Shower PowerPamella Laird © Copyright 2022 by Pamella Laird  |
 Photo by Caique Nascimento on Pexels.
|
On
a tour of England, Wales and Scotland, we two travellers from Down
Under sampled more than twenty bathrooms and their accoutrements.
These stretched from no shower at all, to one closely related to a
fire hose.
A
shower each night assumed the prominence of Ben Nevis as in three
months, we covered four thousand miles in temperatures averaging 29
degrees centigrade. Accordingly, our tiny rental car, began to resemble an
electric frying pan— a glance out the window at the dried,
cracked lawns and fields explained why.
Becoming HelenElyse Ribbons © Copyright 2022 by Elyse Ribbons |
 Photo courtesy of helenfostersnow.org |
Ooh,
I like this title. As
a linguistics nerd and a fan of punnery in general, this title brings
me joy because Helen Foster Snow was
indeed a very becoming woman; classy, graceful, witty and
beautiful. But
also, this is the perfect title because this essay is about my very
surreal experience of becoming Helen Foster Snow. . . .
| Parting Is Such Street Sorrow Humor by Mark P. Maller © Copyright 2022 by Mark P. Maller |
 Photo by Luke Stackpoole on Unsplash |
On a park bench in Verona, just east of Pittsburgh, Jack Grush sat shaking his head, shoulders heaved over, watching small boys run around the trees, as the sun disappeared through an orange gray haze. Reading real estate signs, he could not believe that yesterday he had seen his father’s ghost after he had opened a snow cone shop at the South Pole. Grush could never stand working frozen in the dark selling 27 flavors of Popsicles to the hardy team of scientists with icy attitudes. Seven church chimes rang. His mind raced back to last Sepember. . . .
GardeningHetty Willeumier © Copyright 2022 by Hetty Willeumier |
 Photo by Nature Uninterrupted Photography at Unsplash. Photo by |
. . . .Gardening
and “mucking about in the soil” has always been a great passion
of mine! I’ve lived in many areas; the Yukon, the Gulf Islands in
BC, Victoria/BC; Vancouver etc…Everywhere there was a patch of soil,
you’d see me… enjoying the whole process! . . .
The Man in the BoxRuth Thompson © Copyright 2022 by Ruth Thompson |
 Photo by Pavel Danilyuk: at Pexels. |
It’s
a vague memory, likely remembered because my mother told the story
repeatedly and included it in her memoirs. I was four years old,
sitting in a church with my mother on a weekday. My older brother was
in school, my father at work. Mother didn’t explain what was
going on. Perhaps she didn’t think I was old enough to
understand and thought I would just sit there quietly. She could have
left me with a babysitter, but I imagine she thought the expense was
not warranted. I was a shy child, fairly compliant, and no doubt she
expected me not to make a fuss. In my mother’s re-telling of
the incident, she would grimace, her head lowered, as she talked
about how my outburst had disrupted a solemn occasion.
Why
is the man in the box? Sitting beside my mother in
the third
row of the church, everyone at the funeral service could clearly hear
my high-pitched child’s voice. , , ,
More...
The Space Between UsSamia Nur Chowdbury © Copyright 2022 by Samia Nu Chowdbury |
 Photo by form PxHere |
I
have always found it easier to narrate stories of heartache, usually
because I can channel the raw emotions felt during the time to the
miniscule of moments and give life to words, capturing the exact
instance that I fell. Along the horizons of one’s lifeline,
they meet all sorts of people- the ones that end up in their last
chapters, the ones that the protagonist cannot wait to get rid of and
the ones that got away, no matter how much you wanted them to stay. . . .
I Think I Learned PatienceHalimah Ajibade © Copyright 2022 by Halimah Ajibade |
 Photo by Aneta from Pixabay |
I
decided to start
my own business at the age of fifteen. My parents did not give
unstinting support because they thought it would impinge on my
education. I promised them it would not. And besides, I just finished
WASSCE (WEST AFRICAN SENIOR SECONDARY CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION). I
still had a few months before I resumed University. . . .
| Hemiparesis and Me Tony Hill © Copyright 2022 by Tony Hill |
 Photo by Patrick Case: at Pexels. |
Recently,,
at the age of 74, I discovered after a couple of minutes on Google,
that I had lived with right sided hemiparesis since birth. Up to
that point I regarded myself as having a mild form of cerebral palsy.
