EDITOR’S NOTE: You might have noticed that Neal Lemery’s pieces are now appearing under a different heading “Gift from the Muse” instead of Words of Wisdom … Neal’s note to me when…
Category: Neal Lemery
WORDS OF WISDOM: ”It’s Fixin’ to Rain”
By Neal Lemery “It’s fixin to rain,” my grandmother would say, as she shooed the chickens out of the chicken yard and into the coop, bribed by a handful of corn. She’d…
WORDS OF WISDOM: “Not Good Enough”
By Neal Lemery A friend recently lamented that they were a failure in their life. They gave me a long list of what they called shortcomings, disasters, and self-imposed faults. They…
WORDS OF WISDOM: The State of American Manhood, One Person at a Time
By Neal Lemery A friend asked me how I was doing, adding the phrase “as a man”. I hadn’t lately thought about that “angle” to a common question, but given the…
WORDS OF WISDOM: All Hat, No Cattle
By Neal Lemery In Texas, there is a saying to describe a person: “All hat, no cattle.” I’d take that to mean, “all talk, no action.” As we approach another election…
Making a Difference: Dolly Parton’s Amazing Life
By Neal Lemery One person can make such a difference, and change lives. Each of us has that power, that ability to be present and be a supporter, a cheerleader for…
MORE ABOUT AI – Surveillance Pricing: What’s Looking Over My Shoulder
By Neal Lemery Have you wondered how artificial intelligence has moved into your life, and subtly affected your decision-making? A very real commercial practice now seems to be thriving in our lives…
WORDS OF WISDOM: Thoughts on using Artificial Intelligence
By Neal Lemery A response to Laura’s questions … Editor’s Note: After multiple community pages exploded over AI, I sent out a query to all our Pioneer contributors. Here are Neal’s…
WORDS OF WISDOM: Are You Registered To Vote?
by Neal Lemery Now is a good time to make sure your voice is heard, and that you are taking on a vital role in our community’s life and our civic…
BOOK REVIEW: Mailman – My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home, by Stephen Grant (2025)
By Neal Lemery Stephen Grant’s memoir of his time as a corporate desk-bound Zoom meeting bureaucrat turned mailman in his hometown in the Appalachian Mountains takes us into not only the…
