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Enjoy
our story collection
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Who
we are and what we do |
|
Under SiegeA Memoir of ConflictLance Mason © Copyright 2020 by Lance Mason  |
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This
work recounts a
visit I made to the Irish Republic and to Ulster in 1970 as the
Troubles, ignited anew in 1969, were building toward Bloody Sunday
and the years of turmoil to follow. I had met two young Irish lads in
a London pub a few months before, and went to Ireland to fulfill a
promise I had made to them, and one to my mother to visit the home of
her long-dead parents. The memories persist. . . .
Walking the CaminoJack Karolewski © Copyright 2020 by Jack Karolewski |
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The
Way of St. James, also known as the Camino de Santiago, is a walking
pilgrimage route that has been traveled by millions of people over
the last 900 years. It begins in France and ends in northwest Spain
at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of St.
James the Apostle --- the patron saint of Spain --- are entombed. . . .
Florida RedemptionJack Karolewski © Copyright 2020 by Jack Karolewski |
 Photo by Atlas Green on Unsplash |
It
was a cold, snowy, miserable March in 1972. I was attending Northern
Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. This college town is located about
65 miles west of Chicago, out among vast flat farmlands. Its historic
claim to fame is the patented invention of barbed wire by a local,
Joseph Glidden, in 1874. DeKalb is also known for its hybrid corn,
whose universally-recognized logo is a golden ear of corn with two
flying wings. All I wanted to do that gray and windy day was to fly
down to sunny, warm Florida over our two-week Spring Break –
specifically to see for myself the supposed non-stop college kid
party scene in Ft. Lauderdale. . . .
The Train to HarareLance Mason © Copyright 2020 by Lance Mason |
 |
This
work is a reflection on several trips I have made to Africa,
but
especially my first in 1988, as I was immigrating to New Zealand, and
my second in 1998, on
a short-notice visit when my long-time friend
and college roommate was charges
d'affaires (acting
ambassador) following the Al Queda bombing
of the US Embassy in
Nairobi. I have tried to discuss the questions and challenges
of
post-colonial independence across Africa and across a spectrum of
viewpoints, always aware that I am visitor with all the limits that
implies. . . .
VigilanceRani Jayakumar © Copyright 2020 by Rani Jayakumar |
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Every
few years, my family travels to India,
particularly Chennai, where my parents grew up. It brings us a chance
to reconnect with our heritage and help the children understand their
own history and culture. On this particular trip, we spent just long
enough to make note of the differences and similarities in ordinary
life. . . .
Tales from a South American StormdrainMike Plummer and Tim Foster © Copyright 2020 by Mike Plummer and Tim foster |
 Photo by Ryk Porras on Unsplash |
A nauseating wave
of emotional turmoil swept through me as I hesitantly queued to check
in my oversized Karrimor rucksack at Heathrow airport. Here I was, a
former junior sales assistant at John Lewis, with career prospects
and opportunities that most young people in the early eighties could
have only dreamt of, about to embark on an adventure of epic
proportions. My plan was to travel around the
world, starting
off in South America. I felt that if I could survive South America, I
could survive anywhere! . . .
Living in BondageEberechukwu Obua © Copyright 2020 by Eberechukwu Obua |
 Photo by niu niu on Unsplash |
“Thunder
will fire you.”
It’s a popular phrase here. Scientifically incorrect yet carrying the message of an imminent attack from the skies, perfectly.
Is it an insult? A curse upon the heads of my enemies? It’s a powerful polysemy. . . .
It’s a popular phrase here. Scientifically incorrect yet carrying the message of an imminent attack from the skies, perfectly.
Is it an insult? A curse upon the heads of my enemies? It’s a powerful polysemy. . . .
Scotland 2017Gladys Swedak © Copyright 2020 by Gladys Swedak |
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I’d
been looking forward to this holiday for three years. We were finally
on our way to Scotland. The flight I had booked had an eighteen hour
layover in Toronto from 12:47 AM
to 6pm the next night. We didn’t want to stay at the airport
all that time so I went on line as I had for the other bookings I had
made in Scotland. I chose an airbandb bed and breakfast and paid with
my credit card. . . .
Get PackingPk Robbins Walzer © Copyright 2020 by PK Robbins Walzer  |
 Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash |
When
it comes to tackling packing, I have a long way to go. I don’t
mean that my destination is distant. I mean that my skill set is
lacking in this department. . . .