Hemiparesis is a word I had never heard before. There is nothing
like having an enquiring mind I always say. . . .
My Father, the Dentist, and ILana Kristan © Copyright 2022 by Lana Kristan |
 Photo by Rafael Juárez from Pixabay,. |
This
story is about my struggle with my fear of dentists. I also tried to
present my relationship with my father in the story and hope it
doesn’t overshadow the representation of my greatest fear. I
struggled with finding the topic for this story when I remembered
this day from only a week ago. . . .
A Kind ActPrincewill Udom © Copyright 2022 by Princewill Udom |
 Photo by Muhammadtaha Ibrahim Ma'aji courtesy of Unsplash. |
In
September 1999, after my undergraduate studies in southern Nigeria, I
moved to Abuja, the capital city in the north-central region of the
country. I had just turned twenty-seven years old, so I felt mature
and ready to grasp the nettle. The relocation came after nearly a
year of several failed attempts at finding a job, deep personal
thoughts, and not being in any serious relationship. . . .
Those He Left BehindSaima Najib Chaudry © Copyright 2022 by Saima Najib Chaudry |
 Photo by Izuddin Helmi Adnan courtesy of Unsplash. |
At
first glance, my uncle did not come across as a friendly man. He was
reserved, inattentive and usually withdrawn when in the company of
people. This is how I remember him—loose
shabby clothes, dishevelled hair, partly bald in the middle,
reticent, unsteady hands, trembling voice, a face lashed with deep
furrows brought about by years of disappointment, and ghastly,
horror-struck eyes. . . .
| Those
Who Got Slapped Tony Hill © Copyright 2022 by Tony Hill |
 Photo courtesy of Pexels.. |
. . . .It
was just after my 15th birthday in May 1962 that I became one of
those who got slapped. Six of my fellow classmates at St.Michael’s
Senior School had previously been recipients of a vicious slap across
the face by Peter Pyne, known throughout the school,
unaffectionately, as “Pyne the Pain “. The six were, in
chronological order of being slapped, Dennis Crouch, Shaun Hughes,
Tommy Brennan, Roger McCann ,David Wood and Alan Murray. . . .
| Blackout Tony Hill © Copyright 2022 by Tony Hill |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
Just
as she had done every working day for the past six months, Mrs.Harris
put on her tweed overcoat and thick woolen scarf at the end of the
day shift.Well protected against the cold winter weather,she bought
an evening paper from a vendor outside the factory gates and joined
the queue at the bus stop. . . .
Communist CubaMyth of an Egalitarian SocietyMarginalisation and Anguish of the Black Population |
 Photo by Maksim Romashkin courtesy of Pexels. |
Cuba,
despite its promotion and projection as an egalitarian nation ,
which is the ethos of Communism, has failed miserable and has
actually never solved the issue of race relationship. . . .
An Iberian MisadventureTiana Yasmin Nowzari © Copyright 2022 by Tiana Yasmin Nowzari  |
 Photo by Jason Mooy courtesy of Flickr. |
It's
the first week of August, and it's one of the hottest months in
Spain. My trip here was initially planned as a graduation gift from
myself after a straining semester filled with endless all-nighters
and Red Bull binges. After excessively googling with the help of some
celebratory wine, I came across a travel website called
VisitSpain.com. . . .
The One Who Won't Get Out Of The BedMemoona Amjid © Copyright 2022 by Memoona Amjid |
 Photo courtesy of PxHere. |
We
met for the first time, on the day of our hostel allotment. That was
a very lucky day for every first year because the seats were limited
in hostel. Who knows what ‘seat limitation’ meant to
them, as there was a lounge and all first years had only a bed space
to their name. It was more like living on the side of a footpath, as
everyone was passing through us like we were out in the open rather
than in our rooms. . . .
More...
Family DifferencesEzra Azra © Copyright 2022 by Ezra Azra  |
 .Photo by vishnu deep on Pexels. |
In
the 1950s, I lived at 61 Torquay Avenue, Fynnland, Durban, Natal,
South Africa. Ours was the last home at the end of the Avenue. In
those days, the word Avenue was an exaggeration of what was merely a
two-adult width path overgrown with tall weeds. For the last few
hundred feet up to our house, the ground on the Avenue was not
visible for the weeds. Beyond our home there was virgin jungle for
about two miles to the next suburb, King’s Rest.
