“Four generations of two families over five decades have spent Christmas Eve with us around this table.”

The island you see across from Greenbelt Park and Harbor Town and Shelby Forest is called the Loosahatchie Bar, and all of it — bigger than all of Mud Island and some of Downtown together — is in Shelby County.

“No river in America’s maritime history has seen greater tragedy. And no drama on the Mississippi has been as dramatic, no tragedy as tragic, as what occurred right here.”

As half the country was in a drought — Lake Mead turning into Pond Mead and our own Mighty Mississippi becoming the Measly Mississippi — the ginkgoes didn’t turn yellow. Until they did. 

“These are the women who raised my generation — the boomers — and taught, supported and sustained us — and amazingly have received only history’s condescending pat on the head for the effort.”

Eliza Fletcher’s kidnapping and murder in September galvanized a city, and Memphians responded by the thousands — both here and nationwide.

MyCityRides is open, exactly where it should be, on Summer between Highland and Tillman, on quite possibly the most Memphis of streets. There are things and vibes on Summer that aren’t anywhere else.

Dan Conaway has found something that unites across political and religious boundaries. It soothes when it’s needed most, provides warmth when warmth is called for and cools and refreshes in an instant.

“If Herschel Walker is elected to the U.S. Senate, make no mistake, Georgia as a state, the Republicans as a party and we as a country will have made a new statement: character doesn’t matter.”

“There are some things I want. I’ve wanted them for a while and the hints just aren’t working. So, I’ve made a modest list — 10 things you can choose from.”

Davy Crockett is gone. The tavern is gone. The waterfront is gone. And the signs that told you they were there are gone as well.

At a minimum, minimum wages must go up, and employers have to start paying more attention to the welfare of those they employ.

Eliza Fletcher was a measure of this city. This tiny, tiny town with such a huge, huge heart. 

“Let’s make Memphis an independent city-state.”

“This city is blessed by its food, the abundance of creativity, diversity and tradition mixed in the same bowls, seasoned with love, soul and imagination — and still made and served by amazing people with a smile through the most trying of times.”

That thought from comedian Steven Wright inspires a collection of wise and wise-guy sayings.

“Gene’s dreams survived, not just Hurricane Elvis but also the winds of the 2008 recession, slowed but resilient, and the winds of pandemic, slowed but recovering.”

This weekend, the top 125 players on the PGA tour are in Memphis for the the first step to winning professional golf’s biggest prize but, for us, it’s personal. 

A series of first-world deprivations has Dan Conaway in a mood. But thankfully he has tonic and limes.

“In that wonderful Memphis sort of way of zero degrees of separation from anybody and anything in the rest of the world, I’m related to Teddy Roosevelt.”

“The terms Republican and Democrat have become dog whistles to gather on the far right and far left. The colors red and blue, and the words conservative and liberal have been co-opted into whistles.”

“Our county is a mess. I’m taking it personally and so should you.”

“While white men over 65 represent something in the neighborhood of 5% of our population, they’re engaged in a battle to hold their fierce grip on power and opinion. Sadly, tragically, they’re winning.”