China Club 1992D. Greene © Copyright 2022 by D. Greene |
 Photo by Michael Discenza at Unsplash. |
Sitting in
the China Club. New York City. I came here with Sarah, my roommate
and theater school classmate. The place is packed when we get there. I
always feel uncomfortable the first couple of minutes we’re
there – I think everyone is looking at me like I don’t
belong. I want them to think I’m “someone”, but I
always feel like I’m an imposter. . . .
Ringing of the BellMarc Revere © Copyright 2022 by Marc Revere |
 Photo by the author. |
“What
doesn’t kill you will haunt you.” - Gordon
King. Fire boss: Loop Fire.
There
is a numbness that occurs from decades of tension. Like a tightly
wound spring, the body is compressed when hardened and will
eventually push back to its original form when released. But if held
down or heated too long and loses elasticity, it will never return to
its relaxed state. . . .
A Moral DilemmaMargaret Darby © Copyright 2022 by Margaret Darby |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
Receiving
a diagnosis of stage III cancer may not sound like an event worth
celebrating, but coming to grips with my own mortality has made my
life one hundred per cent more fulfilling. Nevertheless,
the road to treatment was fraught with little traps and tricks that
led me to make some really foolish decisions because the swirling
emotions after a dire prognosis can make a patient quite
foolhardy. That is what led me to make a terrible choice. . . .
How I CopeYessenia Gutierrez © Copyright 2022 by Yessenia Gutierrez  |
 Photo by Jim Forest at Flickr. |
I was born with polycystic kidney disease. I had
kidney failure when I was nine years old and that's when I wrote my
first poem. I have had two failed kidney transplants and one
successful liver transplant. I have been on dialysis for thirteen
years and today I am on the waiting list for another kidney. If
having kidney disease and being on dialysis has taught me anything,
it's patience. One must have patience in order to survive through
this journey. . . .
Wearing The Quartered CapAlan Grant © Copyright 2022 by Alan Grant |
 Photo by Element5 Digital at Pexels. |
‘Let’s
have a look at you,’ said his Mother, brushing her fingers
through his dark brown hair.
‘Are your shoes clean?’
‘Yes Mum, done them. They're ready, everything’s fine.’
Whilst Ian enjoyed being touched, the current close attention embarrassed him. . . .
More...
TransplantedCyndie Zikmund © Copyright 2022 by Cyndie Zikmund |
 Photo by Edoardo Fezet at Unsplash. |
Tsugio Ikeda, my uncle,
and his family were
part of the 120,000 Japanese Americans held prisoner in concentration
camps during WWII. His story is unique in that he later served in the
US Army and after that, he became an educator and the first
Asian-American to be elected as County Superintendent of Schools in
Montana. . . .
The Final MiracleHow Death Was Cheated In ParadiseHenry Lancing Woodward © Copyright 2022 by Henry Lancing Woodward |
 Photo by Asad Photo Maldives courtesy of Pexels. |
I
believe it is impossible to adequately describe or explain what it is
like to be a Paramedic. It is something one must live in the moment. In
a true emergency, every one of those moments is a lifetime,
especially for the patient. As a Paramedic, either for one moment or
years of moments, one becomes altered to the very core. . . .
An After School HangingHenry Lancing Woodward © Copyright 2022 by Henry Lancing Woodward |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
When
I was
discharged from the US Navy, I decided to remain in Hawaii rather
than return to my hometown on the mainland. After becoming an EMT, I
was accepted into the ten-month Hawaii State Paramedic Program. . . .
The Game of FateMahi M. Al-Khatib © Copyright 2022 by Mahi M. Al-Khatib |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
Here
I am writing to you a story that expresses a part of what I am
experiencing and facing in my life in the hope that I will return to
this, the course of my life has changed, and I read it with
happiness, proud of myself for my patience and willpower, which we
must have to live every day with gratitude and calm ourself. . . .
June to JuneRoger Barbee © Copyright 2022 by Roger Barbee |
 Photo by Christian Bowen on Unsplash
|
In early November of 2019, my
oldest child told me he
had found out in a Google search that his biological mother had died
in 2015. An adopted son, he had met his biological mother when he was
eighteen—they sat in her car during her lunch hour. . . .
