Opinion

GUEST COLUMNIST I shudder to imagine how Aunt Marie (God rest her soul) would react to today’s explosion of expectations for tipping. Even back in pre-inflationary times, Aunt Marie (who always worked hard for her money) was prone to greet hints for gratuities with a cranky, “I’ll give ‘em a dadgum tip, alright!” (With the understanding that she meant a teeth-jarring tip upside the head.) Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you know that more and more venues and occupations are pushing for tips and that bare-minimum percentages are trending inexorably upwards.

The great commission Matthew is: 16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

GARDENER’S MAILBAG Dear Neil: Why do rose leaves turn yellow and brown? Looking at the one or two leaves in your photo it appears that droplets of water or some other sprays have been on the leaves when the sun was shining brightly. That would account for the tiny brown “freckles.” The most common rose disease is called black spot, and it causes yellowing with large dark brown blotches in the centers of the yellowed leaves.

Dear Editor: Jesus said, “Thou Art Peter, and upon this rock (not imperfect Peter, but on Peter’s Perfect Profession of Faith), Upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18) The gates of hell are at our universities.

GUEST COLUMNIST Every year, polls show that a large number of Americans don’t know why we celebrate Memorial Day. According to People, a 2020 Onepoll survey found that fewer than half of the 2,000 people surveyed knew that the purpose of Memorial Day was not to honor those who served in the armed forces, but to honor those who gave their lives while they served.

GUEST COLUMNIST Dud was heading home in his pickup truck when he saw the strange goings-on at the Bahdziewicz place. Abraham Lincoln Bahdziewicz was out in the family’s large garden with a full complement of kids who were happily hopping around.

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday. One of our readings is below. Paul wrote it to the Christians at the young Church of Corinth: 2 Corinthians 13: 11-1311 Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Be restored; listen to my appeal; agree with one another; live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

GARDENER’S MAILBAG Dear Neil: This looks like Virginia creeper, but the flower is wrong. It has recently shown up in my St.

GUEST COLUMNIST Every year in late spring, parents of college students all over America travel to university campuses with stylish IKEA storage bags or (in our case) cardboard boxes that once held bulk orders of toilet paper and tortilla chips. When the parents arrive, they joyfully greet their academically-hungover children and start the arduous and sometimes pungent process of “un-dorming.” My wife and I recently drove in our decrepit but cavernous 2013 SUV to move our middle daughter and her dirty laundry back home from college.

To the Editor, Damned Yankees, Are we a horde of dumb backward fools? Are we not “Woke” because we ain’t cool? Are our West Texas values all wrong? Have we not changed, not far enough along? We don’t follow the examples they have set. We’re not like Detroit, Baltimore, or New York yet.