Category Archives: Life
Doug Viar Taught Me Everything I Ever Learned About Covering News – Sure Wish He Was Still Around
I’ll never, ever forget the day Doug Viar’s daughter, Lori, sent me an instant message over Facebook. “Tommy, daddy is gone.” It sort of confirmed something I had a funny feeling about that day. I’d been trying to reach Doug. … Continue reading
March Begins. I Can Coast Now.
I can remember it. Clear as day. Every year on March 1st, even if it was snowing, my daddy would say, “Tommy, we can coast now. We’ve made it through February, that’s the worst of it.” He’d go on to … Continue reading
Want To Know Why What’s Happening Is So Bad? I’ll Tell You.
The last two years has done nothing short of destroying what we as Americans valued most. Tradition. Growing up used to be so simple for youngsters all across this country from Montana to Arkansas. Dates on a Friday night, getting … Continue reading
So Long Mr. Luck
I met Mr. Carleton Luck over a decade ago in the Nellysford, Virginia coffee, wine shop & restaurant called Basic Necessities. One of my absolute favorite places on this earth, by the way. I know of no nicer man … Continue reading
Fly High. We’re Gonna Miss You Big Time Terry Martin
Kind and gentle souls are hard to find these days. I was lucky enough to find one in Terry Martin more than a decade ago. I got to know Terry over the years when I was the emcee for the … Continue reading
Farm Standard Time (FST)
We all know about DST. That’s where we advance our clocks one hour each spring of the year then fall back an hour in the fall to Standard Time. Ever since I was a kid growing up on the farm … Continue reading
The Mountains Miss You, And So Do I : Saying Goodbye To Steve Crandall
Roseland Nelson County, Virginia By Tommy Stafford I’ve thought for months what I’d say when this day finally came. I really, really hoped I wouldn’t have to, but here we are. My friend Steve is gone. Mind you there are … Continue reading
The Friend I Never Got To Know
I barely got to know Sam. In a matter of months we first met, became friends, and just like that he was gone. No, he didn’t die, but it almost felt a little bit like he did. For 7 years … Continue reading
I Knew This Day Would Eventually Come – Happy Trails Printed Blue Ridge Life Magazine
Roseland Nelson County, Virginia By Tommy Stafford It’s amazing how fast 16 years can go by when you’re an adult, and you’re adulting. Not so much when you’re a kid and you’re waiting on the 16th birthday so you can … Continue reading
Processing Day
Roseland Nelson County, Virginia The day the pigs leave the farm to go to the processor is always a tough one. Let’s just call it what it is. It’s the kill date. Processor just makes it sound nicer. I was … Continue reading
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