Six Months as a ParamedicA Story about Death and an EpiphanyHenry Lancing Woodward © Copyright 2022 by Henry Lancing Woodward |
 Part of the author's diary about the case. |
I
had been in Hawaii
for about one-and-a-half years, and I was six months into my new life
as a Paramedic and could do no wrong. After graduating fifth out of
a class of twelve, I was ready, if not eager, to save lives. The
program consisted of three months in the classroom and a six-month
internship during which we rode along with fully certified
paramedics. This experience introduced us to the unbelievable
emergencies that occur on any given day. . . .
|
Occupational Humor
Steven C. Levi
©
Copyright 2022 by Steven C. Levi |
|
My
wife, who works
for the Presentence Unit, was in the Courthouse one afternoon when
she was approached by a well-known local defense attorney. He said
that she would be considering the case of one of his clients and he
wanted to explain something before she got the paperwork. . . .
Lessons from a Shoeshine BoyTeal M. Gaylord © Copyright 2022 by Teal M. Gaylord |
 Fred Gaylords shoeshine box. Photo courtesy of the author. |
. . . .In
the spring and summer of 1944 World War II had engulfed the world in
some of the most intense fighting of the war; including the Normandy
invasion and the Battle of The Bulge where over 19,000 young
Americans would lose their lives. At the same time on the streets of
Binghamton, New York in war-time 1944, a young boy of 6 was working
his day job as a shoeshine boy. His earnings were probably less than
a $1 a day. However, it was often enough for him to run home and take
his three-year-old brother to the local diner for coffee which
probably cost the two young brothers a dime. . . .
More...
A Soul Wrapped in CardboardAnnelise Wallie © Copyright 2022 by Annelise Wallie  |
 Photograph of Boquete, Panama by the author. |
ViolenceExtract from his book, My Wasted LifeAlex Frew © Copyright 2022 by Alex Frew |
 |
When I first started work as a vanboy in
the 70’s,
delivering lemonade, I had a driver called Jimmy. Jimmy belonged to a
school that thought violence was acceptable in the working
environment. So he hit me all the time. . . .
Our Paper CabinFreda Wooten © Copyright 2022 by Freda Wooten |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
Most
people don’t think about the things collected inside their
home. But Tom and I are deep sentimental creatures. I can testify;
the old house we live in has more to say than the people I met
recently. More to show than the pompous neighbors who seem to stay
entertained by estranged rumors, local gossip and eerie
superstitions. . . .
|
Green Ginger
|
Photo by cottonbro courtesy of Pixabay. |
Spring
has finally arrived here in the Lakes area of New Hampshire.
It
was a long time coming, and it did the now normal routine of throwing
in a short heat wave a few weeks after the last snow drift under the
evergreens melted. . . .
Shades of DarknessAbtihal K. A. Saed © Copyright 2022 by Abtihal K. A. Saed |
 Photo property of the author (in pink). |
...“Now
I’m 10-years old kid, I’ll never be afraid of darkness
again!” this is a promise which I gave to mama one day so that
she could sleep on peace of mind without me leaking under her arms
whenever I see darkness. . . .
The Bite PathMargie Marek © Copyright 2022 by Margie Marek |
 Photo by Ave Calvar Martinez at Pexels. |
It
all happened so fast. I’ll never for certain whether the bark
and the lunge was the reason or the result of my snatching Hiro back.
“NO!
Gunner,
sit.” she orders. The German Shepherd instantly obeys.
Tightening her grip on the choked leash, she meets my horrified eyes,
placating “I’m soooooo
sorry,”. . .
Montgomery MemoriesJames Lamont © Copyright 2022 by James Lamont |
 Photo courtesy of CORE. |
Yogi
Berra said it best: “It’s deja vu all over again!”
Such was my reaction when I began comparing the southern United
States I knew as a young reporter for a news wire service sixty years
ago, and that same region today. Or perhaps more eloquently (if less
amusingly): the more things change, the more they remain the same. . . .
|
At the Polish/Ukrainian Border
A Lyrical Prose Poem
Carl Winderl © Copyright 2022 by Carl Winderl  |
 Przemysl Train Station. Photo courtesy of the author. |
.
. . where there are No 2 Days Alike.
That’s what I’m thinking about having silk-screened onto a bunch of t-shirts: ‘No 2 Days Alike.’
They’d be for our group of volunteers here at the Przemysl Train Station where we’re aiding Ukrainian refugees & evacuees – fleeing the ongoing mindless madness of the Russian Military “invasion.” . . .
That’s what I’m thinking about having silk-screened onto a bunch of t-shirts: ‘No 2 Days Alike.’
