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To
this day, my father can’t believe he did it–he left me in
a back alleyway. In a foreign country. By myself.
Of course, I’m the one who persuaded him it was a good idea. I waved goodbye and shouldered my pack, turned around and found the first arrow on the Camino de Santiago. . . .
. . . .Traveling is the best way to stay in touch with friends and discover the local treasures. With regards to travels in India, barely any nations can match the amazing magnificence and experience of Ladakh. Situated in the furthest north of India, this country locale is home to the absolute most gorgeous and more unfamiliar streets. . . .
As
my dusty, white Kira rolled into the small village, a group of men
chatting and lolling on the crumbling stone fence grew quiet and all
fixated their eyes on me. I keep my gaze forward, glancing at the
Google map, now froze on my iPhone screen due to no service. The
villagers were not used to seeing woman traveling alone, much less an
American woman and in many parts of country of Georgia, whose roots
extend deep into tradition, I was sometimes looked at with suspicion
and contempt. I also was not a native speaker, so I was quite a
stranger in a strange and beautiful land. . . .
This lady did things
correctly.
She cut from one
side of her wrists to the other and made very deep cuts.
Because of this, she
successfully cut both arteries in both wrists. . . .
I
share this true story to commiserate with my cohorts—those
folks, who like me, have survived extreme humiliation. We’re a
group of individuals who regularly trigger embarrassing situations
that would otherwise traumatize a normal person. I’m getting
ahead of myself, though. Let me begin at the beginning. . . .
Eighteen months after the Coronavirus first invaded the U.S., Jack Whitcomb kissed his wife goodbye at the front door as she left for work, then he grabbed his son’s muddy tennis shoes off the “Welcome” mat and shut the door behind him. After losing his job during the economic downturn in the early stages of the pandemic, he had evolved into the role of “homemaker.” Now that he was fully vaccinated, he hoped to return to the workforce and start fresh next year so, 2022 would mark a resurrection for him, of sorts. . . .
It
is my great pleasure to write about my brother. It is a story
of India too. It is the story of our culture. My
brother
showed how one should lead life on this beautiful earth. One should
not be a burden to the environment. Man should use
only
minimum resources. life is always beautiful if we abide by
the
rules set by Vedas. Life is an opportunity to reach
God.
These types of ideals helped my brother to build his life and the
people around him. . . .
On
an early summer day many years ago, the morning began as usual for
most of the residents of the little community of German, Kentucky.
The entire country was now deeply in the grip of the Great
Depression, and anyone lucky enough to have a job during that time
went to work thankfully that morning. Most of them went to the coal
mines. . . .
JimMichele Dickson © Copyright 2023 by Michele Dickson |
 Photo of the author. |
The trees waved in the wind as I fretted about being discovered and told to leave. I came to this retreat knowing why I was here, to accomplish this feat of letting go. , , ,
Princesses Kill Their Own DragonsLindsey Stratte © Copyright 2023 by Lindsey Stratte  |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
Of course, I’m the one who persuaded him it was a good idea. I waved goodbye and shouldered my pack, turned around and found the first arrow on the Camino de Santiago. . . .
Lost and Found: Ladakh's Hidden Gems on Wheels with FriendsRakesh Tiwari © Copyright 2023 by Rakesh Tiwari |
 Photo of Pangong Lake by Aaron Thomas on Unsplash. |
. . . .Traveling is the best way to stay in touch with friends and discover the local treasures. With regards to travels in India, barely any nations can match the amazing magnificence and experience of Ladakh. Situated in the furthest north of India, this country locale is home to the absolute most gorgeous and more unfamiliar streets. . . .
|
The Firefighter Henry Lansing Woodward © Copyright 2023 by Henry Lansing Woodward  |
 Image by Ronald Plett from Pixabay |
. . . .The
Silver Sage was on fire on a hot, dry day outside Reno, near Pyramid
Lake on the Paiute Indian Reservation. A strong wind was driving it
at about twenty to thirty miles per hour and preventing containment. . . .
The Georgian FlukeLeslie Cieplechowicz © Copyright 2023 by Leslie Cieplechowicz |
 Photo of Gelati Monastery by Herbert Frank on Wikimedia Commons. |
|
The Razorblade Lady Henry Lansing Woodward © Copyright 2023 by Henry Lansing Woodward |
 Photo by Bartłomiej Balicki on Unsplash |
| A
Stinky Situation Sara Etgen-Baker © Copyright 2023 by Sara Etgen-Baker |
 Image By vecstock at Freepix. |
Sadie Hawkins DanceMelissa L. White © Copyright 2023 by Melissa L. White |
 Photo by Yoann Siloine on Unsplash |
The
flash from the Polaroid makes me blink. I wonder how many times my
dad has taken my picture. A thousand? Ten thousand? Once a day for my
entire life so far would be close to five and a half thousand. I’ve
heard of faraway tribes who believe the camera steals their soul. I
blink again, wondering how it feels to have your soul stolen.