I
have many memories of our encounters with wild animals entering our
unfenced yard from the jungle. Here is one such encounter. . . .
The Possibility of Liberation from HistoryReflections on the limits and the promise of autobiographical self-representationMimi M. Salili © Copyright 2022 by Mimi M. Salili |
 Photo courtesy of PXHere. |
. . . .Writing
about one’s own life is not radically different from producing
a work of fiction.
By fiction, I do not simply mean that which is not “real.” Something can be purportedly
My Grandfather's Love For The Village And His ParentsChaitanyamoi Chetia © Copyright 2021 by Chaitanyamoi Chetia |
 Photo by Grandfather on horseback. |
My
grandfather loved the people of his villages, his relatives and the
people of the neighborhoods. Western cowboy movies were his
favourites, and whilst he was the officer-in-charge at Chabua police
station (Chabua is a small tea city of upper – Assam), he asked
a cobbler to make a pair of stylish cowboy boots of leather having
high shafts, no lace, but pointed toes at the front. . . .
The Exceptional ImmigrantDevin Meireles © Copyright 2022 by Devin Meireles |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
What do we live for? Pardon my morbidly introspective inquisition but it’s something I think about. . . .
The Summer I StrivedRishika Srivastava © Copyright 2022 by Rishika Srivastava |
 Photo courtesy of Pexels. |
All
I could think about was summer vacation when I was growing up. I
couldn’t wait to be homework-free, enjoy long days in the sun
playing Cops
and Robbers,
and stay up well past my usually mundane 9:00 P.M. bedtime during the
week. . . .
|
Gunfighter Tales Richard Franklin Bishop © Copyright 2022 by Richard Franklin Bishop |
 Photo courtesy of Dreamstime. |
Picture the old
West. On his evening “rounds”, A Town Marshal walks into
a crowded Bar and sees a WANTED Gunman bellied up to the Bar drinking
his Whisky. . . .
Sushi With DebbieAmber Baker © Copyright 2022 by Amber Baker |
 Photo courtesy of Pexels. |
When
we pulled the car up in front of the door and the house opened up, I
thought you looked beautiful. I even said so to your granddaughter
sitting next to me. She only knows you now— white hair to the
waist and a flowing purple top to match your nails. . . .
The Beauty of Changing Our MindsBreanne Szabados © Copyright 2022 by Breanne Szabados |
 Photo by Ali Kazal courtesy of Unsplash. |
As
I’ve gotten older, the things that are important to me and the
things that I ultimately want have changed. I suppose this is a
normal and natural part of being a human being, but for most of my
life, I felt like it was not really an option; that I needed to have
it all figured out and had no flexibility to pivot or change my mind. . . .
The OutcastEllen Berman © Copyright 2022 by Ellen Berman |
 Image by Foundry Co courtesy of Pixabay |
It
was the first time I ran away from home.
I was fifteen in 1971 and school had just closed for summer vacation. I was fat. At five-foot-two-and-a-half-inches tall and a Junior Size 13 pants, let’s just say at least my lower half was disproportionate to my height, and I was embarrassed to wear a bathing suit in public. . . .
I was fifteen in 1971 and school had just closed for summer vacation. I was fat. At five-foot-two-and-a-half-inches tall and a Junior Size 13 pants, let’s just say at least my lower half was disproportionate to my height, and I was embarrassed to wear a bathing suit in public. . . .
A Girl from the CountrysideGomathi Sridevi © Copyright 2022 by Gomathi Sridevi |
 Photo by the author. |
"You can't do it alone," that's what people said to her when she decided to move to the city.
Let's move to a few decades in the past.
It was rare for a woman to give birth at the hospital, especially in villages. Women used to give birth at home with a few old ladies surrounded by her and one lady doctor accompanying the pregnant woman. . . .
More...
RelationshipsMelody Pender © Copyright 2022 by Melody Pender |
 Photo of the author. |
The
lively chattering of students gathered together, each in groups ―
tightly knitted. From their smiles and grins, playful shoves and
silly grins, I could tell at once… they were close friends,
childhood friends perhaps.