They’d be for our group of volunteers here at the Przemysl Train Station where we’re aiding Ukrainian refugees & evacuees – fleeing the ongoing mindless madness of the Russian Military “invasion.” . . .
Two Short StoriesAlaa Othman © Copyright 2022 by Alaa Othman |
 |
Writing
is not something I tend to do every day. I mean, I wish but I don’t.
Although I have written “writing a crime fiction novel”
on my bucket list a long time ago and I’m pretty sure I will
write it one day. Now I believe writing has many more shapes than
writing an academic essay. Having a diary is some sort of writing.
Having one or two best friends that I can text and open to them is
also a style of writing. . . .
The Truthful ChoiceAmy L. Haba © Copyright 2022 by Amy L Haba |
 Photo courtesy Duané Viljoen at Pexels. |
When
I was pregnant with our twin boys I never once thought about ending
my pregnancy. I was just a few months shy of twenty-one years old.
Rick, my boyfriend, and I weren't married but we were in love. . . .
In Bed With The Jungle QueenLesley Mukwacha © Copyright 2022 by Lesley Mukwacha |
 Photo courtesy of Leif Blessing on Pixabay. |
When
I woke up to prepare coffee, tea, and biscuits that cold morning in
one of the wildest bush camps in Masai Mara National Park in Kenya, I
wasn't aware that I was about to witness a miracle no living human
being I knew had ever witnessed. The camp was full. I could count
five overland trucks and several 4x4 land cruisers. It was still
about forty-five minutes before sunrise and only cooks were up and
already busy with breakfast preparations. . . .
Where The Maned Brothers RestLesley Mukwacha © Copyright 2022 by Lesley Mukwacha |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
Having
driven just over a thousand kilometers through one of Africa's mighty
deserts, the Kalahari desert, alone, without resting, my body was
almost giving up, my eyes felt heavy, my arms stiff, and my neck a
bit sore. The memories of my just ended twenty-day tour of Namibia
had kept me going despite the tiredness; the coast, the national
heritage sights, and the cultural visits had been more than amazing,
they had been exceptional, and looking out either side of the highway
now, seeing nothing but the open plains, stretching well into the
horizon, everything changed. . . .
Me Against The LionsLesley Mukwacha © Copyright 2022 by Lesley Mukwacha |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
Zimbabwe's
Hwange
national park is one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in Africa. It
is home to the big 5 and getting a job as a guide in one of the best
lodges there was a dream come true for me. The three months I had
worked there had been nothing but exciting as I also had the chance
to work with some of the best guides in the field. . . .
More...
Perceptions Unfortunately MatterAlicia J. M. Colson © Copyright 2022 by Alicia J. M. Colson |
 Photo courtesy of Pexels. |
Perception
matters especially when you’re not familiar with the region
that you’re visiting. Everyone reads landscapes and everyone
tells stories. Such stories vary from those snapped on Instagram, on
newswires, in family photos to those told hugging a cup of coffee or
tea, or around campfires. . . .
|
The Morning Is Mine Reflections on a particularly fine pre Winter Solstice Day
|
|
My Terrifying Encounter with a Mamba Snake and Some Herds of CattleIkyereve Denen © Copyright 2022 by Ikyegeve Denen |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
On
that faithful day in the wee hours of the morning, I received a call
from my good friend Goodluck Jonathan, Jonathan was a friend I met at
a church program during my mandatory one year youth service to my
father land, we served at different place of primary assignment
while I served at the ministry of animal health and fisheries, he on
the other hand served at the Nigerian army farms. . . .
Alice and the Tea PartyElliot Wilner © Copyright 2022 by Elliot Wilner |
 Photo courtesy of Ebay. |
It
was a few minutes after seven o’clock when Simon drove up the
driveway of the Bethesda Country Club, heading toward the clubhouse
where the Woodrow Wilson High School reunion was already underway.
The parking lot closest to the clubhouse was by now nearly full, and
it pleased Simon to see that the parked cars were mostly mid-size
SUVs, or aging Volvos like his, unpretentious cars, utilitarian
cars, none of them gas-guzzlers. . . .
| In
Like A Lion...Out Like Two Lions Karen Radford Treanor
© Copyright 2022 by Karen Radford Treanor
|
 The java-cloth curtains before the storm. Photos by the author. |
“Give
me a home among the gum trees” said the theme song of a
now-defunct gardening show. Gum trees—genus eucalyptus—come
in many varieties, and quite a few of the larger ones marched along
the fence line of our home in the hills above Perth, Western
Australia. Eucalyptus tend to drop their branches suddenly,
especially if stressed or ill, with only a loud cra-a-a-ck! to warn
those beneath. . . .