Brightly colored dots float up all around me. Am I somehow emptier
inside, less soulful, than other fifteen-year-old girls whose fathers
aren’t such camera fanatics? . . .
More...
Tomorrow, Friday, my husband returns from Afghanistan. He has been gone for a year. We have been through this twice before. Iraq both times. He is an Army reserve NCO, with a mission critical specialization, so his deployments have been relentlessly predictable. In the process, he has lost his civilian job, missed critical time raising his children, and almost our home, since the army pays him so much less than the management job he had before 9/11. . . .
|
All
For Nothing?
Robert Flournoy © Copyright 2023 by Robert Flournoy |
 Photo by Stephanie
McCabe on Unsplash
|
Tomorrow, Friday, my husband returns from Afghanistan. He has been gone for a year. We have been through this twice before. Iraq both times. He is an Army reserve NCO, with a mission critical specialization, so his deployments have been relentlessly predictable. In the process, he has lost his civilian job, missed critical time raising his children, and almost our home, since the army pays him so much less than the management job he had before 9/11. . . .
My Halle FamilyGalya Bacheva © Copyright 2023 by Galya Bacheva |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
I
grew up in a communist country, so what we knew of the world was not
much. It was apparently divided into the “good people” on
our side of the Iron Curtain and the “bad” ones beyond
it. But we did not know much even about the “good people”,
because travel outside our country was not considered necessary.
Patriotism would not allow for it, naturally. What was at home had to
suffice. One needed a really important reason to go to another
country. . . .
| Past
The Use-By-Date? Karen Radford Treanor
© Copyright 2023 by Karen Radford Treanor
|
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
Just
before the whole world’s door was slammed shut in our faces, we
were at the recycling shop in Huonville, Tasmania. The shop is run
by the local council, and it’s filled with odd glassware, old
furniture, used books, pots without lids and lids without pots, and
et cetera. We were poking around in search of something we needed,
such as an undiscovered Sheraton sideboard....
Mopsy and the Chocolate CakeMelissa L. White © Copyright 2023 by Melissa L. White |
 Photo by Will Nchols on Unsplash. |
Eighteen months after the Coronavirus first invaded the U.S., Jack Whitcomb kissed his wife goodbye at the front door as she left for work, then he grabbed his son’s muddy tennis shoes off the “Welcome” mat and shut the door behind him. After losing his job during the economic downturn in the early stages of the pandemic, he had evolved into the role of “homemaker.” Now that he was fully vaccinated, he hoped to return to the workforce and start fresh next year so, 2022 would mark a resurrection for him, of sorts. . . .
The Halloween Outhouse EpisodeJames Osborne © Copyright 2023 by James Osborne |
 Photo by Steve: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gray-deer-eating-grass-397850/Poto by Shawn Ford courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Photo by Steve: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gray-deer-eating-grass-397850/ |
The
fathers in our remote farming community were beginning to hate
Halloween with a passion. That’s the night when local teenagers
would sneak out and topple neighborhood outhouses. Their pranks meant
the rest of us had to wait the next morning, often under great
pressure, you understand, while our fathers returned the outhouses to
upright. . . .
Global PainAravindan Sumaithangi Sambasivam ©
Copyright 2023 by Aravindan Sumathangi Sambasivam
|
 Photo by Ian Taylor on Unsplash |
. . . .Death
itself is not be observed as negative word. It can be boon or curse
depending upon. Hence the death or demise is to be monitored or at
least should be noticed by us in order to ascertain the same is
growing in the form of boon or curse. The awareness on the age of
death and the mode is to be highlighted globally in order to avoid
losses of precious lives due to human being’s carelessness. . . .
Trifled Timing for a Triad's TimbreRaydene Nash © Copyright 2023 by Raydene Nash |
 Photo property of the author. |
Since
prior to my second marriage, neither the emerald shaded Vikker River
nor its choice Vikker Valley had been entered by me. Years back in
the summer of 2006, Lori invited me to camp for a couple of nights
with her across Vikker lake, entered by Vikker River. . . .
