My parents encouraged me in everything I ever wanted to do.

For a while there, I was a stringer. The expression comes from the old habit of stringing together the column inches that you had written. They'd measure it and pay you 10 cents an inch for your printed copy.

A true Southerner will never say in 2-3 words what can better be said in 10-12.

What I learned on the road. Above all else - to love my native land.

I was on the high school track team, believe it or not, and played baseball, poorly but passionately.

You can find your way across this country using burger joints the way a navigator uses stars.

I can't say that I've changed anybody's life, ever, and that's the real work of the world, if you want a better society.