I Don't Know How She Does ItMarcia McGreevy Lewis |
 Photo courtesy of Connie Niva. |
Connie
Niva returned to graduate school at mid-life for a Master of Public
Policy. Why this consummate professional pursued a different
direction in life says everything about her inquisitive mind. In her
early years, she had lectured in microbiology to medical students and
then taught Palestinian nurses in East Jerusalem for two years. She
embraced the opportunity to live in a variety of countries and was
also raising four children while globetrotting. . . .
Endangered Folks, Chimps, and Funa on the BrinksIkyereve Denen © Copyright 2022 by Ikyegeve Denen |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
More
than a decade ago, fate took Haruna Bawa to his lifelong ambition.
The 56 year old longed for a more serene life that offered hope for
survival away from the fake fancies of Abuja, Nigeria the capital
city and centre of beureacracy. . . .
If That's How Winning Feels, I'd Rather LoseIsraa Abdelfatah © Copyright 2022 by Israa Abdelfatah |
 Photo by Iva Rajović on Unsplash |
He
was so lonely.
That was what the pig always thought of and how he always felt. Utter
loneliness and unavoidable solitude. It was not his fault though, he
thought to himself. It was not anybody’s fault. It was what it
was. He was born as ugly as a sin; his face was deformed, and his
hair was all dishevelled. . . .
The Foxes with Doggy-earsMeenakshi Bhatt © Copyright 2022 by Meenakshi Bhatt |
 Photo courtesy of Pexels. |
In
1959, in the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Novosibirsk, Russia,
the Russian geneticist Dmitri Belyaev started an experiment to
observe domestication in animals. Belyaev had worked with domestic
animals for many years and was interested in the process by which
wild animals could be tamed. . . .
Wawa's Divine SignAlexi Dinerstein © Copyright 2022 by Alexi Dinerstein |
 Photo by Artturi Jalli on Unsplash |
September 17th,
2018: my first day teaching at a Catholic High School. While for some
this occasion may have been a rudimentary occupational exercise, I
found myself in the midst of yet another professional predicament. . . .
The Friendly Neighborhood DoctorHabib Zreik © Copyright 2022 by Habib Zreik |
 Photo courtesy of Pexels. |
When
I think of our late neighbor Dr. Loshkajian, or Dr. Arteen as
we
knew him, the first image that comes to my mind is of him in a white
cotton loose undershirt, which manages to stretch even wider
than his round belly. . . .
HaFredrick Hudgin © Copyright 2022 by Fredrick Hudgin |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
This
was a tough one to write. When I came home from Vietnam, I put all
the unhappy memories in a box at the back of my mind and sealed it
with mental tape, never to be opened again. But this story has
escaped many times. I still see Ha being driven away in that jeep.
. . .
More...
| Dirt Roads and Calloused Hands Robert Flournoy © Copyright 2022 by Robert Flournoy |
Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
When
I was young, dirt roads were a silent witness to my life, their dusty
presence taken for granted, as were crawdads, mules, may pops, BB
guns and the whistle of a Bob White Quail. Where I came from
there were also gators, cotton mouths, bull frogs and dragon flies as
wide as a farmer's hand. . . .
More...
| Welcome
Home Robert Flournoy © Copyright 2022 by Robert Flournoy |
 Photo by Suzy Turbenson on Unsplash |
A Tragedy and a BlessingOhanya K'Otengo © Copyright 2022 by Ohaya K'Otengo  |
 Photo by David Clode on Unsplash |
I
was dead. That is the best way to describe the experience or
non-experience, now that I am writing after death or better, when
back to life.
When
I came to, and that's for lack of a better word, the best I could
remember was that I went somewhere but not on earth. I am sure that
for quite some time I was not around. Certainly not here. . . .
Gringos EstupidosEdward Bogdan © Copyright 2022 by Edward Bogdan |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
Thirty,
single, and unhappy in San Francisco’s hippy society of the
‘70s, I set my sights on Latin America. My search for life’s
meaning led me to problems with La Policia south of the border. As a
‘gringo’ (derogatory Latino term for North Americans), I
was among those labeled both as ‘estupido’ (stupid), and
as easy marijuana-carrying targets. . . .