My Brother AshviniAparna Hulithala © Copyright 2023 by Aparna Hulithala  |
 Image by Suren from Pixabay |
Crossing OverGiles Ryan © Copyright 2023 by Giles Ryan |
 Photo by Guillaume Groult on Unsplash |
Someone
asked, was crossing the Pyrenees now much harder than ten years ago,
and the answer is, certainly yes! Napoleon’s way is much harder
than Charlemagne’s. But then I realize the question isn’t
about mountain passes, it’s about my age. . . .
The CommencementKelsey Hoevel © Copyright 2023 by Kelsey Hoevel |
 Photo by MD Duran on Unsplash |
I
didn’t
expect to be crying on my graduation day, and I certainly didn’t
expect my mom to tell me she wouldn’t show up to the ceremony
just an hour beforehand, but here I am, crying on the floor of my
pink bedroom. My back is to my mirror, which is begging to be
cleaned. I’m in eighth grade – for today, anyway. . . .
River HouseKaley Cole © Copyright 2023 by Kaley Cole |
 Photo by Neža Dolmo on Unsplash |
“I
wanted a
house to die in,” my grandma told me one summer as we were
sitting at the kitchen table, discussing renovations to her two-story
house in Dunnellon, Florida. “One with enough rooms for the
family to mourn alone or come together,” she elaborated. And,
with its high wood-lined ceilings and museum-like rooms full of
mismatched antiques, the house was certainly large enough to
accommodate her five children and nine grandchildren. But, it was the
stunning view from the back porch of the spring-fed Rainbow River
that made it a beautiful and dramatic backdrop. . . .
Best Teacher EverThe Story of Andrew Jackson CriderThom Webb © Copyright 2023 by Thom Webb |  Barbara (Vaughn) and Jack Crider. Photo courtesy of the author. |
More...
The Monster Who Raised MeSonya Marie Meservey © Copyright 2023 by Sonya Marie Meservey |
 Photo by Colin Davis on Unsplash |
I
came into this world on February 7th,
1991. I don’t remember it, of course. Though I have heard
stories. Tales of a borderline blizzard in Brooklyn. They had
difficulties getting my mother to the hospital. Traffic, snow, you
name it. I was nearly born in the backseat of a taxi cab. She was
watching a soap opera in the delivery room; could not miss some made
up character’s wedding. I was born addicted to cocaine, like my
older sister before me. . . .
A Mother's StoryNicole Corey © Copyright 2023 by Nicole Corey |
 Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash |
I’ve
been waiting thirty-four years for someone to ask me, “What’s
it like to be the mother of a mentally ill son?” But so far no
one has. . . .
Goals and GavelsHaseeb Haider © Copyright 2023 by Haseeb Haider |
 Photo courtesy of Wikimidia Commons. |
Fifteen Miles in Big BendEsther Yumi Ko © Copyright 2023 by Esther Yumi Ko |
 Photo by Faith D on Unsplash |
"Do
you think I can do a fifteen-mile hike through desert mountains?"
I ask a friend who spends his summers as a hiking guide in Wyoming.
| Traveling
With Mother Karen Radford Treanor
© Copyright 2023 by Karen Radford Treanor
|
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
My
mother was an inveterate armchair traveler, but rarely left the small
country town in which her husband had stashed her while he went off
to do his bit to ensure the settling of enemy hash in 1944. . . .
More...
29th
September 1938, Uttar Pradesh, India. A small house in village
Saunjini. Inside the house, a woman holding a newborn baby –
her sixth child and the fourth son. In the garden stand the women of
the village, eagerly waiting to see the newest family member. . . .
An Archive of Rich Memories: A Portrait of my Dadu from Past for the Present and FutureSripriya Singh © Copyright 2023 by Sripriya Singh |
 Photo by Dinis Bazgutdinov on Unsplash |
The Dragon TreeJames Osborne © Copyright 2023 by James Osborne |
 Photo by Steve: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gray-deer-eating-grass-397850/Photo by Stev at Pexels. Photo by Steve: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gray-deer-eating-grass-397850/ |
My
fingers tapped impatiently on the oilcloth covering the kitchen
table. A huge thunderstorm was coming our way. My older sister,
Nancy, and I both knew it. But there she sat on the other side of the
table absorbed in a book, as usual. . . .
| Breaking
The Mold Martha Harnly © Copyright 2023 by Martha Harnly
|
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
Becoming ArabellaA Journey of Self-DiscoveryCarol Scott © Copyright 2023 by Carol Scott |
 Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash |
This is a biography of
my best friend, Arabella.
We’ve known each other for over a decade, having met in high
school (I lived in the United States for much of my upbringing and
left after graduating high school) and kept in touch, occasionally
visiting each other. Arabella is
transgender and I believe her experiences are a great way for a
reader who may not know a trans person to connect with one on a
personal level. . . .
