PinnedThe Time You Weren’t in the ArmyHeading toward 18 with the Vietnam War as background and the draft looming was like driving into a fog bank, beyond which there might or might not be a future. All plans were tentative. Although you hear about those who burned draft cards, or fled to Canada, or wheedled their…Military6 min read
May 21Writers’ ChallengeWriters’ Challenge A few years ago, I read an article that advocated paying attention to your internal monologue — -we all have one, it said. I was a little surprised to find out that my internal monologue consists almost entirely of song lyrics! Some time early in April of this…Medium1 min read
Mar 14Time Travel: from a Moment in Wisconsin 40 Years Ago to Another day in HollywoodTime Travel: from a Moment in Wisconsin 40 Years Ago to Another day in Hollywood Emily at 3, a month away from being 4, sat at the kitchen table drawing. There was a big picture window facing the only flat piece of ground on our few acres: a steep wooded…War In Ukraine2 min read
Mar 7UnbrokenUnbroken I feel we are all in uncharted territory right now. The only thing I am sure of is that the Ukrainians deserve to keep their own country. I think we should be willing to suffer some economic hardship if that’s what it takes to cut off Putin’s ability to…Ukraine2 min read
Feb 26All Sticks, No CarrotsAll Sticks, No Carrots The human faces of war: Soldiers lied to — people don’t like being lied to. Sixty year old men with rifles. All sticks, no carrots. Don’t complain — we can make your life much worse. What does it mean to be a Russian? What does it…War1 min read
Feb 16I Don’t Want to Quit My Day JobI Don’t Want to Quit My Day Job It’s my day off. My daughter’s store is closed Monday and Tuesday, but there is usually something that still needs to be done on those days. Yesterday I got up early to look for very short wood screws, to attach pieces of…Work2 min read
Dec 21, 2021Haiku (or not-17 syllables)In flight, brakes are useless. Maneuverability Is everythingPoetry1 min readHaiku (or not-17 syllables)In flight, brakes are useless.ManeuverabilityIs everything----1
Dec 15, 2021StarStar I grew up with stories of people whose lives were intersected with difficulties that sometimes seemed to mark them for tragedy: origin stories, offering some explanation for lives that ended badly. …Astronomy3 min read
Dec 9, 2021Bus Ride 2017Bus Ride 2017 Sometimes the characters on the bus form a coherent narrative. Last night’s cast I can only categorize loosely as “Not sure what’s going on there.” First there was Leaner, who may or may not have been a homeless guy. He was pretty grimy, but had an expensive…3 min read
Dec 9, 2021MildredMildred I woke up this morning thinking the world is a disgusting mess, in need of a good scrubbing. I wondered if it was worth the trouble. And I happened to think of Mildred. For years I worked in a nursing home, on night shift. I was an LPN, but…3 min read