What did I stare at them with?
Envy? . . .
What did I stare at them with?
Envy? . . .
Migration and IdenityCarlo Rey Lacsamana © Copyright 2022 by Carlo Rey Lacsamana |
 Photo by Mabel Amber courtesy of Pixabay. |
. . . .Every
journey begins in departure. seventeen years! I tell myself. It’s
almost two decades since I left my homeland. And this word: homeland
has grown, expanded, developed, and much longed for in me. Leaving
the place where one had been born and nurtured is not as simple as
changing one’s clothes. Migration is in itself a kind of
displacement. . . .
82 Poems on a Single ThemeEzra Azra © Copyright 2022 by Ezra Azra |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
My
Granny, Jane Goldstone (1878-1974) was a Grade School teacher, as
well a Sunday School teacher. All her adult life she was in a
quandary that her God, Jehovah/Yahweh, committed so many evil deeds
willingly, as recorded in the Bible. She collected 39 of these
accounts in the Bible and re-formed the Bible's words into flawless
iambic verse. . . .
Knowing Up From DownKip Rosser © Copyright 2022 by Kip Rosser |
 Photo by Elena Mozhvilo at Unsplash. |
There’s a word that troubles me. I think a lot about this word. I’ll tell you what it is in a minute. But first, there’s a different word you need to know. The word is contronym. A contronym is a word that, strange as it seems, is actually its own opposite.
Take the word “off,” for example. It can mean to shut down or deactivate, as in the sentence, “I shut the light off.” But it can also mean the opposite -- to turn on or activate -- as in “my alarm clock just went off.” How bizarre is that?! . . .
Surviving AdolescenceLisa Rivers © Copyright 2022 by Lisa Rivers |
 Photo courtesy of Flikr. |
"Awe
honey I'm not Laughing at you, I’m laughing with you. And
after time passes you will be laughing." She said. " I
promise".
"Really Mom”, I screamed in horror, “Do you see me laughing? How could I be so lame? I mean really. What kind of mother sends a child out like that. I can never show my face again, never!” . . .
"Really Mom”, I screamed in horror, “Do you see me laughing? How could I be so lame? I mean really. What kind of mother sends a child out like that. I can never show my face again, never!” . . .
Moving NeighborhoodsZary Fekete © Copyright 2022 by Zary Fekete |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
I
was carrying one of the last boxes out to our car when our neighbor
called to me. She was the first person my wife and I met when we
moved to Budapest’s 11th district three years
ago. We were in our mid 20s; our neighbor was 76. . . .
Each Minute CountsLori Stryker © Copyright 2022 by Stryker |
 Photo by Stas Knop at Pexels. |
When
you’re a high school teacher, you are governed by the clock.
Each minute counts. These minutes are units of time to visit the
bathroom or grab those final photocopies before scurrying to your
assigned classroom. One of the things I savored most when I retired
was that I didn’t need to wake up to an annoying alarm, or have
my day ruled by the watch perennially on my left wrist. I still wear
that watch, but only because it’s my habit after so many years.
I never use my alarm. . . .
White GlovesCindy Marcus © Copyright 2022 by Cindy Marcus |
 |
Temple
Beth David was always one step away from collapse. A converted house
in Van Nuys, the blacktop was more gray than black, the walls, though
loved, were chipped from wear, and the roof leaked every Winter.
Still, my working class family attended Friday night services every week. In the small congregants’ room, boys got Bat Mitvah’d, Shofars got blown, and every child received a birthday blessing. . . .
Still, my working class family attended Friday night services every week. In the small congregants’ room, boys got Bat Mitvah’d, Shofars got blown, and every child received a birthday blessing. . . .
The Bravest Man on the PierJoseph O'Brien © Copyright 2022 by Joseph O'Brien |
 Photo by Wendy Wei at Pexels. |
In
the summer of 1961 the weather was beautiful in Seaside Heights, New
Jersey and I landed a job running the Ferris wheel on the pier. At
night you could see the bridge from the land to the island where
Seaside was located. My boss used to come up to the wheel and look at
the line of headlights coming across the bridge and say, “That's
fresh money.”. . .