Granddaddy ClarkMichael Mason © Copyright 2023 by Michael Mason |
 Plowing with a mule. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
Watching
my grandfather eat his food always fascinated me as a child. At
breakfast, my grandmother would set a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon,
and grits in front of him. I would stare as he slowly picked up his
fork with a trembling hand, scroop up a fork full of eggs, and
painstakingly raise his hand toward the open black hole of his mouth.
Some of the egg managed to make it to his lips but most of it tumbled
back to his plate. When his food would finally find its way into his
mouth he would chew slowly, and his eyes would widen as if he were
surprised that the food had reached its intended destination. It was
hard work, and I was pulling for him every step of the way. . . .
One Summer In VermontKaren Petersen © Copyright 2023 by Karen Petersen |
 Image by David from Pixabay |
The summer after my
father died my mother decided to send me away to camp in Vermont for
six weeks. It was the late 1960s on eastern Long Island, I was
thirteen, and had retreated far into myself out of grief, abject
loneliness, and deep loss. . . .
Two Years In LaosLarry Schwandes© Copyright 2023 by Larry Schwandes
|
 Baha'i World Center in Haifa.. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons |
Bangalore - July 2021Nandini Ganesh © Copyright 2023 by Nandini Ganesh |
 Sunrise at Madiwala Lake. Photo from Wikimedia Commons. |
I
like small round tables. There's a continuity to the conversation and
an intimacy to the gathering when the table is circular, unlike the
square or rectangular ones which create rigid corners. And what
better to have on a table than pizza? We ate our way through an
assortment of toppings on fine dough. . . .
Emancipation Day CelebrationReflection on the evil, brutality and inhumanity of Slavery of Africans and Enlightening the present generationWinston Donald © Copyright 2023 by Winston Donald |
 Photo courrtesy of the author. |
August
1, 2023 was the celebration of the abolishment of slavery in the
Caribbean Colonies. Black people everywhere can rejoice because of this
event and all in the African diaspora can celebrate with those
in the Caribbean. However, there is now a movement in North America
and to an extent in Britain to discredit the evil of slavery - a
shift by white nationalists, conservatives and white supremacists in
the United States and Britain to deny that slavery was evil, brutal
and inhumane. . . .
Cat in the CornerAbbie Creed © Copyright 2023 by Abbie Creed |
 Bridgette Kitty and Dan. Photo from the author. |
In
the wee hours of the morning my son was awakened by his dog barking
his head off. He was certain that according to the bark, it must have
been a dangerous intruder entering his backyard. He quickly donned a
pair of shoes and proceeded out back to see what all the commotion
was about. He followed the dog to his garage where he had trapped a
critter coiled up in the far corner. After getting a heavy pair of
work gloves, he lifted the ferocious kitten out from among the debris
ridden hiding place. The poor baby was frightened and defending
herself with all her might. . . .
Twilight Between Aspiration and DespairMelissa L. White © Copyright 2023 by Melissa L. White |
 Photo © copyright 1999, Melissa L. White |
Marilyn
Muro
Blackstone sat down on a stump at twilight, gazing out at Crater Lake
near the Oregon–California border with Mount Shasta looming in
the distance. She focused her camera, catching the waning daylight at
just the right angle between the encroaching dark clouds and the
silver surface of the lake. Bingo! She knew this
photo was a
winner. Satisfied with the day’s shoot and especially this last
series of shots at the lake, she packed her gear and prepared to head
back to her cabin. . . .
A Slice Of Life In New York CityWilliam Flores © Copyright 2023 by William Flores |
 Photo by ian dooley on Unsplash |
The
American social
and economic landscape of the 1950’s through the 1970’s
was more advantageous for so-called “minorities”on a
whole then it is today. It provided greater opportunities for Black
and Latino families to achieve the American dream without the
interference of big government, and its welfare State. The following
is a small part of my life story, a Latino kid brought up in New York
City during a time in America when the quality of public education
was great, and employment opportunities plentiful. . . .
Hastings, New ZealandAn Insignificant Town in an Insignficant CountryRichard Ansell © Copyright 2023 by Richard Ansell |
 Photo of the author in 1963. |
With
cat-like tread, I was patrolling on foot the back alleys of the
Hastings city retail shops looking for anyone who maybe was there
with nefarious intentions. It was my first night shift and so far
quite uneventful. There was a suggestion of fog in the air but faint
light filtered eerily from a distant security lamp casting shadows
over untidy rubbish bins and their scattered contents - like a stage
setting from Cats without the orchestrations. Rounding a corner a man
about 20ish was walking towards me and didn’t seem bothered
meeting a policeman in uniform. Even stopped to
talk. He
said he had seen off someone at the nearby railway station and was
taking a shortcut. I did hear a train at
the station
a few minutes earlier so his explanation didn’t raise my
suspicions. . . .
