Unforgettable Oprah
25 memorable moments from ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’

Check out the Top 25 moments!
 http://tv.msn.com/oprah-25-years-of-memo…

Greetings my fellow Memphians This spring has seen much weather related sorrow. As you may have heard, late yesterday afternoon the town of Joplin Missouri was devastated by a mile wide multi vortex tornado packing winds of over 200 MPH. It was a storm that caused damage of epic proportions. This is the town where my older children and grandkids live. Very fortunately they are ok, however many in Joplin have lost their lives as a result of this storm. Many more are injured and homeless. Please remember the people of Joplin Mo. in your thoughts and prayers. If you would like to help the victims of this heartbreaking disaster,  you can make a donation to the American Red Cross’ Disaster Relief, visit its online donation page.You can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.  donate to the United Way, visit its online donation page. The Salvation Army’s emergency disaster services teams are helping to feed residents and first responders in Joplin; Reading, Kan.; and parts of Minnesota affected by the storms. To donate to the The Salvation Army’s efforts, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org and click on the donation page. You can call 1-800-SAL-ARMY and donors can text “GIVE” to 80888 to make a $10 donation. Thank you very much and may God bless you.

We can't choose our circumstances a lot of the time. We can't choose our family and our relatives. We can't choose how we look, how tall we are or the color of our skin. We don't choose to have handicaps or physical or mental limitations. Those things are determined for us. <br /><br /> But we can choose love. We can choose joy. We can refuse to be cynical. I know it's very easy to be cynical and bitter but it doesn't make the situation any better. We can choose to see other people as human beings created by a mighty God. And in doing so, we can choose to respect them even if they've done despicable things. <br /><br /> We can choose joy in the troubled times in which we live. We can choose to let world events bog us down with depression, fear and despair, or we can choose to help however we can and love whomever we can and pray whenever we can. We can choose to get prepared. <br /><br /> Every day we make choices. You can choose to take this road or that road, to turn left or turn right. You can choose to speed up or slow down. You can choose to speak harsh words or kind ones. You can choose to be degrading or uplifting. You can choose the direction you want your day to go by how you respond to your circumstance. <br /><br /> Think about the choices you make today and try to steer your course and your attitude onto a positive path. Choose to have more joy in your life no matter what. And I'm going to do my best to bring a little joy into your evening if you should choose to tune in to great love songs on the radio. <br />Have a great day!

Ghandi made the statement that "you must be the change you wish to see in the world." So many people speak of doing great things. I know a lot of people who have really good intentions. They intend to make a difference. But when it comes right down to it, they don't believe they can make enough of a difference to be worthwhile.<br /><br /> Well imagine if everyone took that attitude. Imagine if Mother Theresa felt too small as just one single person to make a difference and so she never started her ministry. It's not the size of your action, your donation, your volunteerism that counts. It's the fact that you did something that matters. Do something! If you intend to do great things, do it baby steps at a time.<br /><br /> What do I mean? I mean volunteer at a shelter or the Red Cross. Donate blood. Become a Big Sister or Big Brother. Work with your local Boy Scouts or Girls Scouts. You can become a pen pal to a soldier overseas. I mean clean out your closet and your sister's closet and your mother's closet and your baby's closet and drop your items off at a women's shelter. You can do small things that make a big difference in someone's life. And that's a great thing!<br /><br /> So be the change you want to see in the world and be the difference between someone who puts their words into action and someone who just keeps talking about it. Be the person you intend to be and start making a difference today.

You know what I love about Facebook? I love looking at pictures. It allows me to feel connected to friends who are hundreds and even thousands of miles away, because I can see how their life is unfolding in pictures and stories and updates.<br /><br />Recently I saw that a friend of mine posted a single photo of her three beautiful daughters. The girls were crammed together over the edge of the couch, smiling at the camera for their mother. The caption simply said, "Happy Monday" as if the girls' smiling faces would bring a little sunshine into our day. And it sure did for me.<br /><br />Later on in the day, my friend had a bunch of comments from people who obviously felt the same way, but when I viewed the picture (right after it was posted), there was a single comment beneath it: "Your legacy, " How true that is, and how powerful to see it written like that beneath those three, young smiling faces.<br /><br />What is your legacy? When you pass on to the next life, will your family and friends be equipped with the knowledge of things that matter to you? What will they take from your example and your experiences? Consider how you're living your life, the things you say and do, the good work you do, the hard work you do, and determine if it's the legacy you'll be proud to leave behind. Just a thought.

