Stories Short and Strange
17 short stories for general audiences ranging from the unusual to the unbelievable to the just plain strange.
The Sky in the Southern Hemisphere
On my recent trip to Chile, our group got a chance to visit an astronomical observatory in the Atacama Desert. The sky is completely different in the Southern Hemisphere. The Big Dipper is upside down just above the horizon and (of course) Polaris can’t been seen. Other unusual features of the sky in that part
Introducing Canine Champions
“He followed me home, Mom, can I keep him?” But why did he follow me? Why do we each seem to know what the other is thinking? How did he get this ability? And are there any others like him? Anyone wishing for an adult PAW Patrol will love this! Canine Champions is now available in paperback on
Announcing “No Limits”
An Ohio farm boy climbs Kilimanjaro at age 69, finishes a 199-mile relay with Air Force Academy classmates at age 70, receives the coveted Abbott Medal for finishing all six “World Marathon Majors” at age 73, earns the Seven Continents Medal for finishing marathons on all seven continents at age 74. “I’m just grateful to
A Poem For Spring
Since it’s almost spring, I’m republishing my poem My Rite of Spring, from my book Some Poems About Life, available through this website and Amazon.com. My Rite of Spring I consider myself a peaceable soul.I value all manner of livable things.Insects and mice, spiders and voles.Just about anything Mom Nature brings. But I do have my standards.I will
Introducing Canine Champions
“He followed me home, Mom, can I keep him?” But why did he follow me? Why do we each seem to know what the other is thinking? How did he get this ability? And are there any others like him? Anyone wishing for an adult PAW Patrol will love this! Canine Champions is now available in paperback on
Paul Revere Williams — American Pioneer
In honor of Black History Month, I’m reposting this, which I originally wrote in May, 2017. While driving back from Boston, I happened to listen to a very interesting story about a real pioneer. His name was Paul Revere Williams. Paul R. Williams (as he was known) was born in Los Angeles on February 18,
Perspective on Winter
Since we’re in the middle of a major snowfall, I thought it appropriate to repost my poem about winter. It’s from my book Some Poems About Life, available here and on Amazon.com. Perspective The son stood in the doorway,Behold a beautiful sight!As far as he could see,nothing but fluffy white! Today would be a timeof laughter and
Another “Word of the Year”
In an earlier post, I had mentioned that Disctionary.com had announced demure — “characterized by shyness and modesty; reserved,” — as its Word of the Year. Now the Oxford University Press has taken a completely different approach. Its 2024 Oxford Word of the Year is brain rot — “supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or
The Illogical Logic of Paradoxes
Life is full of contradictions, something we usually try to avoid. And yet, have you ever read a statement or problem that either appears to produce two completely contradictory (but possible) outcomes, or seems to prove something we can’t expect? This is a paradox. They can be mind-blowing, yet also fun to contemplate. For example,
Thanks, Santa
Christmas is fast approaching, so it’s time to repost my Christmas story. This was inspired by a friend who works as a department store Santa. He once described meeting a little girl with a special wish, and I took it from there. This is included in my book, Stories: Short and Strange, available on this website, and