Mezcal and MurallasRuscena Wiederholt © Copyright 2020 Ruscena Wiederholt |
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Our guide Dari poured a thin stream of
liquid into
a
flimsy gourd cup and handed it to me. We were in a small cement
shack, the maestro leaning casually against one of the barrels lining
the wall. We were just another group of gringas, giggly ones at that.
Like so many he’d seen before, vacationers, Spanish words
sliding off our tongues in an awkward, anglophone way. Dari, in
careful Spanish, had explained mezcal production all morning. . . .
Near Death in the Gila National ForestDon Lubov © Copyright 2020 by Don Lubov |
Photo by Atlas Green on Unsplash |
So,
here I am, waiting by the roadside for my
first hitch.
The weather is beautiful, and I’m feeling good. Good here means
a mixture of fear and excitement. I’ve got 35 pounds of food
and gear, and I’m ready to go. Hold on to your hat, that semi
is slowing down. . . .
Where Are You Going, Poet?Daniel de Culla © Copyright 2020 by Daniel de Culla |
 Photo: Isabel Gomez de Diego |
With this bike
that’s going nowhere, I’m going to take a walk through
the streets of Ampuriabrava, Girona, where I’m spending a few
days and, if its tires aren’t punctured, I’ll travel
the world any other day. A World that normally has a lot to see and a
lot to suffer; but little to gain. A World in the power of some
greats, men and women, guarded by thugs, who consider us other lazy,
homeless people. . . .
The Masked Bandit of Tygart LakeJenny Lee McGinn © Copyright 2020 by Jenny Lee McGinn  |
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A
few years ago, we spent a fabulous weekend in rural West Virginia
with longtime friends from Ohio. The four of us rented a beautiful
cabin together at Tygart Lake State Park near the peak of autumn with
full myriad colors beginning to flourish. The structure was small
with a rustic feel, yet tastefully decorated with pictures of “lake
life” wall hangings and comfortable living room furniture. . . .
Finding Answers in TravelingLauren Barrett © Copyright 2020 by Lauren Barrett |
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Pulling up to our Airbnb, I
affixed my sea bands
to my wrists and did my best to ward off any further nausea. We were
here, San Francisco, at the start of our California road trip with
the theme being to capture the major league stadiums in our quest to
see them all. And instead of jumping for joy at finally arriving at
the destination of a much planned and carefully crafted trip, I was
cursing the high heavens for being in the throes of morning sickness
and food aversion thanks to a much unplanned and not carefully
crafted pregnancy. . . .
Lady Thrill Seekers Wanted - Dare toDrive an 18-WheelerDaria J. Walsh © Copyright 2020 Daria J. Walsh |
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After
my divorce
in 2013, I thought long and hard about a "backup" plan in
case I was ever laid off from my day job as a prospect researcher in
the fundraising arena. I wanted a challenge, and had also
grown
up next to a neighbor who owned his own flatbed truck and was an
independent operator. He was the spark and inspiration for my
own interest in trucking, along with growing up with three
brothers.
I loved learning to drive a truck. . . .
A 'Dam Good Time'Aashana Daru © Copyright 2020 Aashana Daru |
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This
is a very real incident that happened to my family and I; 'A
'Dam Good
Time' is a short story about a summer vacation to Amsterdam, during
which the strangest medical emergency occurs and everything that
could go wrong, does. . . .
Divergent Generation XPatricia Sukore © Copyright 2020 by Patricia Sukore |
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In the
olden days, in Nigeria, when children were
only supposed to be seen and not heard; their rights were withheld to
the extent that their health suffered in effect. This write-up
is meant to change the Nigerian
narrative as regards "literally" upholding the rights of
children. . . .
| The Harz Mountains - Witch Country in Germany Eva Bell
© Copyright 2020 by Eva Bell
|
|
A
German historian once said that witchcraft is as German as the Hitler
phenomenon. Germany was the centre of witchcraft in the 16th
and 17th centuries. Not many in the 21st
Century would claim to believe in witchcraft. But The Harz Mountains
still remain a popular tourist destination. . . .
The Long TripJames L. Cowles © Copyright 2020 by James L. Cowles |
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When
he said I would need no training, that I, and for that matter, every
human being is already trained, I became suspicious. I mean, I
thought I would have to spend months in training, maybe over a year.