Greetings fellow Memphians!
　　　　　　　　　 I’ve always loved museums. My mom used to take us to museums when I was little and I’d never get tired of browsing through the exhibits, gazing with wonder at all the artifacts behind the glass. I still like to hang out in museums. Whenever I get to travel I seek them out and put them on the top of my to do list in every new city I go to. I’ve been to museums in Europe, Japan, South America, and Southeast Asia. I always got a membership to the Memphis Museum System and me and the kids would spend hours strolling through the Pink Palace on weekends, checking out all the wondrous and amazing things on display. My favorite exhibits have always been the ones that featured how people lived in days gone by. You know, the ones that have the mannequins dressed up in period clothing and set in an environment where they were surrounded by all the little what-nots that they used and lived with. Imagine a museum where you not only got to see things like that behind the display cases, but could actually buy them and take them home with you?! That brings me to this week’s unique Memphis treasure. Get ready to enter the way-back machine friends, cause we are about to pay a visit to Flashback.
　　　　　　　　　 Flashback is located at 2304 Central Avenue, just off Parkway in Midtown, and there is nothing in the city quite like it. It’s like a museum, where you can not only see the exhibits of furniture, clothing, accessories, and artwork of the past, but actually touch them, try them on, and bring them home! Flashback features authentic artifacts from the 1930s to the 1970s including antique clothing, furniture, glassware, clocks, telephones, and jewelry. There are sunglasses and hats. Bowties and cufflinks. Dolls and dollhouses from the 1950s. Bowling bags and records. 1960s vintage shirts and blouses. Jeans and coats and jackets and T-shirts. Shoes and flasks and cigarette cases and electric fans. Antique bars and all the barware to go along with them. Martini and highball glasses from the 1940s and 50s. Remember those multi-colored aluminum tumblers your grandma used to serve you Kool-Aid in? Flashback’s got ‘em! 1960s Barbie and all her accessories live at Flashback. So do Johnny Cash and Bettie Page, and Bob Dylan. And speaking of famous Memphians, if you’re looking for a velvet portrait of Elvis (And they are a LOT harder to come by than you might think) Look no further than Flashback. Are you a born too late flower child wanting to get in touch with your inner hippie? Well, a visit to Flashback will have you decked out in authentic summer of love clothing before you can say “Groovy!” Looking to set a nostalgic mood for your home with some REAL art-deco furniture? It’s all at Flashback.
　　　　　　　　　 Flashback is also home to some of the most awesome antique collectibles such as Ceramic cats, and souvenir ashtrays from Las Vegas to Miami. Pink Flamingos and wind-chimes and globes. Spoons and knives and dishes too. My visit to Flashback this week netted me a 1950s Frank Sinatra style hat and a set of vintage Martini glasses. (See photo below). They even have old magazines and posters and lava lamps to give your nostalgic room a more authentic feel. I spent some time with Gene from Flashback, who gave me the grand tour and helped with the photography. He told me the Flashback team travels far and wide to seek out only the most authentic collectibles for display and sale at the store, so what you see at Flashback is the real deal. People come from all over to browse the hundreds of knick-knacks, clothes and furniture that you won’t find anywhere else. Notables who have shopped Flashback include people like Susan Sarandon, Courtney Love and even Bob Dylan. You won’t find Flashback in any tourist book, but word of mouth seems to stretch across the globe, because people have come from as far away as Russia, Japan, and New Zealand to shop here. It’s one of the most popular places in town for tourists from Japan, who love the complimentary Coke Gene gives them from the 1955 Frigidaire in the corner. I highly recommend a trip to this awesome store. It’s a place where you can relive your past, or just create a fantasy. A literal dream world right here in the heart of Midtown. Flashback is located at 2304 Central Avenue right off Parkway and is open Monday through Saturday 10:30am-5:30pm. And Sundays 1pm-5pm.

Greetings my fellow Memphians!
As the flood waters rise across the mid-south, we are at least thankful for the abundant sunshine we are enjoying. It looks like a fine weekend to get outside and get some much needed fresh air. One of my favorite events is on at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at 573 North Highland. It’s Greekfest, and its loads of fun for the whole family! Immerse yourself in Greek culture and food Saturday from 11am-9pm. I’ve got to catch up on some yardwork this weekend, and don’t forget, Sunday is Mother’s day! Show that special mom in your life how much you appreciate her! Have a GREAT weekend and I’ll be back for your ride home Monday! Bill

Below is a list of great ways for you to do something on National Teacher Day May 3:

1) Thank a teacher – Visit your old school, pick up the phone or just write an email. Whichever way you decide to do it, showing your gratitude to one of our nation’s educators is an important act. Teacher’s aren’t paid well and yet they have one of the most important jobs in society — that’s why showing your appreciation is crucial.

2) Tell someone else about a teacher who changed your life – Sometimes it’s difficult to get in touch with some of your old teachers. So if you can’t find them, tell someone in your life about them. It’s a distant way to show your appreciation, but the story of their care and inspiration will live on.

3) Make a donation – Many of our nation’s great teachers don’t have the supplies or budgets necessary to help their students. Luckily there are non-profit organizations that help contribute money to schools in need. Show you care about teacher’s doing their best by making a donation today by visiting sites like I Love Schools.

The show will go on for Bon Jovi. The group announced on Friday, (April 29) that they will continue to tour — even though Richie Sambora has entered rehab. The group released a statement in support of Sambora.

The statement said, “Although he will be absent from upcoming shows for the time being, we very much look forward to his healthy return. In the meantime, we will keep our commitment to our fans and continue our tour.”

Filling in for Sambora over the weekend was Phil “X” Xenidis. No word yet if he will fill in for Sambora at any other shows.

Greetings my fellow Memphians!
So we start the week on a rainy note with some across the mid-south finding themselves facing rising waters. I can’t remember a time when the casinos had to close down because of flooding. I hope all is well with you and yours and dry ground returns soon. On a happy note, I’ve got tickets to see Jackson Browne at The Orpheum all week long! Plus tickets to see Joshua Bell at the Cannon Center! Spend you afternoons with me all this week and I’ll do my part to make your ride home more enjoyable! Bill