Oh, Dougherty!
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact

Oh, Dougherty!

Online Home of Michael Dougherty

Blog

Memories, ‘missing’ continue

written by Michael Dougherty

Nancy Elizabeth “Sissy” McQuary was 14 when I met her at Mabelvale United Methodist Church sometime in the fall of 1970.

She was 48 when I came over to this house for a visit on Christmas Day 2004, and 50 when we got married two years later.

Today, she would have been 64. I’m sure there’s a too-cute Beatles analogy to be made somewhere, but I’m not in the mood to try to find it.

She died nearly 17 months ago after a second visit from acute myeloid leukemia. Some days it seems like a couple of days ago, and on others, the funeral is in the distance.

Continue Reading
Memories, ‘missing’ continue was last modified: June 2nd, 2020 by Michael Dougherty
June 1, 2020
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Letters to Bradley

Where Gibby and I live, what we do each day

written by Michael Dougherty

Mike Dougherty
Little Rock, Ark.

 

Bradley Bucy
Austin, Texas

April 19, 2020

Dear Bradley,

It sure has been fun getting to talk to you on FaceTime. Your mom has been calling me about twice a week and that makes it easier for me to see you growing.

You weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces when you were born, and I think you had dropped off to about 6 pounds when I came down to Austin to see you. Mom said you weighed 11 pounds, 2 ounces when you went to the doctor three weeks ago.

Continue Reading

Where Gibby and I live, what we do each day was last modified: June 30th, 2020 by Michael Dougherty
April 20, 2020
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Letters to Bradley
Letters to Bradley

Introducing a granddaughter to the world we share

written by Michael Dougherty

My world changed on Jan. 25, 2020. Bradley Harper Bucy, my granddaughter, was born that day in Austin, Texas.

It was just like many friends have said: “Oh, you’ll love it. Everything changes once you’re a grandparent.” I believed them because I had seen evidence of it when Debbie became pregnant with our first child, Patrick Aaron Dougherty, in 1982.

We called to tell my mother that Patrick was on the way, and she squealed, “Oh, thank goodness! I didn’t think I would ever be a grandmother!” (We lived in Vernon, Texas. My folks lived in Little Rock, Ark., and still do.)

Continue Reading
Introducing a granddaughter to the world we share was last modified: April 2nd, 2020 by Michael Dougherty
April 2, 2020
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Blog

Robert Shearon to join Oh, Dougherty as columnist

written by Michael Dougherty

Robert Shearon, a longtime journalist, semi-longtime friend, and current social worker, is joining me as a columnist here at Oh, Dougherty (ohdougherty.com). I’ve taken a hiatus from posting columns because of family illnesses, but Robert and I hope to establish a regular routine in the weeks and months to come. From there, we’ll play it by ear.

Subject matter will not be coordinated between us, so we may write about the same subjects from time to time.

We have been friends since 2007. He has been my boss at newspapers and I have been his supervisor at different newspapers. We work well together.

Our interests vary widely, but we get along great. He loves comics and superhero movies and I live and breathe baseball. I know Batman and Superman and might recognize Spider-Man. It’s doubtful that Robert’s interest in baseball extends beyond “three strikes, you’re out” and the World Series is the ultimate annual goal in the major leagues.

We have similar senses of humor and often agree politically, but our columns will be about whatever is on our mind when we’re at the keyboard. We hope you enjoy it. Robert’s first effort is below.

 

Robert Shearon to join Oh, Dougherty as columnist was last modified: April 2nd, 2020 by Michael Dougherty
November 16, 2018
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Blog

Goodbye, Stan Lee — and thanks for the memories

written by Robert Shearon

When I was seven years old, I took my allowance and bought a copy of Daredevil #6. The yellow-and-black-clad, blind superhero began my journey into the world of Marvel Comics, the brainchild of Stan Lee. Lee died Monday. He was 95.

After Daredevil #6, I quickly discovered Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men. I was hooked.

My next-door-neighbor, Amy Jones, who was two years my senior, discovered Marvel comics about the same time and we spent hours every week talking about our most recent comics and pretending to be superheroes.

Spiderman eventually became my favorite. As much fun as his superheroic exploits, were his personal problems. As a high school teenager, he had to worry about girls, money, grades, and transportation. When I got a little older, I could relate to all those struggles. That is what set Marvel apart from other comics. The characters all had complex — and complete — personal lives. You got to really know the characters.

Lee frequently addressed readers in comments at the back of the books. Back in the day, there also were letters to the editor. I loved reading what the other fans thought of their favorite characters.

When the first animated adventures of the Marvel characters debuted, I remember cheering with delight with Amy Jones as Iron Man, with jets ablaze, was the first of our beloved characters to grace the small screen. We watched it at Amy’s house because she had a color TV.

When the live-action movies started, I was beyond thrilled. I really wanted to watch them with my friend, Amy Jones. Alas, I lost contact with her at least 30 years ago. I can only hope she enjoys the movies as much as I do.

At some point, I changed from wanting to be a superhero to wanting to work at Marvel Comics. I thought that would be the ultimate career for a young, dreamy-eyed writer.

Somehow I never managed never to send a resume. I tried to do my own comic book a time or two, but I was hampered by my inability to draw anything beyond a stick figure.

Both of my children caught my enthusiasm for Marvel characters. We see as many of the movies together as we can, although we are spread across three states. A Marvel movie comes out each year during my birthday week and we make an effort to see it together. Great birthday present, Stan.

Eventually, I decided that since a comic book career was out, that I would just like to meet Stan Lee and shake the hand of the man who had added such delight to my childhood.

This seemed within reach as I went to a couple of comic book conventions with my daughter, Kate. Stan Lee attended a lot of conventions and I hoped to cross paths with him at one of those.

The clock ran out on that on Nov. 12. I will miss Stan Lee and the joyful influence he had on my life.

But, in a way, he lives on through his body of work.

A couple of years ago, I think it was at Christmas, my daughter told me she had gotten me a special gift at a comic book convention. She gave it to me early because she couldn’t wait to see my reaction.

It was a pristine copy of Daredevil #6.

Excelsior!

Robert Shearon, who had a 30-year career in newspapers, is now a social worker. He lives in Poteau, Okla.

Goodbye, Stan Lee — and thanks for the memories was last modified: April 2nd, 2020 by Robert Shearon
November 15, 2018
1 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Blog

JFK — That day 53 years later

written by Michael Dougherty

My fourth-grade class had just come in from the after-lunch recess in the early afternoon of Nov. 22, 1963. I was sitting next to Sandra Sites in Mrs. Robertson’s room at Carnall Elementary School in Fort Smith, Ark. We were divided into groups, with each one assigned to build a diorama representing the Jamestown settlement of Virginia.

Continue Reading

JFK — That day 53 years later was last modified: November 22nd, 2016 by Michael Dougherty
November 22, 2016
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Newer Posts
Older Posts

Recent Posts

  • Memories, ‘missing’ continue
  • Where Gibby and I live, what we do each day
  • Introducing a granddaughter to the world we share
  • Robert Shearon to join Oh, Dougherty as columnist
  • Goodbye, Stan Lee — and thanks for the memories

Archives

  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • November 2018
  • November 2016
  • July 2016
  • March 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • June 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Spotify
  • RSS
Footer Logo

© 2016 - Michael Dougherty. All Right Reserved.


Back To Top