That would certainly seem appropriate. Surely there would be lots of
things to learn and then there was conditioning. I would have to be
in perfect physical condition, wouldn't I? But, he said no; he said
absolutely not! . . .
The Room That Leads Out ThereEunice Oladeji © Copyright 2020 by Eunice Oladeji |
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Born into a Christian,
missionary home, Eunice was barely five years
old when she was strapped on a plane along with her sister and
parents on their way to Kenya. So, yes, she has traveled outside of
her hlme country, Nigeria but that was just for two years and that
was a long time ago. However, the memories linger and she would like
to share them. . . .
The StreetsLew Goddard © Copyright 2020 by Lew Goddard |
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Snow had
begun gathering on the mountain tops back in the first part of
September, now in late October my job was finished for the season.
During the summer I had spent most of my time at high elevations.
Avenues for electrical transmission towers were being prepared and I
worked in the forefront helping to clear the forest and anything else
that could make it easier for the heavy equipment to install the
towers. . . .
|
Valerie Byron
© Copyright 2020 by Valerie Byron
|
|
This
non-fiction account by
my late mother, Sarah Byron, was dictated to me. It
tells
the story of her life and sexual awakening in the early 1900’s
and her meeting, marriage and divorce with my father.
. . .
Jacey Cameron in the Lost State of Franklin(Excerpt from the book,)Judith Nakken © Copyright 2020 by Judith Nakken  |
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Jacey Cameron is
a twelve-year-old girl with a magic Celtic necklace that takes her
back in time, to historical times or places little known in her 21st
century. In this first book of a trilogy, she whisks timelessly to the
almost-14th
state of Franklin as Jane, a bond servant to Franklin’s
governor. . . .Her adventure and what she learns serves Jacey well when
she returns
home. . . .
More...
Albie |
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1967 and the Hairpull ChallengeBetsy Shepardson © Copyright 2020 by Betsy Shepardson |
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So,
there’s this pressure it seems, to have girlfriends. A
woman must have lots of friends. Or a best one. Or
a
group. Or a gaggle. Or a “meaningful sisterhood”. . . .
The DraymanLew Goddard © Copyright 2020 by Lew Goddard |
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My
Father was a Drayman. As long as I can remember my Dad was a
hardworking man.
According to Webster a dray is a low cart without sides used for carrying heavy loads. My Dad altered the definition by placing long planks embodied with twelve-inch metal steel bolts that were flattened with two bolts attached to the planks. These metal fasteners were inserted into appropriately located holes in the bed of the dray. In the event of a loose heavy load the one-foot sides kept the load from falling off. . . .
According to Webster a dray is a low cart without sides used for carrying heavy loads. My Dad altered the definition by placing long planks embodied with twelve-inch metal steel bolts that were flattened with two bolts attached to the planks. These metal fasteners were inserted into appropriately located holes in the bed of the dray. In the event of a loose heavy load the one-foot sides kept the load from falling off. . . .
The Autumn Plague (excerpt from the book) Karen Radford Treanor
© Copyright 2020 by Karen Radford Treanor
|
|
Would
you want to be the scientist who tells the President that 88% of the
population will be dead in nine days? John Callan is the man,
and he has worse news to follow: even when the Nanjing Flu’s
disease vector is identified, there’s not enough time left to
stop it.
How Callan leaves his ivory tower and learns to live in the new and frightening real world is the theme of “The Autumn Plague”. . . .
How Callan leaves his ivory tower and learns to live in the new and frightening real world is the theme of “The Autumn Plague”. . . .
| August An excerpt from Ellie's new book, Seen from the Road Ellie S. Thomas
©
Copyright
2020 by Ellie S. Thomas
|
 |
(If you live where it
gets sweltering hot in August, as I do in Nashville, Tennessee, and
dream of the climate farther north, you'll enjoy this excerpt from Ellie Thomas's journal
of a rural year at her home in the Adirondack Mountains of upper New York State. . . .Richard Loller, publisher.)
August 1 and hot again..we spent the day at the lake where it was blissfully cool. The flowers are all in bloom and little birds are lively there. A bit too lively, really because they decorated D's shirt so he had to go change. We left, reluctantly, at 4 p.m.
I found some elecampane in bloom this morning and picked one blossom. At first, I'd thought it was jerusalem artichoke but a study of the book showed my mistake. I picked a few more bluebells and something we always called wireweed but which I suspect is a member of the spirea family. . . .
