BILL BLOG
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
And a good Tuesday morning to you from Paris, Kentucky. 87 will be the high today here in horse country.
YESTERDAY
I drove from Nashville to the home of 103-year-old World War II veteran Albert Wass.
Albert was a truck driver for Patton’s “Red Ball Express.” The express was trucks, lots of them, running supplies, food, ammo, whatever Patton needed for the front line. 99% of the drivers were black. Albert certainly saw his share of racism during his 4 years in the Army.
The express, sometimes as many as 50 or more trucks ran in the night with their lights off, for fear of being strafed by the German pilots, and the Germans claimed their share of American lives doing that.
Albert got out alive, returned to the States, and worked for over 30 years for the Army Depot near Paris, KY, and then over 20 years at a local drug store where he delivered medicine to those who needed it in the local community. He was STILL driving.
And today at 103, he can STILL drive himself around town. What a pleasure it was to write his story into a song for Freedom Sings USA.
Oh, and Albert came home with his share of medals, one of them awarded to him by the French for his valor.
Our Freedom Sings USA group will be doing a full retreat in Paris, Kentucky, in September, where I will write with another veteran from this region. I certainly plan on singing the song I wrote with Albert Wass, “The Red Ball Express,” as well.
JERRY’S
Who knew that Paris, Kentucky, was home to the ONLY Jerry’s Restaurant that’s left?
Yep, I had to eat dinner there last night!
And here’s some trivia for you. Grandpa Jones did a series of TV commercials for Jerry’s. True. “What’s for Supper”?
And in one of those commercials, if you could find it, you’d see my wife, Kathy Whyte. Also true. I told them that last night at the Jerry’s I ate at, and they still CHARGED me for my meal. Dang.
SONG OF THE DAY
Here’s a song from my friend Lauren Mascitti, back in the days when she was one of the three girls in the “Three Times A Lady” trio. Lauren left a long time ago, but not before the trio recorded a great album with a song on it that I wrote with Lauren and our friend Kristen Bearfield, titled “Come Back To Me."
I was trying to write a song that sounds a bit like the kind of songs “The Trio” was recording, which featured Emmy Lou, Dolly, and Linda Ronstadt. I don’t think it’s too far off from that great sound.
HEALTH NOTES
A study says learning another language may keep your brain younger.
The World Health Organization expects cancer rates to nearly double in the next 24 years.
Health experts have listed 7 foods to help boost your brain. They are Brazil nuts, Chickpeas, Blueberries, Green leafy vegetables, Oily fish, Dark chocolate, and Extra virgin olive oil.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
And it’s not a self-driving Police car either.
LEAVE THE CLOCKS ALONE?
A bill is moving forward to end Daylight Saving Time.
Can I get an amen? I would not miss turning the clock backwards and forwards. Or, having to reset all the clocks in the house.
As one guy said, “My favorite part of Daylight Savings Time is that the clock in my car is finally correct again.”
SPEAKING OF TIME
Statistics say that 57% of us check our handheld phones 224 times a day! I've already looked at mine 100 times this morning. Addictive, ain't they?
HOME PRICES
The median price for a home in America jumped another 2.2% from a year ago. The price is now at $408, 776. A lot of parents are having a heart attack, as that kind of price means the kids might stay home longer!
My friend Brent Burns captured that thought in his funny song, “Please Don’t Let That Kid Move Back Home.”
BUFFALO
The Grandpa who got flipped by that angry buffalo in Yellowstone Park is fine. He had surgery for a broken thigh bone, but other than that, he lived to tell the story.
He was a safe distance from the bison, but it was mating season, and this big ole buffalo was not in a good mood.
Have you seen that VIDEO?
Grandpa is lucky to be alive. Whatever they tell you is a safe distance? Add more distance.
FORE!
I might start playing a lot less golf if I witnessed this.
That bear took the golf clubs right off the back of somebody’s golf cart while they were playing a round in British Columbia. Take a LOOK.
Now that I think about it, my golf game is so bad that the bear would be doing me a favor.
SPEAKING OF CANADA
Police are asking citizens in Ontario to NOT bring grenades to the police station. Wow. That means some folks have been doing just that.
Police are also asking citizens not to bring that buffalo that flipped Grandpa, or that bear that stole the golf clubs, into the police station as well.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
From Robert Frost:
“By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually get to be the boss and work 12 hours a day.”
TODAY
It’s about a 4-hour drive back to Nashville, and I’m on my way.
Have a great Tuesday!
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