Moving DayDarien Greene © Copyright 2022 by Darien Greene |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
Shackled
and chained to another human being, inside a prisoner transport bus,
I can’t help but to notice the hushed talking of other
prisoners. Remembering the loud voices and tones of bravado about
finally leaving jail to go to prison, the night before. The night
before: is when the jail’s correctional officers let you know
that you’re being moved to state prison to commence your
sentence, so you have to pack up. . . .
How I learned the joys, wonder and misadventures of traveling from my parentsLeslee W. Kahler © Copyright 2022 by Leslee W. Kahler |
 Leslee's backyard in Norway. Photo by the author. |
When
I was a little my father, who was an engineer took a job in Mobile,
Alabama building oil rigs a few months before hurricane Camille hit
on August 17, 1969. My parents decided to listen to the weather man
about the severity of the storm and to evacuate inland. We packed up
both family cars with our pets, clothes, photo albums, bedding and a
few select toys for my brother and I and we headed inland at a crawl.
By the time we had packed up and hit the road it was dark and it was
pouring rain as the first bands of rain hit the Gulf Coast. . . .
|
Get Your Comeuppance Here
|
|
In
first grade, I read the entire first
chapter of Fun with Dick and Jane during the first reading session on
the first day. Within a week, I was up to "'See the big horses,'
said Jane" on page 50. Meanwhile, the other kids were stumbling
through “See it go up” on page 6. By the time they got to
“This is not fun” on page 9 the following week, I had
decided that what was not fun was reading in school. Reading in
school was boring. I had already learned to read by being read to
every night before being tucked into bed. . . .
|
An
Ode to Przemsyl
A Lyrical Prose Poem
Carl Winderl © Copyright 2022 by Carl Winderl |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
When Humanity’s at Its Worst . . . . . . what evil can entail.
So, I’m standing just outside the train station in the little town of Przemsyl, Poland. ( pronounced: shemma-shuh )
Today. March 25th,
2022. One month and one day since Russia invaded Ukraine, while
atrocious and horrifying unimaginable acts of the invaders continue
to be too too fresh in the hearts and minds and on the retinas of
people all around the world. . . .
Getting to Know the CanonPamella Laird © Copyright 2022 by Pamella Laird |
 |
Way
back in the Fifties, it was commonplace to hitchhike when on a
working holiday. In our case, my nurse friend Zala and I were in
England for more than two years, far from our native New Zealand. . . .
Scary Tale of a Lone Black KidPaul Onuh © Copyright 20221 by Paul Onuh |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
While
I walked down the sandy road from elementary school, all alone like a
stone cold loner at age seven. I looked straight in front of me,
dressed in a checkered brown and white shirt, pink short and white
socks. Still I could recall my brown rubber sandals and colorful bag,
right then. . . .
They Were Never MineSubhiksha Parthiban © Copyright 2022 by Subhiksha Parthiban |
 Photo by Akram Huseyn on Unsplash |
I
feed them daily, they are there for my arrival. No such bond exists
between me and any human soul including my family. I am worried if
they are not there. Scared when they don’t be there for me. . . .
Devils of Speechless CreaturesMuthulakshmi Muthukrishnan © Copyright 2022 by Muthulakshmi Muthukrishnan |
 Photo by Roger-Johansen on Pexels. |
Could
anyone of you give a think about nights without
sleep for
several years of your life, always put under the grip of a damaged
kidney(kidneys?) due to improper schedule of sleep? Yes,I have been
experiencing this phobia for the past ten years, fearing to meet the
dawn past five hours! . . .
Encounters of the Wild KindEleanor Dorst © Copyright 2020 by Eleanor Dorst |
 Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash |
This
happened some time ago when technology was not at its peak and social
media had yet to be invented.
As the saying goes, ‘ I wish I had a camera to capture this moment.’ This little tale goes out to you. . . .
As the saying goes, ‘ I wish I had a camera to capture this moment.’ This little tale goes out to you. . . .
| Surrounded by Swirling Swallows: The Animal Encounter of a Lifetime Gavin Greenfield © Copyright 2022 by Gavin Greenfield |
 Photo by Julian on Unsplash |
The era of discovery is
mostly over in the field of zoology. Long gone are the days when
intrepid adventurers could
discover
large and colorful animals every day simply by walking through
distant and remote lands previously unexplored by Western scientists. . . .
