Mind Wanderings
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Christmas Traditions: Variations on a Theme
There is a commonality shared among many families around Christmas or other special holidays. They have traditions. Long held, choreographed, well-established traditions passed down generation-to-generation, by which they celebrate holidays. We do not. I like to think of our traditions…
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Life Lessons from Yukon Cornelius
I am one of the fortunate ones. I grew up during the last Age of Innocence. Technology did not rule our lives. We did not spend our time bent over a device named for a fruit. We picked fruit from…
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Thursday Morning, Waking Up Dead
The following is a short story (albeit a bit longer than the last one) written for a collection of short stories. A bit of an indulgence on my part, I admit, but I hope you will take the time to read it and…
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Selective Outrage
Once again this country is subjected to a dramatic incident of violence. In the rush to be first, the media outlets broadcast a constantly changing cacophony of half-truths and rumors. Compounding the problem are the bloggers and reporter wannabes in…
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The Familiar Face of Terrorism
The threat of terrorist attacks in this country is growing. Evidence that organized, well-armed, well-equipped groups have infiltrated America, bent on imposing their violent interpretation of their faith on the rest of the world, is right in front of our…
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The Myth of Memory
What is it about memory? Why is it I can recall some things with absolute clarity while others, no matter the effort, flee from my mind the moment after they enter? Sitting at my writer’s desk, working on my latest…
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Gun Control: A Time to Rethink the Realities
I struggle with the idea of gun control. Over time, my ideas have gone from embracing the idea that anyone should be able to own a firearm, as long as they comply with the law, to questioning the need for…
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I Lost a Friend Today
I lost a friend of 50 years today. He has passed on. I met my friend when I was 7 years old and he has always been a part of my life since. But, in life, there comes a time when you…
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Christmas Change
(A little Christmas gift that all my friends, even the religious ones, might enjoy) My memories of Christmas are a jumble of years, intermixed, and overlapping. These memories of Christmas, the ones I’m am still able to recall, revolve around…