More...
Once Upon A MountainLinda A. Dougherty © Copyright 2020 by Linda A. Dougherty |
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I
learned many things during our five and a half years of living in
Morocco, and perhaps my year and a half of living in a village in the
Imlil Valley forty miles south of Marrakech taught me a valuable lesson- don’t take yourself too seriously. . . .
Physics TestJerry Crenshaw © Copyright 2020 by Jerry Crenshaw |
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Kent
said. “Don’t say nothing when I’m concentrating”.
I never had that problem myself.
I was Kent’s roommate at UT in Knoxville while mom was tending his quail business back home. Kent would fly home from Knoxville every other weekend to Memphis. He was majoring in Engineering Physics, “Slide rule Pool”. Engineering Physics (rocket science) as we called it today was probably one of the hardest curriculum at Knoxville. . . .
More....
The Christian LebaneseRonny Flatau © Copyright 2020 by Ronny Flatau |
 At Janna’s house,with her husband, and grandchildren. July 27, 2018 |
Janna
was 16 when she got married, that’s what she told us. By the
time we met her, she was already 60.
It
was a hot summer day in northern Israel and me and my friends were
hiking. We were carrying heavy bags, and Janna saw us through her
fence. She took pity on us, and so She invited us in, to sit with her
over coffee. . . .
Duck Hunting, A Dream RelivedGordon Crenshaw © Copyright 2020 by Gordon Crenshaw |
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For
many years I have asked myself, what is the magic that makes a man
leave his warm home in the wee hours of the morning in freezing
conditions to endure almost unbearable conditions to get a chance to
bag his limit of ducks? . . .
The Men I Met Along The WayCarrie-Jade Williams © Copyright 2020 by Carrie-Jade Williams |
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It
began with the eyes. Like so many love stories. Romeo on his balcony
hoping for a glimpse of Juliet’s, Tristan and Isolde, Lancelot
and Guinevere. The list could go on but this isn’t about all
the great loves throughout history. Spoiler alert, this isn’t
even about me meeting ‘the one’. But this is still a love
story or a testament of sorts, to all the men I met along the way.
The ones I loved, the ones I didn’t and the ones who had no
idea I even existed. . . .
More...
Remembering Randall JarrellTeddy K. Makarow © Copyright 2020 by Teddy K. Makarow |
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Randall
Jarrell I knew only as a student knows a good teacher. But as I look
back to 1960, over more than 50 years ago, to those few short months
that I sat with others around his conference table in Writing
Workshop I, I can still feel myself there and I know now what I knew
then—Mr. Jarrell’s Writing Workshop was the most deeply
significant class I have ever taken....
Don't Drink The KoolaidLinda A. Dougherty © Copyright 2020 by Linda A. Dougherty |
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This
is both a catharsis for me and an invitation to my daughters to
understand my world which was so different than their own childhood.
It is a story of hope too, that we do not have to remain stuck in the
past but reconciliation is always within reach if we dare to make the
first steps. . . .
UnearthedDenise E. Fore © Copyright 2020 by Denise E. Fore |
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I
was born the sixth and last child of my parents’ marriage. My
parents were divorced a few years later and I spent my childhood
visiting my father during school breaks and holidays. I can still
feel the joy and nervous anticipation of waiting eagerly for his big
gold Chrysler to pull up in our driveway at the end of his
five-hundred mile drive to come visit his children. I was his baby
girl and like little girls do--I loved my daddy. . . .
More...
A Friend, A WoePrecious Owuamalam © Copyright 2020 by Precious Owuamalam |
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Sometimes,
no matter how nice you try to be to some people, they would never get
to appreciate the good you did for them....
My Childhood with Jorge RobejeTerence Talagon © Copyright 2020 by Terence Talagon |
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I’ve
been wanting so much to go home to Guimaras; partly because I want to
take a break from school, but mostly because I want to see my
grandfather. . . .
A Gal with a GoalSharon Morris © Copyright 2020 by Sharon Morris |
 Photo by Bruce Mars on Unsplash. |
“Trippin’
On Lactic Acid” was written in bold white letters on her dark
gray t-shirt. Her white mesh ASICS shoes with lavender and gray
accents slapped against the black track of the treadmill, set at 3.6
miles per hour, and her short brown hair bounced to the rhythm of the
jogging. Margaret gradually increased the incline to 7.5% to prepare
her for a 5K race up the side of a mountain in West Virginia, where
she and her husband Ken would vacation. . . .
