Midlife Diet
Illustration by jesadaphorn / iStock / Getty Images Plus It’s the oldest story in the book. Man falls asleep on couch. Man wakes up groggy and must have a bite of something sweet. Man has a forkful of pecan pie.…
Opinion
Next Time, I’ll Pass On the Strawberry
My wife, Cherie, and I count travel as one of our chief passions. Over the past 30 years, we have visited six continents and experienced many cultures, in the process learning a great deal about both others and ourselves. When…
Living the Salty Life
Tom Putnam’s office is in a featureless metal building located maybe a hundred yards behind the tackle business on Thomas Drive in Panama City Beach that his father established in 1972. There, he spends his workdays doing something that he…
The Eternal Optimist
Sabelskaya / Shutterstock.com In the river behind my parents’ Daytona Beach home, there’s an artificial reef made entirely of blueberry pancakes. My father always got up early on Sunday mornings and got busy in the kitchen. By the time my…
The Google
Illustration by Dan Heywood / Shutterstock.com My 89-year-old mother could hardly contain herself when she called to tell me that she had found a place where she could get all kinds of senior discounts. When I asked where, she said,…
Finding Happiness
Recently, I watched a show on HBO hosted by Bryant Gumbel, who was joined by an Ivy League psychologist. Jointly, the two men interviewed two accomplished individuals — a retired Navy SEAL and a former professional football player. The interviewees…
Raise a Glass for Charity and Children
Along the Emerald Coast each spring, a fondness for reds and whites translates to a lot of green to the benefit of children in need. Wine lovers with lots of heart, from Pensacola to Panama City and throughout the Southeast,…
The Hammerhead
Illustration by Jennifer Ekrut and stickerama / Shutterstock.com I knew a guy who worked at a sawmill for 25 years. He has 2½ fingers left. I totally get it. It’s not that I’m not allowed to do home repair projects,…
Make the Time for Professional Courtesy
After 25 years in the advertising and marketing business, I am never surprised when a phone call goes unreturned. Rather than becoming offended on such occasions, I let them roll off me like water. Recently, however, I found myself counseling…
Our Passion is Sharing Yours
Merriam-Webster defines passion as “a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something.” As a writer and media professional, the best part of my job is the day-to-day interaction with residents, business owners and all who…
