Stories from the Slow Lane
The Old Philosopher of New Dubina
Jimmy Helms is the old philosopher of New Dubina, Texas. He’s also his rustic little town’s sheriff, mayor, dentist, postmaster, banker, cobbler, bartender, preacher, teacher, etc. As the 84-year-old retired Houston dentist makes the rounds at his 1857-1900-era...
Farewell to the Farm
In late March, my siblings and I will bid farewell to the farm where we were raised. Our pristine 160-acre property south of Calgary, Alberta, is going on the auction block. However, the memories we share will endure. May I share some favorites with you? In the...
Feeding Winston’s Cows in 1973
In February 1973, the days of hauling small bales on a wooden hayrack pulled by a team of heavy horses to feed the cows were almost past. However, Millarville, Alberta, rancher Winston Parker still adhered to the old tradition with help from my brother, Art. I jumped...
Christmas in Her Heart
Christmas in Her Heart is a true family Christmas story that I share every holiday season. I hope these simple yet remarkable memories made in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies will lift your spirit and warm your heart. The aromatic promise of an epic Christmas...
Santa Is Watching Columbus, Texas
Thanks to technology, Santa is watching the goings-on at his cozy little namesake museum in Columbus, Texas. There, on display, are several thousand eye-catching likenesses of the jolly old elf lovingly collected from all over the world. Come along and I’ll give you a...
An Abandoned Kitten’s Thanksgiving Thoughts
Trudy Thomas is the name, and savoring security is my game. Last November, when I was a seven-month-old kitten, my three siblings and I were abandoned on a deserted lane in rural Texas several weeks before Thanksgiving. For a couple of hours, it was fun playing in an...
Thanks, WWII Nurse Audrey Jones
On Nov. 11, please join me in paying tribute to World War II veteran Audrey Beyer Jones of Corpus Christi, Texas. This 101-year-old native of Madison, Wisconsin, stepped on France soil as a nurse with the 12th Evacuation Hospital about eight weeks after D-Day on June...
Read Any Inspiring Stories Lately?
Cypress, Texas, reviewer K Leonard calls Stories I’ve Been Told – Volume 2 inspiring. She writes, “Masterful storyteller Elaine Thomas leaves you feeling like you have been sitting on the front porch or at the kitchen table hearing firsthand the life stories of...
Thank You, Mother Nature
Thank you, Mother Nature for making your presence known here in South Central Texas with some beautiful fall sights. We may not have breathtaking views of autumn leaves, but for those of us fortunate enough to live close to the land, fall is all around us. Welcome...