More...
Who's That Lady?Rolanda T. Pyle © Copyright 2020 by Rolanda T. Pyle |
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Me, Dad and Seven ShoesIrene Joseph © Copyright 2020 by Irene Joseph |
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It's
magical, how an assortment of fond memories can spring from a pair of
shoes from the past! When I think about particular shoes, memories of
me and my Dad appear. It is ten years this Christmas that I lost my
Dad, and so as a celebration of his life with me, here are seven
pairs of shoes, whose memories I'd like to share. . . .
Mummy, Me, MemoriesIris Leona Marie Cross © Copyright 2020 by Iris Leona Marie Cross |
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Not
knowing what had transpired behind the bedroom door I had slammed
shut in a rage still haunts me. All I know is my prophetic
words
that night had come to pass. “Mark my words mummy, from
tomorrow you’re on your own. I’m not putting up with this
nonsense anymore.” The next morning, my mother was on her
own. She was dead; and I was racked with guilt....
Shape Does Not Define MeDiana Arriaga © Copyright 2020 by Diana Arriaga |
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My
hands are stained
with despair and calloused with regret, a tattered map of who I am.
When I look down, I am standing on sin and dreams. I am living, but
my shadow is not. It is my grave, but not my death. This is the
beginning. . . .
More...
A Dangerous WelcomeCharlene Duline © Copyright 2020 by Charlene Duline |
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As
our caravan of
three U.S. Embassy cars rolled through the dark, empty streets of
Monrovia, I wondered if this would be the last night of my life.
Liberia remained under martial law and a curfew had been announced by
Head of State Samuel Doe shortly after he and 27 other soldiers
disemboweled President Tolbert and took over the country on April 12,
1980. Doe had declared that no one was allowed on the city streets
from midnight to 6:00 a.m., and here was our small caravan of cars
moving through the capital city of Monrovia at 4:30 a.m. . . .
Bohemian Fruit DumplingsSuzanne Caithamer © Copyright 2020 by Suzanne Caithamer |
 Photo by Kelly Neil on Unsplash |
I’ve
always thought my mother-in-law was kind of a character, but I never
realized how much until I started writing about her. I don’t
get to see her much nowadays, as she lives so far away, but she has
had a profound impact on my life in many ways. . . .
The JohnMaureen Moynihan © Copyright 2020 by Moynihan |
 Photo by Robert Reader |
Cancer
treatment is a
voracious consumer of a patient's self image. Sources of
unconditional love and acceptance are critical as we grieve
the
body that we once had.
It’s easier to get a turtle out of its shell than a husband out of the bathroom. . . .
It’s easier to get a turtle out of its shell than a husband out of the bathroom. . . .
She Was Only Eighteen, Only EighteenIris Leona Marie Cross © Copyright 2020 by Iris Leona Marie Cross |
 |
For
a brief
period in my life, raging hormones had clouded my moral judgment
causing professional boundaries to become blurred. As I recall this
episode, I am left to wonder how far the pendulum of intoxicating
desire would have swung, were it not for the sobering effect and
timely intervention of that bombshell letter? . . .
More...
The Crying CouchKim
Smyth
©
Copyright 2020 by Kim Smyth
|
 |
My
husband has always been what you’d think of as a tough guy,
strong, manly, well he’s always been my rock. I’ve
come to depend on his quiet strength to lift me up in times of need
and to keep me grounded when my body feels like it’s flying
apart. Then came the day we found out he had the “C” word
and that was the day his strength was truly tested. . . .
Cookie - 1954Thomas Turman © Copyright 2020 by Thomas Turman |
 Photo by André Freitas on Unsplash |
I
was excited to get the card from the Denver Parks Department that told
me to report for work at 5:15 A.M., so I biked down here early. The
lone streetlight 25 feet down the road barely lights the shadowy,
brooding, one story brick building and dense bushes across the street
from where as I wait in the street. I am the first one here, but I’m
not really alone because I’m on the south edge of the city zoo. The
sounds of the nocturnal animals and birds are scary yet comforting at
the same time. I can feel and smell them out there in the cool darkness
of the June morning. . . .