My Terrifying EncounterWith a Black Cat at NightIkyereve Denen © Copyright 2022 by Ikyegeve Denen |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
On
the first day of January every year was my birthday and I had a
yearly ritual of celebrating this day at my village which was 400
kilometers from the city center were I was working at, but
unfortunately I forgot about this ritual for the 2021 due majorly to
the fact that I had a visitor who was my childhood friend who was
based in the united states of America but had to come briefly for his
mothers funeral. . . .
"Fairy" BeetlesJanice Rider © Copyright 2022 by Janice Rider |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
My
background is in zoology, conservation, and education. As a result, I
have spent a lot of time working with and being with animals. I have
worked at veterinary clinics and at the Calgary Zoo during spring and
summer breaks while attending university. . . .
Fierce LoveLauren Stoker © Copyright 2022 byLauren StokerE |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
The last of the summer is ebbing, but it’s
still
warm, moist and green. A new storm is coming, they say. Sunshine
passes in and out of clouds, now illuminating, now veiling in shadow.
The contrasts are glorious.
And here I sit at my desk, looking out instead of being there. . . .
More...
The Sadistic Mega-BeastIrene Joseph © Copyright 2022 by Irene Joseph |
 Photo by Faris Mohammed on Unsplash |
“Why
are you sat there crying again?” my
parents would turn to me and ask. It was the eighties and I was four
or five, sat watching the dreaded programmes involving
animals. Lassie, Littlest Hobo, Benji, etc, or even my Dad's
avid watching of animal documentaries, would just set me off into
floods of tears – even though nothing terrible had happened to
the animals!...
Casting ShadowsMarc Revere © Copyright 2022 by Marc Revere |
 Photo by Pablo Heimplatz on Unsplash |
We
were paralleling history, slicing through placid ebony waters under a
moonless sky at seven knots just off the coast of Santa Barbara
County. But, not near the City of Santa Barbara, or its pier, or the
gaudy tee shirt tourist traps or bars, nor the University or the
offshore scourge, the brightly lit oil platforms, but miles away in
pitch darkness. We are on the very western edge of the county. It is
so remote here there are no inhabitants and no lights, albeit a
rotating beam every 30 seconds of Point Conception Light. . . .
|
Animal Control Took Care Of It Barry Purcell © Copyright 2022 by Barry Purcell |
 Photo by Wilson Chen on Unsplash |
In
2007, I moved from Ireland to California in an attempt to save a
marriage. I suddenly found myself transplanted from a land of
permanent dampness and rolling green hills to a land of constantly
blaring sunshine, capricious earthquakes and dusty rocks as far as
the eye can see in every direction. . . .
Our HideawayWanda Nelson © Copyright 2022 by Wanda Nelson |
 Photo by Boris Smokrovic on Unsplash |
I
discovered him gnawing on a bright green blade of grass underneath
Mama’s white rose bush. Mama’s rose bush was my very own
special retreat from the scorching sun of sizzling summer days and
the place I carried my library books selected from the Bookmobile.
Sometimes I carried the paper dolls Mama cut from the grocery paper
sacks or I wore the nurses cap she made for me out of leftover school
notebook paper. Whether I became a princess from one of my library
books or pretended to be a nurse to my paper dolls given names and
colored hurriedly with broken crayons; this place was my domain.
I was lying flat on my stomach as my blonde hair cascaded across my freckled cheeks. Immediately, I became quite still as I had never been this close to a grasshopper. . . .
I was lying flat on my stomach as my blonde hair cascaded across my freckled cheeks. Immediately, I became quite still as I had never been this close to a grasshopper. . . .
The OnÇaPenelope Maclachlan © Copyright 2022 by Penelope Maclachlan |
 |
Rosa’s
eyes blazed. Somebody probably warned me against putting my hand
between the bars of her cage. She was the first onça
I ever saw during my childhood in Brazil. She was nothing like our
cat at home, as she was twenty times bigger with huge jaws and feet. . . .
A Spectacular FightSamantha Pinazza © Copyright 2022 by Samantha Pinazza |
 Photo by Michael Mogensen on Unsplash |
It
was a beautiful late spring evening, the fresh air freely entering
the living room window, while my
husband Simon
and I
were
getting ready for bed. I had just closed my book and was about to get
up from the sofa, stretching and yawning, when I saw the dog
immobilizing, his ears straight and his eyes attentive. . . .
|
In Kite Nation Caroline Fynn © Copyright 2022 by Caroline Fynn |
 Photo of Yogi. |
I
watched part of a documentary on reincarnation while sitting in a
waiting room in Colombo, Sri Lanka. I followed the English subtitles
and noticed how the subject was not presented as a possibility, but
as a given, portrayed as fact. Until the year 2016, I had lived for
three years in the south of the teardrop island. In this land, devotees to Buddhism hold an unshakeable faith in
reincarnation. I loved these people and respected their beliefs and
culture. Nevertheless, I thought the notion of rebirth to be
unrealistic. I paid no attention. Much the same as I would ignore
moon worship or an argument in favor of
a flat Earth. . . .
