Category: Within The Realm

Oklahoma’s Certifiable Congressman

by Steve Garrett, posted in Within The Realm

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The election of 1920 brought about great change in the political landscape. Warren G. Harding was ushered into the White House in a landslide and Manuel Herrick, the accidental Republican nominee for Oklahoma’s Eight Congressional District, went to Washington on his coattails. He was known by many title: Congress’ Aerial Daredevil, the Okie Jesus or the Loneliest Man in Washington.Having been determined insane and briefly committed to an asylum, Oklahoma ranks as the first state to have an officially determined insane person in their Congressional delegation.  He served one term in Congress but made a lifetime of poor decisions while in the Capital. Hear the whole story here.

Pop Bottles: The Debt I Owe Buddy Margraff

by Steve Garrett, posted in Within The Realm

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Sodas in glass bottles are making a comeback! There was a time when these “pop” bottles could be returned to grocery stores for a few cents per bottle. It was a good way for an enterprising kid like me could make extra money for comic books and a movie on Saturday night…and learn a valuable lesson in the process.

Community By Design: From Main Street To Grandma’s House

by Steve Garrett, posted in Within The Realm

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It’s common to hear folks decry the loss of community in our country today. There is a lack of diversity in our neighborhoods. We barely know our neighbors.

Could the design of our neighborhoods and homes play a part in all this? Was there something in the old town square and traditional neighborhoods that built community? Our guest Aimee Gray believes so.

Active in preservation and restoration efforts in downtown Liberty, Mo., Aimee believes that there was something very right in the traditional design of our cities and towns. She believes  borrowing some of the ideas from the past could help build better, more together, communities.

 

Broken, But Full

by Steve Garrett, posted in Within The Realm

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Memories of loved ones too soon gone are kept alive through stories, stories that tell who they were and who they still are. Recently, I gave an interview about becoming grateful through tragedy. In the interview, I discussed our journey through the loss of our son, Jacob. Even after the interview, there’s still lots to tell about how our hearts are broken, but full. Full of memories of the good he put into the world.

These particular memories involve a CD found in his car and a simple trip to the grocery store turned into something more. The stories behind them leave our hearts broken, but full.

My Only Sunshine

by Steve Garrett, posted in Within The Realm

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“You Are My Sunshine” is one of the most recognizable songs throughout the world. Few people are aware of it’s origins as a Country music tear-jerker and it’s place inthe politics of Louisiana. Fewer still know about it’s rocky path getting to that point…

And the song has taken on a new meaning for me, after an evening with the neighbor’s daughter Eowyn and the turbulent year that followed.