Unusual VisitorsRobyn Michaels © Copyright 2022 by Robyn Michaels |
 Photo courtesy of Global Giving. |
The
first time I ever encountered someone in America who had never met a
Jew was when I had just turned 15. This was in 1968. I was living in
the north suburbs of Chicago, where at least a third of the community
was Jewish. I went to visit an acquaintance who lived in Pana, a
small town in central Illinois: corn country. We went to her mother’s
for Christmas. She had cooked a ham. . . .
Taking on Big TerryCatherine Grow © Copyright 2022 by Catherine Grow |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
Times
growing up I would have sold my soul for an older brother—someone
to look up to who, with his worldly wisdom, would illuminate a sure
and steady path for me as I muddled through my mid-1950’s
childhood.
What I got was J. J.: two years younger than I and, until his teens, shorter and scrawnier. For most of our childhood, I could win arguments by wrestling him to the ground and sitting on him. The balance of power was clearly in my favor. . . .
More...
How Snake and Cat Were Rescued From Each Other, and We From BothEzra Azra © Copyright 2022 by Ezra Azra |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
This
is an account of an animal rescue as it happened on our farm in
Africa.
Animal rescues on our farm were not memorable, generally, because they happened with boring regularity.
This one was unusual because while our cat and the snake were gearing up to fight to the death, we were trying to rescue both of them from each other, and ourselves from both of them. On our farm, the first tenet of our animal rescue ethics was to never let a fight happen between animals. . . .
Animal rescues on our farm were not memorable, generally, because they happened with boring regularity.
This one was unusual because while our cat and the snake were gearing up to fight to the death, we were trying to rescue both of them from each other, and ourselves from both of them. On our farm, the first tenet of our animal rescue ethics was to never let a fight happen between animals. . . .
Thirty-Three Animal Stories for ChildrenIN MEMORIAM: RAINDROPS, 1980-1997, our family Cat. All author's proceeds donated to Windsor and Essex County Humane Society. Ezra Azra © Copyright 2022 by Ezra Azra |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
1)
The pandemic; its good side.
2)
The kid’s a genius.
My Inspiration In LifeOjo Victoria Ilemobayo © Copyright 2022 by Ojo Victoria Ilemobayo |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
Nine
weeks old, mama
spewed honey honeycomb and milk to me. Daily she watered me like a
plant in a nursery. Mama oiled my hair with supplication,yes she
&
papa dined words with the Great Old at Dusk. . . .
With Every BreathJoanne E. Galliher © Copyright 2022 by Joanne E. Galliher |
 Photo of the author. |
My Frisky Trifecta is living half-glass full. Bold, not blasé. Curious, not complacent. That saved my life and makes me 70 going on 30.
At 62, an unidentifiable virus devoured 75% of my lungs in six hours. It was like an unconscionable piranha. Leaving me to struggle and miraculously survive a non-negotiable prognosis. “There’s only a 20% chance you’ll be alive in a year.” I hung in 1,187 days. . . .
More...|
Breakfast
at Tiffany's Re-Visited
Carl Winderl © Copyright 2022 by Carl Winderl  |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay |
I
couldn’t remember, -- no, I can’t remember when
was the last time I’d read Truman Capote’s Breakfast
at Tiffany’s
I
do know it’s since I saw the film version with Audrey Hepburn
in her most unforgettable and legendary star-turn as Holly Golightly,
along with George Peppard, in a sort of ‘thinly’
disguised role as her most suitable innamorato out
of
her innumerable wannabe suitors. Not to mention Capote’s
attempt at reincarnating his writerly self in the alter ego
of
Peppard’s firmer flesh. . . .
One Double Biography from the Heart(For my Mum and Dad)Branka Vulic © Copyright 2022 by Branka Vulic |
 Mum and Dad on 50th anniversary. Photo from the author |
Biographical
non-fiction … a title usually not related to warmth but if I
try hard, I can make it warm. I always thought my parents´ lives
deserve to be remembered. Not so much in form of a dry, boring
biography but in the shape that mirrors them as wonderful human
beings. They deserve a biography composed of fine, humorous, sad, and
witty sketches from their life. Such scenes reveal their spirit and
personality. . . .
GrgaSandra Ljubljanovic © Copyright 2022 by Sandra Ljubljanovic |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
Some
people leave a lasting impression
even though they barely touched our lives.