Sixty-OneParick Shannon © Copyright 2023 by Patrick Shannon |
“Denton High School, Denton High School, fight on for your fame. Show the world your qualities and hoist your noble name, Rah-Rah-Rah... … Denton High School, Denton High School, spread your colors far. True sons and daughters were from Denton High, Rah-Rah!” |
 Illustration provided by the author. |
In
January 1979, three Eastern Montana boys and I were playing foosball
at 8-Ball Billiards in Missoula. While slapping away at the hardened
sphere, a heated discussion ensued. Who was the better Montana Class
C basketball player at that time? Junior Doug Selvig from Outlook or
my childhood friend, senior Doug Pemberton from Denton. . . .
The Keeper of Youth |
 Photo property of the author. |
Alan
Weisman stood at the
window observing the anthill beneath him. New York City, seen from
any number of penthouses he had owned over the past decade,
frequently reminded him of ants. Workers. Drones. A colony of
social insects scurrying around in their frenzied, methodical
missions. . . .
Life of a StoolAbbie Creed © Copyright 2023 by Abbie Creed |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
My
life in Louisville, Kentucky began in the warehouse of the Belknap
Company where Mike and Ruth Creed were employed. They were a young
couple who became engaged and were happily married while being
employed there. It seems that employees received a nice discount on
anything they purchased from the company. What a blessing! . . .
Remaining LightPola Shreiber © Copyright 2023 by Pola Shreiber |
 Palace Square, Coat of arms of Russia, St. Petersburg, Russia. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
I
came from a
different world, a forgone era dismantled brick by brick and
condemned unanimously by humanity—Soviet Russia. And yet,
Russia was the world of my
childhood and my
youth, the world that formed me.
I
grew up in St.
Petersburg, a majestic city built at the dawn of the 18th
century by the Russian tsar Peter the Great and situated in the delta
of river Neva. Exquisite architecture adorned the streets. Numerous
bridges were cast over the waterways; like long elegant fingers, they
held the city in their grasp. . . .
Seven Days To SundayDenise Boivin-Iassogna © Copyright 2023 by Denise Boivin-Iassogna |
 Photo by Diego Lozano on Unsplash |
. . . .The
final march toward the grave should force us to slow down. Take
notice. A soul’s passing is as meaningful as its entrance into
this world. The Egyptians understood this. They erected
massive pyramids to commemorate the dead. The Variana Buddhists
believe in the transmigration of the soul and leave the exposed body
high on a Mongolian mountain for nature to take its course. The
Hindus have elaborate rituals involving the adorning of a corpse with
garlands of flowers, scattering the ashes over a sacred river. If you
ever want to witness death as a celebration, just attend an Irish
wake. . . .
Jeannie With The Light Brown HairAbigail Hagler © Copyright 2023 by Abigail Hagler |
 Image by Hebi B. from Pixabay |
My
mother had three younger sisters: Regine, Margaret and Rita, in
descending order of age. And a brother, too, Jeremy. Because she had
helped raise and watch them grow she knew and loved each one. She
wanted me to know and love them, too, but that was not to be. . . .
Kenny PyeDaniel Windever © Copyright 2023 by Daniel Windever |
 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
I
was sitting on the roof of the shed in my back garden, it was a
favourite place of mine as from up there I could look over all the
back yards as far as the flats on Clamley Road. It was from this
vantage place on high I would watch a lad of my age playing alone
three backyards down and one back. Summer was coming, the days warm
and filled with birdsongs. He had set up a cricket pitch and was
dressed in cricket gear. . . .
More...
She'll Take Them Up On A TrayMarcia McGreevy Lewis © Copyright 2023 byMarcia McGreevy Lewis |
 Photo property of the author.. |
. . . .A
friend sent me this article which says: The verbal abuse from rude
customers got so bad, the owners of a restaurant on Cape Cod closed
for part of the day to treat its employees to a “day of
kindness.” Ramping up from zero to 60 post-pandemic, the
restaurant wasn’t able to take a breakfast order because it
wasn’t open yet. An indignant customer berated an employee,
making her cry. That led the restaurant owners to shut down. The
local restaurant association expressed its solidarity with the
shuttered restaurant by starting a “Please
Be Kind” campaign. . . .