More...
| How
I Wake Up At The Backseat, Asking God When? |
 |
Winter
comes grey & dusty, like another vagabond experiencing it's
hangover on the road's
belly. Every
harmattan finds December eating weird dishes in my head & other
Christian homes left in my body. Whatever
goes into them becomes a fellowship-- a wild synagogue of my dreams
hailing a Mary that isn't
so full of grace. . . .
Chipped Beef on ToastHannah Huber © Copyright 2020 by Hannah Huber |
 |
Some
of the most
important people in my life I’ve met at the most unexpected
places. These people, although some of them have since passed away,
have taught me that choosing a less conventional way of living leads
to freedom. . . .
More...
Gone Past She RemainsKC Chan Wing Haw © Copyright 2020 by KC Chan Wing Haw |
 |
This story is about someone whom I miss dearly and still she remains inside me. She inspired me to be a writer.
She. Molly Lee was her name. She had always been a source to ignite independent education, a passionate companion to children and of her own, someone who laughed and joked without tomorrow hinting another strength to come. A lady of smiles that no longer existed in some of us but remained somewhere near her hut of declining memories. . . .
More...|
Still Here Karen H. Curran © Copyright 2020 by Karen H. Curran |
 |
I
have a regular gig one Sunday a month, playing piano for a worship
service at a local assisted living facility. Most residents come in
wheelchairs, use walkers, or ride on electric scooters. Many of them
fall asleep during the service. I play several hymn arrangements and
lead in singing songs; then an elder or pastor from my church reads
and teaches from God’s Word. I try to speak with each resident
afterwards, but conversation can be difficult since some of them
struggle with hearing or cognitive issues. . . .
Snowballs With SyrupTerry Mulcahy © Copyright 2020 by Terry Mulcahy |
 Old fashioned ice shaver such as Terry and his brother used. |
Although
I do not remember the exact dates, my parents moved one last time as
a family in 1960, when I was about to turn ten. The snowball stand
existed for two or three summers between 1961 and 1966. Our parents
taught us how to make the sugar syrup. They bought our first set of
flavor concentrates to help us get started. We added more as our
business took off....
More...
Twenty-five Mother's Days Without HerCathy B. Bridges © Copyright 2020 by Cathy B. Bridges |
 |
Today
is May 27, 2020,
and mama has been gone 25 years and 15 days. She passed from this
life to a better one on May 12, 1995. That was the Friday before
Mother’s Day. I will never forget it. I was working for an
optometrist on the other end of town when my dad called with the bad
news. Mama had died. . . .
Ghost MeetingLaura Labno © Copyright 2020 by Laura Labno
|
 |
She
opened the door and there she was. Somewhere in between a blurred
eyes-made picture from 8 years earlier and this very moment,
registered by the very same eyes. There she was. . . .
| Trudy Hunzikar - Mother Courage
Eva Bell
© Copyright 2020 by Eva Bell
|
|
Friendships
never die. They run through life like an enriching melody. We were
friends for seventeen years, and though Trudy has gone to hide among
the stars, the courageous life she led can never be forgotten. . . .
More...
Waylaid - Postcard From New York CityMartha Patterson © Copyright 2020 by Martha Patterson |
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Best Laid PlansStephanie Whitson © Copyright 2020 by Stephanie Whitson |
 Photo by Isaac Moore on Unsplash |
The
idea was simple. Pack up our RV and boondock across California and
Nevada, continue through until we arrive in Louisiana. We wanted to
save money and figured dry camping was the best way to do it, while
still being able to travel. As with any best-laid plans, there will
always be hiccups. . . .
|
Hiking the Juan de Fuca Trail on Vancouver Island Lillith Foxx © Copyright 2020 by Lillith Foxx |
 |
It
was an ambitious endeavor for a first-time
backpacker. 47 kilometers of wild coastal trail, in under 48 hours.
Between the bugs and the bear scares and the beers, we managed to
come out the other side alive. I hope you enjoy this adventure. . . .
More...
A Side of BaconMaureen Moynihan © Copyright 2020 by Moynihan |
 |
Fear
is not the
worst part of a disease; indifference is. Compassion
matters in medical care. It matters BIG. A patient will
remember every kind thought, prayer, word and card.
They
will also will remember what was not there at all.