Grga was my car mechanic. It was not his real name, nor was he really a car mechanic. He was a retired soldier, an engineer by profession, but repairing vehicles and vessels was something he truly enjoyed. He told me his name and surname when we met, and again after a few years while he was checking the brakes of my car on a lonely gravel road by the river, but I forgot it in a matter of minutes. Everybody simply called him Grga. . . .
even though they barely touched our lives.
Grga was my car mechanic. It was not his real name, nor was he really a car mechanic. He was a retired soldier, an engineer by profession, but repairing vehicles and vessels was something he truly enjoyed. He told me his name and surname when we met, and again after a few years while he was checking the brakes of my car on a lonely gravel road by the river, but I forgot it in a matter of minutes. Everybody simply called him Grga. . . .
More...
StrangersJ. S. Kierland © Copyright 2022 by J. S. Kierland |
 Photo by Lisa courtesy of Pexels. |
Memory
and time run
together when you get older and a smile from a stranger can tumble
you back through decades of cigarette smoke and desires you’d
forgotten long ago. It was one of those uncertain smiles that dropped
me back into a time when I was taking post grad courses in the city
that never sleeps. . . .
The LeapEkaterina Golovina © Copyright 2022 by Ekaterina Golovina |
 Photo by Martin Wyall on Unsplash |
There’re eight of us left. Someone would say we’re stuck Up here. That’s not right. We have it chosen this way.
We
live in a community called El Salto. Its name may be translated as
“waterfall”, referring to a cascade in the gorge that has
been dry for years. Our village is surrounded by mountains and woods.
The only paved road runs across it. No one has
even been bothered to give the
route a name. Maps refer to it simply as “The direction to the
lagoon.”. . .
Home Away From HomeMichael Eaton © Copyright 2022 by Eaton |
 |
The
summer of 1959 after my junior year I took a job that required me to
move into a funeral home and help with various tasks around the home.
My dad explained that he had the same job when he was younger, and in
speaking to the owner, discovered they were looking for someone for
the summer, and asked if I wanted to take the job. Always eager for
new adventures I said “Yes.”. . .
Perseverance Pays A Great DealNonhlanhla Annah Thusi © Copyright 2022 by Nonhlanhla Annah Thusi |
 The author's two self published books. |
Life
is the survival of the fittest, you’ve got to learn to give a
fist and take one, to fall and stand up while keeping hope. I am
Annah Thusi, based in South Africa, from a small township called
Refengkgotso at Deneysville city. From birth the dice of life didn’t
roll in my favour, I felt the harsh treatment of life yet didn’t
give up. . . .
I Am An Aquarian Deal With ItLove Hurts But We Keep On TryinngTatenda Alex Chirambira © Copyright 2022 by Tatebda Alex Chirambira |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
. . . .In
my entire life I have never been more eager to end a conversation
with anyone but at that certain point I felt that the 8 second mark
on my screen signified that maybe I had made a wrong judgment
call. . . .
All Cried OutUzoamaka Onwubiko © Copyright 2022 by Usoamaka Onwubiko |
 Photo by-Juan-Pablo-Serrano-Arenas-courtesy of Pexels. |
I
grew up in a family of 4. 3 girls and a boy I was the third child. My
mom was an amazing woman who in spite of my father's negligence to
the family didn't stop to give love to us. My father was never there
never cared about our well being my mother in her little power tried
to see we were attended to. . . .
IonaSusan Salot Gaumer © Copyright 2022 by Susan Salot Gaumer |
 Photo of Columba's bay courtesy of Pixabay. |
In 1984 my husband and I
spent time in Scotland where he presented a scientific paper at a
meeting in Glasgow. Expecting a tired industrial city, by surprise we
discovered Glasgow to be lively and delightful. The Lord Mayor,
hoping to attract more such events, hosted a grand dinner for the
gathered scientists in their splendid art gallery. While Dick was in
meetings I explored lovely gardens, Whistler’s childhood home,
and meandered into several churches. Long interested in Celtic
spirituality and the life of St. Columba, I had been hoping we could
visit the island of Iona. . . .
