Old Man River   Ellie S. Thomas    © Copyright 2012 by  Ellie S. Thomas

Joe Namath's First Marathon     Peter Merkl     © Copyright 2012 by Peter Merkl

In 1968 I was a 9 year old head-over-heels Jets fan living just outside NYC. While reading a sports magazine, I saw a picture of Joe Namath with the ring and index fingers of his right hand taped together. So, I, naturally, taped my fingers together.

I walked around like that for a few days until my mother asked me why, and I told her. She then asked me why I wanted to be like Joe Namath. I just stared at her amazed that she didn’t know the truth: I was Joe Namath. After several seconds of silent, wide-eyed glaring, she snapped, "Take off the tape."

In 51 years, I've never known a moment of athletic success, let alone glory. And yet those childhood dreams persisted. So, I decided to enter my creaky body in the 2011 Houston Marathon, because there's a measure of glory in even finishing a 26 mile race, and I thought I still might have a shot at that....

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When I was 8, I remember going down to Texas four times in six months. At first I thought it was just to visit and spend time with my father’s relatives and my grandparents. Little did I know those visits would be the last memories I would ever have with my grandparents. It was early spring, almost Easter. My mom told me we would spend Easter in Texas. I was so excited to see my cousins and my grandmother. I always looked forward to seeing her, I never really knew my grandfather until then so I really couldn't be excited about seeing him then. Since my grandfather was always either in a hospital or treatment center, it shocked me to see a “stranger” on my Nana’s couch. He was just sitting there smiling, waiting for us to arrive. During my stay there I got to know him as a person not just as a story. I never asked him why he wasn't there before, or why he didn't feel good. I simply asked about his life and listened to his stories. He became my companion....

The Business and Pleasure of Writing   Ellie S. Thomas    © Copyright 2011 by  Ellie S. Thomas

Going For Leeks   Ellie S. Thomas    © Copyright 2011 by  Ellie S. Thomas

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. – Anais Nin

Today is the day. Tuesday, October 11, 2011. I want to remember this day forever.

The day I decided to stop drinking....

Amongst modern-day hedonism, autonomy and peaceful coexistence pleasantly shock one’s disillusioned senses. A mere trek in the forest which lines Rajaji National Park revealed a small, yet peaceful and content rural family. The family has created a tiny village on a mountain in Uttarakhand....

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Long Beach Transit - 60 Cents     Steven Hunley     © Copyright 2010 by Steven Hunley

A lady at the bus stop is trying to pop something open. Pop! There it goes. It’s a tiny bottle of Jose Cuervo! What is this, a bar? She sees a friend drive by in a car and gets a ride. I don’t....

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