Bill's Blog

Late tonight, over a million people will be packed like sardines in New York City’s Time Square. Millions more will gather in other venues across the country including nightclubs, restaurants, bars, and homes.

On Christmas Eve, my family and I always attend services at our church, Calvary Episcopal in Downtown Memphis. I am a Baptist in residence at Calvary. I love the Episcopal liturgy, but sometimes I do wish the choir would sing "Just As I Am" as we walk down the aisle to take Communion. You can take the boy out of the Baptist Church, but you can’t take the Baptist Church out of the boy.

I have no idea who started the tradition of sending out cards and letters during the Christmas season.  I suspect it was part of an elaborate conspiracy by the Hallmark Greeting Card Company.  While I don’t want to come across as the Grinch Who Stole Christmas Cards, this is one holiday tradition that I really believe should come to an end.

They were two of the greatest distance runners in Memphis history.  And on May 6, 2004, they met at the Rhodes College track to run one last mile.

ROME - On the final day of our summer vacation ... Well, there I go again.  let me start over ... On the final day of our summer business trip (Note to IRS: Really), Judge Claudia and I hired a driver to escort us to all the wonderful attractions of Rome. 

THE CHIANTI REGION OF TUSCANY NEAR MONTESPERTOLI, ITALY - I am spending my vacation with 11 doctors, two nurses, three lawyers, and a retired judge.  So long as the lawyers don't sue the doctors (highly unlikely considering the fact that none of us are Italian Consigliere), it will be a great trip.

FLORENCE, ITALY - During my lifetime, I have visited Paris, Rome, Athens, Dresden, Milan, Florence, and Oxford without leaving the southern United States.  In fact, on a clear day, I've been able to see all of these cities from Lookout Mountain at Rock City.

I don't tweet.  I also don't quack, bark, meow, oink or moo.

Last Saturday I made the longest journey of my life – an 11 hour drive from Charlottesville, Virginia to my home in Memphis.

I'm neither a scholar nor a journalist.  And I'm definitely not a professional writer.  I am a father, husband and lawyer who likes to tell stories ... stories that make us smile or laugh or sometimes cry.  Above all, stories that inspire us to live our lives fully and gracefully.

On Friday, August 29th at noon, the 4th Annual Seersucker Flashmob will be held in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis.

There are two things I truly enjoy during the summertime:  Taking naps and watching baseball games.

Last Saturday, I did a triathlon.  No, not the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii, nor the Music City Triathlon, or the Memphis in May Triathlon.  The triathlon I competed in was the Mighty Mite Triathlon in beautiful Forrest City, Arkansas.

Thirty-three years ago today, I played a very small role in a wedding at the Holly Avenue Methodist Church in South Pittsburg, Tennessee.

The following is a speech I gave last Friday to the Jackson-Madison County Bar Association at their annual Law Week luncheon.

(This past Wednesday was Administrative Professionals Day.  This column is dedicated to my favorite administrative professional, Jane Berry, and to all the administrative professionals who make their "boss" look good.) 

 One of my prize possessions is a family photograph that was taken back in the 1950s when I was just a preschooler.

This is my column from the April, 2014 issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal, and it is reprinted with permission of the Tennessee Bar Association.

Tonight I’ll be in beautiful AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis to watch my beloved St. Louis Cardinals  play my beloved Memphis Redbirds.  (They are really the same team.)