Today's Features

Local author David Manning will be at Hickmans Crossroads Library, 1040 Calabash Road, at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 13, to discuss his latest mystery, “Dead Letters,” based in Sunset Beach.

Manning’s fiction and non-fiction work has appeared in dozens of literary magazines and newspapers. His radio play, “Self Image,” was produced for National Public Radio by the Radio Repertory Company, and he collaborated with composer Michael Ching on a narrated musical satire commissioned by the 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival.

Contrary to lyrics of “South Pacific,” it takes more than happy talk to be happy. It involves more than talking about things we like to do. It takes more than talking about the moon floating in the sky or looking at a lily on the lake or talking about a bird learning how to fly, making all the music he can make. Yet, it is all those things that help us to learn the ways and wiles of being happy.

I can remember the first time I ever tasted French fries smothered in chicken gravy! It was in Topeka, Kan. at a small local steakhouse. The waiters never wrote anything down, being able to remember everyone’s order perfectly. Our group all ordered thick T-bone steaks. In a few minutes, the waiter brought over a large serving bowl of homemade fries and a large bowl of chicken gravy. I don’t remember much about the steaks, but the combination of those fries and gravy has stuck with me all these years.

Summer is officially here and it’s time for ice cream. Whether it’s stopping by a fast food place for a quick cone at the drive-through, taking guests to one of those special ice cream stores at the beach or do-it-yourself at home, the ice cream cone is a real symbol of summer.
Have you ever wondered how long you would have to walk to “burn off” the calories in that ice cream cone? I know, I take all the fun out of it (sorry).