He is happily married and lives simply on the North Carolina coast.  He loves his children and family, his friends, and people who honestly try to help others without looking for a lot of credit or recognition.  He’s foolish about his pets, especially Lady Luck and Lord Fauntleroy.           

            Don likes: hummingbirds, morning glories, butterflies, little baby ducks and puppies and kittens, good books, great art, wonderful music of all varieties (Except rap. In my mind music is harmony.  Rap seems to me to be cacophony ~  Too much noise and incomprehensible lyrics.). He enjoys athletics in the role of an active couch potato now, is a long time fan of almost anything UNC Ch (and the other ACC teams when they aren’t playing the Tar Heels.), watching Little League championships, College World Series, and ladies’ fast pitch softball.  He likes to think he can play chess, but everyone whom he ever taught now beats him like a drum. He and his wife, Linda, compete fiercely these days in dominoes and scrabble.

           He doesn’t like: phonies. Especially self-righteous, pompous, pious, podium pounding, pontificating phonies, castor oil, boiled okra, or sushi (He uses bait to fish).  He does not like snakes or snails of any kind. And scary movies!           

            First choice of “heroes” as a minister is still Billy Graham.  No one I’ve ever heard has remained so true and faithful, or so consistently clear and understandable for so long.  His life consistently honors his Master and serves as a splendid example of an authentic Man of God.  He and the team he assembled (Cliff, Bev Shea and others in his organization) have been genuine currency when I’ve felt some of the others were counterfeits. Let’s don’t even get me started on that! 

            Favorite all time movies are The Sound of Music, Dr. Zhivago, Bambi and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.  Given a choice between some of the recent releases, he’d choose either of those for another viewing.

            Favorite author all time is Sir Winston Churchill, for several reasons.  Favorite current novelists are Wilbur Smith (out of South Africa) and Pat Conroy when he’s on his game.

            My driving ambitions at present are (l.) To get as close to Christ as I can and stay there and (2.) That this book, and perhaps other things I write or say, will result in someone finding his or her way back to faith and hope.  

** I was afraid to ask my wife or kids to write anything.  Lucky can’t type.  I couldn’t bribe anyone famous or infamous to say anything I’d be willing to print. So, I said to myself: “Tag. You’re It!”  Anyhow, I keep telling my wife “It is the MESSAGE that matters, not the messenger.”  ~don