Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite. Did you ever hear that when you were a kid? Or, for that matter, any other time? As it turns out, that’s not just a sweet, little thing to say to kids that rhymes. Because bedbugs are real. And they don’t seem like characters for nursery rhymes. Check out this bullet list description for why you shouldn’t … Read the rest...

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Yesterday I wrote about a nostalgic memory. And I talked about June bugs. If you didn’t catch that post, check it out. But now I want you to think back in your own life. And go as far back in your past as you can. Because I want you to see yourself as small as possible. OK, are you there yet? Way, way back to … Read the rest...

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Did you ever watch The Waltons? Either when it was a new show or in reruns? Either way, do you remember how the kids would run out the front door and the screen door would smack shut? That’s because those old screen doors were lightweight and had long snakey springs. And I remember both sets of my grandparents had screen doors like that. And … Read the rest...

The post June bugs, watermelon – It’s nostalgia I’m tellin’ appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

As I reached the end of 5th grade, and was about to leave elementary school to attend junior high, I was told I’d be put into “accelerated classes.” My teacher sent me home with a note to my parents that said I was “gifted” in addition and subtraction, grammar, and learning skills in general. That addition and subtraction part was ironic, though. Because if … Read the rest...

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Yeah, it’s an uncomfortable conversation to have. The one about what’s happening behind closed doors and tall walls. Doors and walls that close behind foolish people going in…and behind damaged people coming out. Some people have spent much of their lives having that uncomfortable conversation. And it’s mostly a one-sided conversation. Because hard hearts lead to closed ears. And closed ears lead to eternal … Read the rest...

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Paramecia don’t become parakeets. And an amoeba will never be an ambulance driver. Not in a million, trillion years. Because changes like that don’t happen. Not by accident. Not on purpose. And certainly not accidentally on purpose. Accidentally on purpose used to be a joke, when I was a kid. But we didn’t imagine how serious that whole “accidental” thing would be. We were … Read the rest...

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Three years ago, around this time of year, I sent a sad and happy song out into the internet. It was in response to a request for me to write a song for a young man battling cancer. A friend of mine, on social media, told me about Jeremiah. And I’m glad. Because before that I’d never heard of him or his battle or … Read the rest...

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I think Huey Lewis and the News sang it best, back in the 80’s, when they sang “I say cool is a rule, but sometimes, bad is bad.” What? You don’t remember that song? Then, move along. Because you’re probably not old enough to be reading this. So, you surely won’t understand how sometimes bad is bad. And Huey said it was “sometimes” because … Read the rest...

The post Bad is bad when it’s this sad fad appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

I’m reminded of a sound bite from a presidential debate between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Carter presented what he thought was a good case against then Governor Reagan’s position on Medicare. And when Carter finished, Reagan started his counterpoint by saying, “There you go again.” And then he pointed out the flaws in Carter’s statements. But what did “there you go again” mean? … Read the rest...

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What if you reached your prime, let’s say around 33, and someone told you that you look old? It wouldn’t exactly make you feel great. Even if you’re totally confident in who you are, and in your appearance, you don’t wanna look old before your time. And I bet mother Earth doesn’t like all this talk about her ancient age either. I mean, c’mon … Read the rest...

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