The radiation technician executed her duties with the same bored detachment as an express lane cashier; I was yet another item to scan. A box of Fruit Loops. A head of lettuce. A side of bacon. . . .
The radiation technician executed her duties with the same bored detachment as an express lane cashier; I was yet another item to scan. A box of Fruit Loops. A head of lettuce. A side of bacon. . . .
A Conventional RiotDoug Sherr © Copyright 2020 by Doug Sherr |
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Kismet InterruptedDon Shook © Copyright 2020 by Don Shook |
 |
“Don, Don they love you.” Mari Lynn Henry, Head of
ABC Daytime Casting in New York, barely containing her excitement,
exclaimed into the other end of the phone. . . .
Three Don't DanceDon Shook © Copyright 2020 by Don Shook |
 |
Guilt consumed me. “My, God, she’s married!” I thought, the effects of the wine worn off. “You’re married!” I said aloud, jumping to my feet.
Toni
looked perplexed, then scowled before saying, “So?”. . .
Moving AgainHal Howland © Copyright 2020 by Hal Howland |
 Harold E. Howland, Hal, Robert Frost, Charles Howland, and Elizabeth Howland. taken at the Howland home near Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1961. |
Two
or three moves ago, I decided that the single most depressing thing
you can do in life is to relocate from one home to another. This of
course is a Virgo’s immediate response to the massive but
short-lived disruption that a government brat calls business as
usual. The most practical lesson I learned from that life of
continual uprooting is this: Always hire professional
movers. . . .
The CallerMaureen Moynihan © Copyright 2020 by Moynihan |
Photo credit Quino Al
@quinoal |
My mother calls. She speaks in 24pt Impact Bold
font and
punctuates each statement with a fantastic sense of urgency.
“Maureen!!! This is ya Mutha!!!!The lady who gave you birth!! Backwards!!”. . .
“Maureen!!! This is ya Mutha!!!!The lady who gave you birth!! Backwards!!”. . .
The VisitJames L. Cowles © Copyright 2020 by James L. Cowles |
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It was a good day. Dad picked up his new bi-focals and
could finally read without getting a headache, mom finished sewing my
sister Gloria's dress, which she had been working on for at least two
weeks and I picked up my brand new cornet and would be taking my
first lesson next week. Meanwhile, I had been instructed to practice
"buzzing" my lips and trying to get a good tone from my new
horn. . . .
Reflections of a Daddyless DaughterBarbara Brockway © Copyright 2020 by Barbara Brockway |
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My
dad was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease the year I was born. I
grew up with the specter of his death over me always, it was
something I never not knew, from the way adults cast pitying looks at
me, to the lack of money from the mound of medical bills, to his
bouts of suffering and the casual talk of his myriad of treatments
around our dinner table. . . .
More...
In Case of Emergency, Grab Your SeatMarnie Devereux © Copyright 2020 by Marnie Devereux |
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This morning we are up before daybreak to catch an early morning flight to Los Angeles. We are attending a wedding in Pasadena and I will be introduced to, and inspected by, Dr Nick’s surrogate family in the US. ‘Don’t worry, they know all about you’ he says cheerfully, as if that will help.
Prescott’s
Municipal Airport is tiny. The staff multi-task, especially today as
their electronic system has gone down, so everything has to be
checked manually. Our little plane is basic, no frills. We are
advised in the departure lounge that there is no toilet on board ‘So
now would be a good time to go.’ You don’t get that kind
of personal care advice at Heathrow. . . .
The American EmbassyMarnie Devereux © Copyright 2020 by Marnie Devereux |
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So
I'm sitting in the waiting room at Taunton railway station, about to
embark on the biggest journey of my life. This time tomorrow, I shall
know whether or not my visa application has been approved. I haven't
slept properly in two weeks, ever since the letter arrived inviting
me to the interview at the US Embassy in London. . . .
Upside Down Apple PieMarnie Devereux © Copyright 2020 by Marnie Devereux |
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Of
course, it all
started long before that. It was just that the 'upside down apple
pie' incident was the first time anyone really noticed, apart from
me. . . .
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Stuffed Cabbage and
Knishes Eileen W. Fisher © Copyright 2019 by Eileen W. Fisher |
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When
I think about my mother, what comes to mind is her reputation as
being a great cook. There were no cookbooks in my house, no recipe
files; everything was made from scratch. In a generation when most
women did not work, many found self-expression in cooking for their
families and friends as did my mother. It was her way of expressing
love for her family, and friends. It was her way to shine,
and to share. . . .
