COMING UP WITH COLUMNS CAN BE CHALLENGING

Writing columns can be challenging. Sometimes it’s hard to come up with a subject. And naming a column is particularly tricky because it can limit the topics you cover. For example, my first column back in 1979 was about horses. Even as a beginning columnist, I realized I needed a title for it that would apply to all kinds of horse-related subjects. After considering several possibilities, I picked “Hoof Beat” because all horses have hooves and reporters cover “beats” (politics, crime etc.). After writing that column for 10 years, I was sure I had written about every horse topic in existence. Giant horses (the Budweiser Clydesdales), miniature horses, rodeos, horsemanship camps, circus horses, trick horses, what to feed horses, movie horses (Cass Ole, the star of “The Black Stallion”) and so much more. My biggest thrill was getting to interview Dale Evans. Yes, the real Dale Evans, married to my hero Roy Rogers. As a child I watched their TV show and wished I was “Queen of the West). I’ve never forgotten the thrill of that interview. Not many of us get the chance to meet our heroes. Dale Evans was the real deal – down to earth, funny and a real class act. Overlapping that time period I also wrote a second column about life on the mainland. With almost no notice, I had to come up with a name for it. Having learned how a column’s name can limit its scope, I quickly settled on “The Bottom Line.” That one ran for about eight years. I wrote about everything: giant dogs (Irish Wolfhounds), belly dancers, sister cities, parades, a gorilla in overalls riding a scooter (no, I’m not making that up!), and many more – and sometimes stranger – things. By 1996 I changed jobs, going from freelance writer/ columnist to antique shop owner. After a few years,  I decided to relocate from the north end of Sixth Street to Fifth Avenue next door to what eventually became The Post newspaper’s Texas City location. As I got to know my new neighbors, I shared my past career as a columnist. And that eventually led to the job of writing this latest effort. I think it’s been about 10 years now. The Post is a great paper to work for, and my coworkers are very nice too. As are my loyal readers. Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and compliments. I hope we enjoy many more years together! Photo Source: Twitter