Just a SipSara Todd-Stone © Copyright 2022 by Sara Todd-Stone |
 Photo by the author. |
My
husband and I left it all. We had successful careers, lived in a
historic apartment downtown in a bustling city, walked to the local
co-op for our groceries. We were up and coming … yuppies. After a visit
to the mountains in North Carolina, we decided to take
the road less traveled; literally. We moved across the country to a
little old farmhouse at the end of a dirt road that backed up to 100
acres of old growth forest. We knew there would be work involved -
lots of it. But our naivety slapped us in the face when we got
there. . . .
More...
10 Critical Pieces Of Advice For All Our Future Sons And DaughtersAbdallahi Hamby © Copyright 2022 by Abdallahi Hamby |
 Photo courtesy of Laura Garcia at Pexels. |
This
letter is for not only my future son(s) and
daughter(s) but for all of our future sons and daughters. For in
fact, the next generation is all of our responsibility and they will
be the ones to hold all of us in their hands. Your son might be my
daughter’s future husband or vice versa. Your daughter’s
decisions might be the ones to drastically influence my son. The
possibilities are endless and so are the ripples. . . .
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My Real-Life Story
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The two dates that changed my life were October 28th 2012 and December 8th, 2014.
This story is about how these two dates intertwine. October 28th 2014 is the day hurricane Sandy hit New York. Prior to this, I never thought much about natural disasters or their life-altering impact. Life was great as the weather until that evening. . . .
Robert Louis Stevenson and the Pearl Harbor That Didn't HappenGene J. Parola © Copyright 2022 by Gene J. Parola |
 Photo courtesy of Ebay. |
The
photo is grainy, as most Honolulu newspaper photos were in 1941.
However, there is no mistaking the man and woman who stand in regal
finery, hands raised in the half wave that royalty seems to favor.
The caption barks its message in capital letters: THE CROWN PRINCE AND PRINCESS KAIULANI GREET PILOTS RECENTLY RETURNED FROM JAPAN’S SUCCESSFUL DECEMBER 7 AIR ATTACK ON SAN DIEGO.
Unbelievable? Of course. It never happened. . . .
The caption barks its message in capital letters: THE CROWN PRINCE AND PRINCESS KAIULANI GREET PILOTS RECENTLY RETURNED FROM JAPAN’S SUCCESSFUL DECEMBER 7 AIR ATTACK ON SAN DIEGO.
Unbelievable? Of course. It never happened. . . .
The Olive Oil ThiefSalam Syagha © Copyright 2022 by Salam Syagha |
 Photo by ulleo courtesy of Pixabay. |
This
true story will definately lead us to think twice before we decide on our expectations. I hope you
enjoy it. . . .
More...
Charlie's Good YearValerie Forde-Galvin © Copyright 2022 by Valerie Forde-Galvin |
 Drawing of Charlie by Valerie. |
They
say that relationships hold up the mirror and teach you something
about yourself. Well, Charlie did this and more. Charlie possessed
courage, style, and joie de vivre. Sufficient unto himself, Charlie
had chutzpah. And Charlie passed it on. Yes, Charlie came into my
life to remind me of who I am and who I could become.
. . .
| Snowy Amritha Sobrun-Maharaj © Copyright 2022 by Amritha Sobrun-Maharaj |
 Photo by Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA at Pexels. |
I was a little girl,
in the 1950s, around five or six years of age I think, when I had my
first encounter with a snake. It changed my life forever. . . .
Swimming With The World’s Biggest Sharks Before They Become ExtinctJennie Mae Ong © Copyright 2022 by Jennie Mae Ong |
 Photo by Adiprayogo Liemena on Pexels. |
“Jump,
get in
the water” The spotter suddenly shouted. His excited voice
drove us all into a frenzy and we started jumping off the boat. Water
splashed everywhere as our dark heads bobbed in the water. Not
everyone can swim, but our life jackets were keeping us afloat. We
all bobbed around waiting excitedly for instructions, anticipation
filled the air. . . .
