let the Old Man In during his last months of treatment and eventual death from stomach cancer. There is a popular site offering T-shirts, hats, and bags with this message. I understand the resistance and push back of letting the…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 12, 2026
Paying Attention And Accepting My Limitations Beth, Peter, and I gather twice monthly to share writings and journals. We three also share of our individual lives. Beth and Peter encouraged me to allow a recent individual writing as the content of a Sunday Letter and thus I have done so this week. This Sunday Letter…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 5, 2026
This Easter weekend Beth & I walked our neighborhood block of 16 homes. Beth had prepared a gift bag for each neighbor with Zucchini bread, a card with her original art on the front and contact information. Both Jesus and Mr. Rogers spoke about neighbors. By knocking on 16 doors, we extended the hand of…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 29, 2026
Neighbors and Neighborhoods 2026 I am writing this week about the ways both neighbors and neighborhoods have changed, never to return to the days of images and memories of our experiences often reflected in a TV series or movie. Beth and I live on a traditional block of 16 homes. In my youth I grew-up…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 22, 2026
Being Safe, Prayers All Will Be Safe Where was your safe place as a child and later as a teen? Who were the individuals or groups who taught you about safety and provide you safety as a child…as a teen. Today, who are you teaching about safety and being free from harm? In what ways…