ToothacheGeorge R. Frost © Copyright 2023 by George R. Frost |
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
Two
days before I was to report to basic training, otherwise known as
bootcamp, at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, I broke a tooth eating ice
cream. You heard that right, ice cream, but the ice cream had pecans
in it. I bit down and half my molar broke off. Painful enough, but
the nerve hung down making breathing a very painful process. . . .
My Hero Is My DadLydia Seales-Fuller © Copyright 2023 by Lydia Seales-Fuller |
 Photo of Luydia and her dad |
I
chose to speak about my father. He deserves to be the focus of a
discussion about heroes and worthy men. This manuscript contains
reasons why my father is my hero. As you read, I hope you agree with
me that he was a one-of-a-kind person. . . .
P-38-E-1943Thomas Turman © Copyright 2023 by Thomas Turman |
 Lockheed P-38 Lightning. Photographed at the Spitfire 60th Anniversary Airshow, Duxford, 1996. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
My
dad, Gardner Wilson, Kelly Johnson and Jerry Roland are having a
quick breakfast at 4:30 a.m., standing at the counter in our small
Southern California kitchen. Sleepy but excited, I am watching. Late
last night, I was told I would go to work with my father but not
why so early. . . .
More...
|
Learning To Swim Without Lane Lines Leigh M. O'Brien © Copyright 2023 by Leigh M. O'Brien |
 Photo by Marcus Ng on Unsplash |
I stood,
legs shaking, heart pounding, toes gripping the edge of the tall
diving board. I waited and waited and waited – until I could
wait no more. Finally, eyes shut tight, I threw myself off the end
into the deep, dark, unknowable pool below. I shot to the surface
hours later as my daughter fought her way into the world, and I
became a mother for the first time. . . .
The BullyJohn Howell © Copyright 2023 by John Howell |
 Image by Victoria_Regen from Pixabay |
Just A Girl In 1972Sherri J. Bale © Copyright 2023 by Sherri J. Bale |
 Photo by Marten Bjork on Unsplash |
Physics
terrified me. It was only the really smart kids who took physics in
high school. But I knew I needed a well-rounded transcript for my
college applications because I planned to be a scientist. I was one
of only three girls in the physics class. I studied hard, spending
more time on physics than any other course in my senior year. . . .
| Playing
Hooky Gloria Mesa © Copyright 2023 by Gloria Mesa |
 Photo by Deleece Cook on Unsplash |
When
I was a little girl being homeschooled meant answering the queries of
well-intentioned adult strangers who questioned with good reason why
I was out playing, or shopping, during the hours when most other kids
my age were in school. I would explain that I received my education
at home. My mother worked with me on my studies, and I tended to be
finished early on in the day. I wasn’t playing hooky. . . .
|
This
Is For My Coach
Robert Flournoy © Copyright 2023 by Robert Flournoy |
 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
|
In
August of 1957, the call went out to all ten year olds in the
neighborhood that a little league football team was being formed to
be a part of an already established league. New housing developments
were springing up all over El Paso, Texas (popping up in every town
in the nation, actually), and with each one came new sports teams for
the baby boomers whose parents were moving in. I was ecstatic, beside
myself. . . .
Snakes at a Mahjong GameIrvin Sam Schonfeld © Copyright 2023 by Irvin Sam Schonfeld |
 Image by NIDEO&NICS Hokkaido from Pixabay |
Our
adventures in The Lots on each side of the Projects
continued. Joel and I persisted in collecting snakes. We looked in
rock piles. We looked in the tall grass growing near the swamp. The
two of us were successful locating snakes, then grabbing them up. We
transported our quarry back to our building alive in the brown paper
bags our mothers ordinarily stuffed with sandwiches. . . .
CauchemarIrvin Sam Schonfeld © Copyright 2023 by Irvin Sam Schonfeld |
 Bĺstads riots, 1968. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons |
The
movie ended with Zorba and Basil dancing the sirtaki
on a
beach in Crete, the spirited Greek having just taught the uptight
Englishman how to let loose. It was late when I exited the movie
theater in the Quartier Latin. Unexpectedly, tear
gas
cannisters exploded at my feet. It was Quatorze Juillet,
1968,
the French National Day, the day that commemorates the storming of
the Bastille. It was difficult to breathe. The exiting moviegoers
quickly dispersed in different directions. I ran to a side street to
get air fresh enough to breathe. The police were chasing down the
young demonstrators who tried to revive the massive anti-government
protests that had peaked in May. . . .