|
Sue's Writing Desk
A Tale for Memorial Day William Wayne Weems © 2022 by William Wayne Weems |
 Photo of the Fred Cooper family. |
Nearly
two weeks ago my Spouse Annie Sue and I soberly viewed an isolated
metal outbuilding which is set outside the high fence surrounding the
rear of her West Tennessee family farmhouse. The sliding doors had
been wrenched off. . . .
|
Adaptability, Growth, Flexibility: Yoga and Indian Cultural IdentityDiya Kothari © Copyright 2022 by Diya Kothari |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
Yoga
is a philosophy of life that is entrenched within the culture of
India. Originating in India about 5000 years
ago, Yoga is a tranquilizing
practice of establishing harmony and balance between the mind, body, and soul to achieve inner peace, health, and well-being. . . .
More...
Been Lost Here BeforeKaren Lethlean © Copyright 2022 by Karen Lethlean |
 Photo by Alfred Aloushy on Unsplash |
Started out fine, like those song lyrics…
Could have been the whiskey, might have been the gin.
Could have been three or four six-packs…
We all know how such indulgence ends. . . .
More...
|
I Double Dog Dare You
© Copyright 2022 by James L. Cowles
|
|
"What's
wrong with my shirt, dummy?"
"Just
look at you, man. Let's get some other opinions. Hey guys, look at
him, will ya? His mommy pegged his shirt for him, and Jimmy's trying
to show off his muscles. I betcha you don't even weigh seventy-five
pounds; where is your muscle, anyway, Jimmy, you runt? Go on, flex it
for us, tough guy. Come on, let's see it!" . . .
The Stone BlanketNimisha Kantharia © Copyright 2022 by Nimisha Kantharia |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
When
I was a child, I felt as though I had access to an
inexplicable, exclusive sense of my father. I still have some part of
that child in me, even as an adult daughter whose relationship to her
father is fraught. I have wanted to write about this since long. . . .
The Prayer Shawl
Nancy
McAtavey
© Copyright 2022 by Nancy McAtavey |  Photo courtesy of Todd McAtavey. |
. . . .My
neighbor made my prayer shawl. It was dark blue with specks of white
running through the yarn. The random pieces of fringe were threaded
with silver beads and hearts that read “love” and “peace”
and “hope." When I asked her for the inspiration for the
shawl, she told me to Google it. . . .
More...
|
Tarred
P. S. Gifford
|
|
Self-PreservationNoel Moitra © Copyright 2022 by Noel Moitra |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
Early
one afternoon in 1987, while at Fergusson College, Pune, India, I
noticed a close friend and classmate, Sarah, in tears. She had put on
a brave face, but I could tell something was wrong from her body
language. . . .
Anecdotal MemoriesDaniel Fuller © Copyright 2022 by Daniel Fuller |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
“Oh
my God! I can see your skull!” my dad yelled, barely audible
through my screams and cries as he exchanged a blood-soaked towel for
a fresh one while my mom ran around collecting everything we needed
for the hospital. . . .
| Nobody
Told Me Desiree Kendrick © Copyright 2021 by Desiree Kendrick |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
Motherhood, is
without doubt, the best gift I’ve ever received. A first
pregnancy comes with a variety of nuances. It’s a time of
wonder. As I reflect on my adventure, I realize there are numerous
discoveries that ‘nobody told me.’ Read along and laugh
with me. . . .
|
Two Days in
Trinco Caroline Fynn © Copyright 2022 by Caroline Fynn |
 Photo by the author. |
Shortly
after I returned to my home country, life seemed to be over-regulated
and dull. Following some years of living and working in South Asia,
it was difficult to adapt to British life. I gave it my best shot but
six months along the line I still missed the jewel of a country that
is Sri Lanka and revisited for a vacation. . . .
|
A Change of Heart Stephanie Levy © Copyright 2022 by Stephanie Levy |
 Photo by freestocks on Unsplash |
This
story
is from a yet unpublished memoir, Tucked In and Tuckered Out -
Memoir of an Innkeeper with Reservations about the years my
husband James and I ran a bed and breakfast. Our son Sam put The
Federal House Bed and Breakfast on his Christmas wish list when he
was 13, right above X-Box and a kitten. . . .
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. . . .
|
Kathryn Payne-Olson © Copyright 2022 by Kathryn Payne-Olson |
|
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..
|
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. . . .
|
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.
|
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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