The Journey of 27 RoostersLori Hilton Brizius © Copyright 2020 by Lori Hilton Brizius |
 Photo by Arib Neko on Unsplash |
Every
stray or lost animal has a journey. Every little soul has a story.
Working with animals in shelters is never easy, and for almost 30
years I’ve cared for all kinds including domestic, wildlife,
farm animals and reptiles. I never imagined that one day a scraggly
bunch of roosters would melt my heart. . . .
| It Wasn't Funny At The Time Patricia M. Snell © Copyright 2020 by Patricia M. Snell |
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My
husband never tires of teasing me about the time I ran over him with
the lawn mower. He admits he should have given me a quick lesson in
how to steer and how to stop. . . .
| A
Memory of Fox Hill and Grandview Robert Flournoy © Copyright 2019 by Robert Flournoy |
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I have often wondered if
luck is something that is doled out individually in our lives, some
getting more than others, some getting none at all. Looking back, it
seems that I was extraordinarily lucky as a boy and later as a young
man, surviving experiences that had scant chance of turning out on my
side. It was like I was front loaded with a life time of luck, not to
last forever, but there in the beginning, when I most needed it. . . .
What If. . .Lew Goddard © Copyright 2020 by Lew Goddard |
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Now
I have more time to spend without going to work. I found myself
searching back in memory counting the number of times that I could
have been injured and possibly die due to the circumstances. Some of
the situations were accidental, some were intentional and others just
complete stupidity. I must say that I knew the hazards when I
employed the actions. . . .
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Women
and Children First: Paying for the Crimes of Nazi Germany Linda Jonasson © Copyright 2020 by Linda Jonasson |
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This essay is based on
the life of Elfriede Neumann, my husband's grandmother.
Winston Churchill once said: "History is written by the victors." My early knowledge of European History came from a Canadian high school textbook. Flipping through its pages, I saw vivid images of Germany’s role in the Second World War: Wehrmacht soldiers goose-stepping down the Champs-Elysees of Paris; Hitler delivering rants to a crowd of helmet-topped heads, their right arms raised at a 45 degree angle; the Luftwaffe bombing London’s glorious St. Paul Cathedral during the Blitz. . . .
Winston Churchill once said: "History is written by the victors." My early knowledge of European History came from a Canadian high school textbook. Flipping through its pages, I saw vivid images of Germany’s role in the Second World War: Wehrmacht soldiers goose-stepping down the Champs-Elysees of Paris; Hitler delivering rants to a crowd of helmet-topped heads, their right arms raised at a 45 degree angle; the Luftwaffe bombing London’s glorious St. Paul Cathedral during the Blitz. . . .
| The Magic and Majesty of the Middle Ages:
Notre-Dame de Paris Bill Ranauro © Copyright 2020 by Bill Ranauro |
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In April 1999, I made my first
trip to Europe. I
was helping three other teachers chaperone forty students on a trip
that would take us to Paris, Venice, Florence, and Rome over the next
two weeks. I was hooked on European travel after visiting Notre-Dame
Cathedral on my first day in Paris. . . .
The Secret of My MemoriesKC Chan Haw © Copyright 2020 by KC Chan Haw |
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This
story is about how the world revolves around problems I view them as
vital as our current situation may beg us to rethink how our
actions can be a contribution to our present act. I am inspired
from my recent reading by David Halberstam ‘The Next Century’. . . .
Union RapAlbert Vetere Lannon © Copyright 2020 by Albert Vetere Lannon |
 (Labor sit-in at South Africa Airlines, 1985. I’m on right, with SF Labor Council Assistant Secretary Jeff Greendorfer on left.) |
Unions
are getting a bad rap these days, often with justification. Corruption
and embezzlement in the once-progressive United Auto
Workers, individuals in other unions helping themselves to members’
dues for their own personal use, officials bought off by employers –
these garner headlines while millions of workers with leadership true
to trade union principles remain under increasing pressure to roll
back the gains made over decades of struggle. Unions, which created
the much-vaunted middle class in the United States, are now at their
lowest membership levels since the Robber Baron Capitalism of a
century ago. . . .
More...
Why Do We Watch Scary Movies?Kelly Maida © Copyright 2020 by Kelly Maida |
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