Cheers for Texas Tech coverage, and jeers for cemetery thieves

Jeers: To whoever stole a vase from my mother’s grave at Parkdale Cemetery in Arlington. And double jeers for stealing a metal marker with the initials RMW, in memory of my brother’s recent death. In case you were wondering, it stands for Robert Mark Williams.

Cheers: And kudos to the Fort Worth Parks and Recreation Department for the beautification project under the Lancaster Street Bridge. The brightly painted basketball floor and columns are very attractive. I love it.

Cheers: To Joy and the other Tarrant Area Food Bank Empty Bowls volunteers who recently assisted families in making bowls at the inspirational Kimbell Art Museum for the fundraising event on May 1. Everyone come out and support this good cause. Come buy our bowls.

Cheers: To Tastebuds Eatery for catering an event for my organization. The food was fabulous, the service impeccable and the desserts — simply out of this world. You made the meeting a huge success.

Cheers: To Howard Lovett, who answered my nighttime SOS and cut and carried to the curb a tree branch that had fallen and blocked my driveway March 28. And cheers to Ann Wuth who, unasked, put the branch in her pickup the next morning and hauled it off.

Cheers: And a special thank-you to all the former athletes who honored me by being present for my induction into this year’s Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District Athletic Hall of Fame. I was truly awed by the many who were there for me, knowing it had been more than 45 years since I had seen most of these women. Words can never express how much it meant and the love shown me on that evening of Feb. 23.

Cheers: To the Star-Telegram, for finally having a front-page item about the Texas Tech men’s basketball team on Sunday, thus admitting it is actually in the state of Texas and the Big 12. Of course, Tech had to get in the Final Four to get such billing, but, hey, we’ll take it.

Jeers: To the U.S. Postal Service office on Lancaster Avenue downtown for moving the drive-through mailboxes off the parking lot so that people have to park, get out of their cars and walk to mail a letter. People in wheelchairs now have to negotiate a 12-inch step, also.

Cheers: For the professional and trained services of AARP Tax-Aide volunteers. We are so grateful for Bill, Gerald, Chuck, Jeff and Kathe’s services, time, concern, training and expertise. Thanks also to Cody at Colleyville Senior Center for his help. What a blessing.

Jeers: For the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Park in Arlington’s staff and management. What an embarrassment it was to attend the Saturday night game with the Cubs. There was standing water in the entrance to the men’s restroom on the second level, near my seats in Section 204. There was not even a sign of a maintenance person to clean up the mess. I was embarrassed for our traveling Cubs fans.

Cheers: To KTVT/Channel 11 for featuring a pit bull as the pet of the week March 20. The pit bull breed rarely gets featured in a positive light. I’ve had four, and all have been awesome family members. Jeers to those who believe only media hype and don’t get to know the breed firsthand.

This story was originally published April 5, 2019 at 8:28 PM.