Clarksonville Baptist Church185 Years of Hope, Community development, Education and Spiritual Service by Missionaries founded Clarksonville Baptist Church, JamaicaWinston Donald Secretary Jamaica Fellowship of Independent Baptist Churches © Copyright 2023 by Winston Donald |
 Photo courrtesy of the author. |
On
Sunday August 6, 2023 Clarksonville Baptist Church celebrates a
momentous occasion, 185 years of dedicated service to the people of
Clarksonville, St. Ann and its environs and by far to Jamaica . A
church service for the celebration will begin at 10: 00 a.m. . . .
Teacher Field Trip To IrelandSamantha Leigh Miller © Copyright 2023 by Samantha Leigh Miller |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
I
went to Ireland to learn about the writers of the past, but I brought
home an experience to share with my students worth so much more. There
is a reason Ireland is home to the literary greats. It is an
island landscape that fuels the imagination, with a people who burn
to tell its stories. In fact, storytelling is such a part of the
culture I found in Ireland, that it’s impossible to sort the
stories apart from the places and the people. . . .
Bottlenose Dolphins |
 Photo by Jonas Von Werne on Upsplash. |
Mae
was my first roommate. At 91 she set off the smoke detectors by
trying to sneak a butt in the bathroom, feigning hearing loss as she
puffed away in the midst of a blaring fire alarm. I loved her
instantly.
| The
Puppeteer and His Marionettes Sara Etgen-Baker © Copyright 2023 by Sara Etgen-Baker |
 Photo by Miguel Alcântara on Unsplash |
. . . .There was a freezing
chill in the December air. Rosy cheeked, Grammy and I stood in line
outside the theater stomping our feet to keep warm; pulling our
woolen hats over reddened ears; and tightening our scarves around our
necks. At noon, the theater door finally opened, and a black-caped
man announced, “Welcome to Le
Theatre de Marionette.”
. . .
| A
Tribute to the Cigar Box, Cigars, and the Men Who Smoked Them Sara Etgen-Baker © Copyright 2023 by Sara Etgen-Baker |
 Photo from the author. |
Cigar
boxes are no longer a part of childhood. But once upon a time, cigar
boxes were as common as 1943 steel pennies. For children of my
generation, a cigar box wasn’t about the processed, aromatic
tobacco leaves our father’s smoked, but rather about
creativity. . . .
Together AgainGiles Ryan © Copyright 2023 by Giles Ryan |
 Hans Holbein, portrait of Henry VIII,1536 |
 Juan de Flanders. portrait of a young girl, 1496 |
This
has happened before and now it happens again. A visit to a museum
which was originally a private collection leads to something wholly
unexpected. Three years ago, it was the Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon,
where I saw Ghirlandaio’s Portrait
of a Young Woman
and thought, how did this come to be here in Lisbon and not in Rome
or Florence, or somewhere in Italy, or perhaps in the Louvre? And
now, visiting the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, I find myself
wondering the same thing, and this time it’s a painting I would
expect to find at the National Portrait Gallery in London. . . .
| My
Cousin Obed Ezra Azra . © Copyright 2023 by Ezra Azra |
 Reading Tea Leaves by Harry Herman Roseland, 1906, oil on canvas - New Britain Museum of American Art. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons |
On
one occasion Obed's mother yelled at him, "Every hair on your
head contains a thousand lies!" He was about thirteen years old
at the time. There were other adult family members there, in the
backyard. All were shocked. After yelling at her son, her firstborn
child, auntie Ruth stormed away back to her home, a few blocks away. .
. .
| The
Walls Speak of Purgatory Sadia Reza © Copyright 2023 by Sadia Reza |
 Image by liatit from Pixabay |
We
all thought of her as 'the woman with the dead husband'. She lived
upstairs above us, yet I would never meet her. It happened before she’d
moved here – she found him hanging from the ceiling, a rope around his
neck. He’d served in Afghanistan, I heard. Bits and pieces of her story
I gathered from various figures, the landlord, my husband’s family.
Yes, she had struggled, the poor woman, everyone thought; what a tragic
story, very sad. So long as she paid the rent. . . .
| A New View
On Old Things Ellie S. Thomas
©
Copyright
2023 by Ellie S. Thomas |
 Icon - Jesus among the doctors from Wikimedia Commons.. |
The
Holy Land was not a large place but to the wandering Jews who desired
a settled home, it looked pretty good. Ancient Israel was composed of
Galilee, Samaria, and - Judah, the land of the Jews, which had once
been a province of Persia. The history was a confused recital of
Greek, Roman, and various other conquests and the country had been
held by the Romans for the last hundred years. . . .
