Tag: writing
-
Echoes
The author reflects on poignant memories, termed “echoes,” from his life that resonate deeply over time. These include moments with his father by the Neches River, playful interactions with his son Joshua, and precious family snapshots. Such echoes emerge from love in ordinary circumstances, reminding us of what truly matters.
-
How to Stay Informed Without Losing Your Peace
In today’s fast-paced information environment, the urgency of news can overwhelm clarity and peace. While global issues demand attention, individuals should focus their energies on manageable responsibilities, such as community and integrity. By limiting news intake and prioritizing facts over emotional narratives, one can cultivate a sense of stability and informed citizenship.
-
What really matters
You know the moment: Young George (and later the adult George) steps up to the old countertop device, closes his eyes, crosses his fingers, whispers his grandest dream—”I wish I had a million dollars”—and then squeezes the lever. A small, reliable flame springs to life on the very first try. His eyes snap open, he…
-
December 5, 1927 – September 6, 2013
🎂 Happy Birthday, Dad Today we celebrate Robert E. Hargrove—a man who showed us that the greatest gifts aren’t found in stores, but on the banks of the Neches River. Dad gave us something precious: a love of the outdoors and the simple joys of being together. Camp Hargrove was his classroom, and we were…
-
Carrying Weight, Seeking Light
Carrying Weight, Seeking Light Over the past several weeks, I’ve noticed a pattern rising in my heart—a mix of heaviness and hope, grief and gratitude, pressure and purpose. The holiday season always magnifies what is present in the soul, and this year is no different. I find myself remembering the people who shaped me, the…
-
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Robert Edwin Hargrove December 5 2025
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Robert Edwin Hargrove December 5 2025 Born December 5, 1927 — Buna, TexasPassed September 6, 2013 — Buna, Texas Today we honor the birthday of Robert Edwin Hargrove, a man whose steady presence shaped his family, strengthened his community, and left an enduring mark on Buna and Jasper County.…
-
What I Would Tell You Now
For Joshua Blake Hargrove from John Hagrove his dad June 2025 1984–2002 My son, If I could sit across from you today—twenty-three years after you left this world—I would begin with the words that still rise unbidden in my heart: I miss you. Every day. Not with the same sharp ache as before, but with…
-
Keeping Going When No One’s Listening?
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to do work that matters when it feels like no one cares. For the past few years, I’ve been advocating for rural East Texas communities—places like Buna, Newton, San Augustine. I’ve built communication frameworks, written strategic plans, installed digital kiosks, organized meetings, drafted policy briefs.…
-
I’ve been asking myself lately why I’ve done all of this.
I’ve been asking myself lately why I’ve done all of this.Why, in 1989, I sat in the yard with a notebook computer, working while my son played nearby — but not really paying attention to him. Why I’ve poured 65 to 80 hours a week into work, every week, from college right up to now…
-
Eighteen with 49 Years of Experience: Its been a Wild Ride
John Hargrove January 2025 Eighteen with 49 Years of Experience: Its been a Wild Ride I have never felt completely sure of myself. But that never stopped me from trying things anyway. Life has been a mix of near-disasters, small victories, and the occasional moment of brilliance—sometimes all in the same day.. Looking back, I’ve…
