NEVER SAY ‘I LOVE YOU’ Natalie I had decided to give up being a warrior. Not forever, mind you; just for a period of time-undetermined. I was tired and alone; bordering on lonely. Southern California is a lovely place, inhabited by make-believe, beautiful bodies who are not friendly. I had been trying to connect with … More Never Say, I Love You
TIMEX My friend Charlene called me from Area D police station. She’d been arrested and had only one phone call. My number was the only one she could remember under the circumstances. We only had three minutes to talk. I needed to go to the station and sit with her to get the whole story. … More I Have Anniversary Encore Stories
THOSE EYES Marvelous virtuoso, (Take care, my breast!) The pit of my stomach! chakras all surge, agonize, A tune, born of a master, Fills my ear, head, and heart. While her portrait fills my eyes. The allegretto of music’s immortal Mimics a power dwelling within, Plays on a loop as those eye search mine, Eyes filled … More Those Eyes
AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT Opportunity coupled with preparedness. As I see it, when my new friend in the X Division on the USS Orion found me on the port side, aft section of the main deck smoking a cigarette, there were happenings in place that came to form a minor version of a “perfect … More What is Luck?
BEST JOB I EVER HAD Upon reporting aboard the USS Orion, I was assigned immediately to the X Division. New sailors always ended up there if you were just graduated from bootcamp or school right after bootcamp. X Division gave one a chance to get acquainted with the routine of shipboard duty and find out … More Early days on the Submarine Tender, USS Orion (AS-18)
My favorite target in the middle of night is Polaris. I shoot my line of sight upward and toward the North. I only know the direction from familiar objects; my house setting, the road layout, the gaps in the trees blocking the horizon. From these clues I swing my binocular vision and lock onto that … More Where the Mind Goes
BLACKFISH CREEK Sarah in the kitchen singing, Roger rumbles through lugging a crate of veggies, Do you want tea? Yes please, I’m making black, Oh, good… Roger rumbles past – carrying a box of veggies, Sit outside – the table is nice, I can’t see the table…I go anyway, Nadine is a statue – learning … More Blackfish Creek
I picked up a book that I’d read a million years ago. I sat in my chair with the local classical music station turned on and settled in. That lasted about two minutes; the words on the page stirred my juice so; a froth of ideas poured forth. My mind raced to keep up and … More Premise: an exercise for fun.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_Prayer#Early_history Basically, that’s it. Asking a higher power to grant Acceptance, courage to Change, and Wisdom. Pretty simple, eh? Not so fast, my friend. Back up a bit. … More The Serenity Prayer
This is so funny to me at this very moment. Content Warning: Swear words. You have been warned. https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/its-decorative-gourd-season-motherfuckers
Playing Fair and Being Kind 