In my early youth near 10 years old I would 'slip off' from my rural home to the bayou for a swim during the hot Summer. Often my brothers older and younger would join me. In fact, it was, Cordell my older brother who introduced me to swimming & taught me to swim.

A significant transformation is happening in the workforce as the younger generations seek virtue ethics in their work environment. This isn't about superficial virtue signaling, but rather the pursuit of excellence and building a stack of skills. The new workforce, shaped by their early exposure to quest-based games, are motivated to enhance their personal skill set. They're striving for perfection in every detail. If you deny them this opportunity, they'll disengage and seek excellence elsewhere. Aristotle would be proud.

I found out the Arkansas Gazette being a Little Rock daily and Sunday newspaper offered jobs to paper route carriers. I could earn $40 per month with a 100-count customer base. I begged my parents to buy me a bicycle so I could earn some really big money. So, just like that, I went from a barefoot country boy to a bicycle riding city slicker!

As a 14-year-old boy, I took a short term romantic interest in a young lady of my class who rode the same school bus as I.

I am thinking of my very best 'toy' as a youngster living in a rural section near Pine Bluff, AR that my sweet parents encouraged me and my lil brother to play with. It was a discarded 16 inch tire.

As a jack-leg millwright, I had quite a few difficult days at the mill. just like everyone else that's ever walked through the front gate...

When I was located in Pasadena, TX as a Manager of 5 paper machines, I had a very good friend working maintenance to pass away. I remember him with good thoughts of the past. One such recall occurred on his birthday in 1990. I accepted an invitation to a surprise BD party at his sister's house.

All paper machines operating before OSHA 1974 enactment had potential of mangling or death to the employee who worked without caution. For example: Nip guards at winder, Calendar Stacks, Press Section, Conveyor belts, ETC. were NOT equipped with personnel safety devices.

The year was 1962, and a 19-year-old future papermaker decided to "audition" for a spot on the bullgang at a small one-machine operation at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. (Dierks Paper Company)