Jeanne's ValleyE. P. Lande © Copyright 2022 by E. P. Lande |
 Photo (c) Marc Beerman, http://www.oldmanphotography.com |
We
walk daily—Lily, Mandela, and me. When it was just Lily with
me, we would walk around the lake or take one of the paths that led
farther into the hills surrounding the lake. But Mandela is a small
dog, so when he’s with us, we walk through Jeanne’s
valley. . . .
The Black Sheep of the Family Walks AwayKelly Maida © Copyright 2022 by Kelly Maida |
 Photo of the author. |
The Deer SurvivedLew Goddard Edited by Anne Goddard © Copyright 2022 by Lew Goddard |
Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
The
old green John Deere D tractor was under my control in a field
belonging to my-brother-in-law who had married one of my sisters. I
was fifteen. Summer fallowing was a common practice wherein no crop
is grown and plant life is controlled by cultivation or chemicals
during a season when a crop might normally be grown. . . .
| Where Does The Hare Go Ellie S. Thomas
©
Copyright
2022 by Ellie S. Thomas |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
There
were three small rabbits living next door and we wanted to see them.
No one knew how they got there or where the mother was but these
little fellows were making it all on their own. . . .
More...
I Was HereRoger Barbee © Copyright 2022 by Roger Barbee |
 Photo courtesy of Pexels. |
Uncle
Foy was the youngest of the five children in my father's family. My
memories of him, his wife Mildred, and their two young daughters are
good ones even though events happened as they did. He was the uncle
who had a friend make my brother and me a small wire rack to use over
the campfires we built in our backyard. . . .
Where The Wild Things Are In AlaskaValerie Winans © Copyright 2022 by Valerie Winans |
 Photo property of the author. |
My
husband and I worked two seasons as campground hosts in Denali
National Park and Preserve in Alaska. It was like working in a zoo
where all the animals roamed free. Our first encounter was on our
very first day at Savage Campground. As campground hosts, we needed
to know what the area was all about before we could be much help to
visitors. . . .
| Who Ruffled the Emu? Desiree Kendrick © Copyright 2021 by Desiree Kendrick |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
A
child’s memory is a precious thing. Even selective. It’s
innocent at times and devious when the situation calls for survival
of the fittest. We were a playmate trio, my younger siblings and I.
However, if you ask us to retell a story you may easily get three
different versions. I leave it to you to decide whose version is the
closest to the truth. . . .
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Kathryn Payne-Olson © Copyright 2022 by Kathryn Payne-Olson |
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My
adorable little cavachon is the best judge of character. We live in a
huge community of 1,800 homes with walking trails, dog parks, gazebos
and baseball fields. He growls at grumpy people and wags his tail at
people who exude good energy. It’s true. . . .
I Walked with the WindLew Goddard © Copyright 2021 by Lew Goddard |
Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
. . . .Many years
ago past midnight after a hot day in the western foot hills of the
Kettle River mountain range in northern Washington State it was
awesomely quiet. In fact the quiet was deafening in relation to the
place where my home is located. The moon was so bright that one could
have read a book with its light. Elevation was estimated three
thousand to four thousand feet above sea level according to the map. . . .
A Sleepover with FriendsDeon Matzen © Copyright 2021 by Deon Matzen |
 Photo
courtesy of Pixabay..
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For
most of my life I have liked sleeping outdoors. I did it as a child
and still do it as an adult. My longest season of sleeping out came
when I lived on a farm in Redmond, Washington. Having just gotten a
new canvas wall tent in the ‘50s my sis and I managed to spend
almost five months continuous sleeping outdoors. Sleeping in a tent
is not my favorite as I like to wake and watch the stars, but it
allowed for us to sleep out even through misty rains that are common
to our area. . . .
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And The Lions Laze Anna G. Joujan © Copyright 2022 by Anna G. Joujan
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It is a sound unlike
any I have ever heard before, and a sound impossible to describe with
the written word. But once you have heard it, you can never forget
it. So my sleep has been sweet, lulled into slumber each night to the
soft and steady hum of the lions. . . .
The Pot of GoldPamella Laird © Copyright 2022 by Pamella Laird |
 Photo courtesy of Pexels.
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Myths
and legends about rainbows promise strange things. It matters not,
where in the world we are, we gaze in wonder at the colours arcing
between earth and sky. What do they mean, what causes this
magnificent spectacle? Is it really a sign from God that never again
will the world be flooded? . . .
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