Students at the middle school where I substitute teach have been studying A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This classic tale, first published December 19, 1843, captures the spirit of the season better than any other I have read and has been adapted for TV and cinema many times. But as someone trying to be
Early December is when I post my contribution to the Christmas season. This was inspired by a friend who works as a department store Santa. He once described meeting a little girl with a special wish, and I took it from there. This is included in my book, Stories: Short and Strange, available at Amazon.com
All of my friends know I run as a sport. It’s an integral part of my life, as it is for many other people. But the sport has an ugly side that is always present, but doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. I remember running with friends after work along the Santa Ana River
This is a story we used to tell around the campfire when I was a Boy Scout. It’s been around so long many versions have been published. This is mine. The Hook “Hello, Heidi. My, don’t you look hot tonight!” Jason had been looking forward to this Saturday night for a long time. Yes, Heidi
I spent a nice weekend visiting my niece who started her post-high school education this fall at Syracuse University. While visiting, I began to wonder why SU’s nickname is “The Orange”. Syracuse University was founded in 1870. The first official colors in 1872 were pea green and rose pink. In 1873 the student consensus was
Which fictional literary character had his obituary published in the New York Times? I’m thinking of Agatha Christie’s detective Hercule Poirot, whose death was announced on August 6, 1975 (https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/06/archives/hercule-poirot-is-dead-famed-belgian-detective-hercule-poirot-the.html). Although very popular with readers, Dame Christie found her creation “insufferable and an egocentric creep.” The result was the book Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case. Time
August 30 was the birthday of Molly Ivins (1944-2007), a favorite journalist/humorist of mine. Among her musings is “The thing about democracy, beloveds, is that it is not neat, orderly, or quiet. It requires a certain relish for confusion.” She was born in Monterey, California, but raised in Houston, Texas; her adopted state provided plenty
You are a fifth-grade girl who comes home from school to find a doll on your front porch. The doll looks like you, is dressed like you, and there is something about the eyes. Who left it? Why is it here? And what makes this doll so special? Here are the first three of eleven
I’ve been driving for 55 years, and I’ve owned just six cars. I’ve always liked to buy new, then run them into the ground. The vehicle I have now is five and a half years old and has only 37,000 miles. In fact, it’s aging better than I am. So why am I looking for
I’ve just returned from what has become my annual international trip, this time to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A modern airliner sure beats the historical alternatives, like a clipper ship. But even in this age, Murphy’s Law (“If it can go wrong, it will”) still reigns. My travel difficulties this time were so frustrating, they