Jump--Jump!Pamella Laird © Copyright 2023 by Pamella Laird |
 Photo by Dmitry Zvolskiy
at Pexels.
|
“I’m
not ‘a fly on the wall. I’m the vicar, so you are hearing
this from an on-the-spot, reliable witness. Through Sophie I’ve
heard telling bits of her wedding plans. We all knew this would be
the fun wedding of the year—with her infectious laughter and
mass of auburn curls—Sophie’s that sort of girl. I’ve
seen enough brides walk up our aisle I’m now an authority on
weddings. . . .
More...
Technical ExcellenceAngela Townsend © Copyright 2023 by Angela Townsend |
 Photo by Laura Ohlman on Unsplash |
Mr.
van Auken trusted me.
This
would have been instantly apparent to wiser eyes, but I was, what —
eleven? And when you are eleven, you are warned early and often about
Mr. van Auken. . . .
Bipolar In UniformAnnette Vermette © Copyright 2023 by Annette Vermette |
 Photo by Edward Eyer at Pexels. |
In
the present day, Terrance is doing well. To his family and loved ones
who have witnessed the many episodes of mania in the last thirty
years, some are clinging to the behaviours they saw back then, and
some are proud of his current state and relate to him as such. . . .
|
Balausa
and Pip's Wand:
The Battle with the Funks Adilbek Raiymbek Didaruly © Copyright 2023 by Adilbek Raiymbek Didaruly |
 Image by Katja from Pixabay |
Once
in a quiet village named Zhikovo there lived a girl named Balausa.
Balausa was an inquisitive and dreamy girl who was always looking for
adventures around her. She woke up every morning with a smile on her
face, ready to go to her little fantasy world. . . .
| Lily
and the Wizard Abhinash Shah © Copyright 2023 by Abhinash Shah |
 Image by Katja from Pixabay |
 Image by Dorothe from Pixabay. |
Once
upon a time, there was a small town nestled in a valley surrounded by
towering mountains.
The
town was known for its vibrant community and picturesque scenery. One
day, a stranger arrived in the town, claiming to be a wizard. The
townspeople were skeptical, but the stranger proved his powers by
performing a series of incredible feats.
| Where
Have All The Lunchboxes Gone? Sara Etgen-Baker © Copyright 2023 by Sara Etgen-Baker |
 Photo from the author. |
As
August draws to a close, school buses are back on the roads,
blackboard rails have chalk dust in them again, and back-to-school
shopping is pretty much wrapped up. But as I walked the aisles of
notebooks, pencils, and backpacks last week, there was one item that
seemed to be missing. I'm talking, of course,
about the metal lunchbox. . . .
| When
Handkerchiefs Were Fashionable Sara Etgen-Baker © Copyright 2023 by Sara Etgen-Baker |
 Embroidered handkerchief. Photo from the author. |
.
. . .Whenever Mother napped on the couch, I did
as most
curious little girls are prone to do. I sneaked into my parents’
bedroom, sat down on the upholstered bench in front of Mother’s
mirrored dressing table where I quietly riffled through her dressing
table drawers fascinated with all her ladylike things: her pink
Spoolies, her cherry red lipstick, her powdered compact, her scented
sachets, and her ‘hankies.’. . .
|
The Invitation
James L. Cowles |
 Image by Jorge Barahona from Pixabay |
He had ridden this trail many times, but he couldn't remember the name of the little town the cowboy had told him about.
It
must be another one of those damn gold rush towns," he thought.
“They have cropped up all over creation since 1850. Calefornee
is full of ‘em, and I bet this here one is jest another one
that’ll probably go ‘bout as quick as it come. . . .
Diary of a SurvivorAbbie Creed © Copyright 2023 by Abbie Creed
|
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
This is about my husband, Dan,
and his life changing event
that caused our whole family to go into survival mode. He was the
love of our lives, a wonderful father and role model as well as my
friend and mentor. He spent 25 years in a wheelchair, unable to work,
but his strong faith and that of our family, taught us many new life
lessons and gave us a strong sense of the importance of family and
friends. . . .
A Wish Come TrueAbbie Creed © Copyright 2023 by Abbie Creed |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
This
is a childhood memory of a Christmas I remember so
vividly. It took place during the second World War, when my father
was seriously ill, three of my five brothers were in the military
stationed overseas, and children were experiencing frequent air raid
drills. It was a scary time in our history but for one little girl,
Santa Claus became real! . . .
The Red Letter DishesAbbie Creed © Copyright 2023 by Abbie Creed |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
This is a wonderful story of a
Christmas gift surprise
that became a life long tradition in our family but in the
lives
of others who have been recipients of a
copycat gift. Some
went
as wedding gifts, others as Christmas gifts to friends. Believing in
the importance of family traditions I set out to keep the story of
the original dishes alive. . . .
*******************************