An email from a college classmate just jogged my memory. I was in an inaugural parade! It was in January 1969, and Richard Nixon was about to take office, being elected by promising to end the Vietnam War. I was in my third year at the US Air Force Academy (USAFA), and mine was one
I think it’s close enough to the holidays to repost my annual Christmas story. Thanks, Santa I guess I shouldn’t complain. I live in a nice house on a street with nice houses. I think our house is the nicest, two stories with a pool in back and a garage with room for three
What makes a good novel? You need a hero, a villain, and a compelling story. And for the story to be really memorable, your hero needs some flaws. That’s why there is kryptonite in the Superman sagas; invincibility makes for a very boring read. Now translate that into the very real world of politics. As
Here’s a quick Halloween-inspired story — Never Trust a Donut Friday! This was Stu’s favorite day. Not only because it was the end of the week, but also because he stopped at “The Hole in the Wall”, the best donut shop in town. As the name implies, this was a cozy place, but they
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted an original short story. This was published on the Bewildering Stories website in issue #635 (http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue635/last_chance.html) It does contain a bit of adult language. One Last Chance Jake had been in nicer hospitals than this. His mother had passed away in a new facility, big and
I’ve been reading about the recently released movie Sully about how Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and his crew landed that Airbus A320 full of passengers on the Hudson River after their engines were disabled by a flock of geese. It’s always nice to see a story with a happy ending. I’m proud that Captain Sullenberger
For the third time in about a year, I’ve been able to take a trip overseas (the reason why I haven’t posted anything lately). This occasion was a half marathon at Disneyland Paris and, since I’ve been there multiple times, involved no real sightseeing. But I learn a lot about the world with every adventure,
As the barricades came down and traffic was restored, Ken, Ellen and I said goodbye to the mile chief. We were off to the nine-mile mark, at the point where the course came back to follow the beach along Ocean Avenue. It was only about a mile and a half away. When we got there,
The women’s marathon had been new territory. We all had been tentative and unsure. But the men’s marathon would be different. Everyone knew exactly what to expect. Also, we would be wide awake. The plan was about the same, only we allowed an extra hour for traffic. We shouldn’t have worried; we arrived at the
Almost immediately, a truck appeared to begin collecting barricades. Traffic was flowing freely again within five minutes. Workmen appeared to reset gates and take down decorations. They would be needed again next Sunday for the Men’s Marathon. The marshals gathered for a round of self-congratulations and to wait for transportation back to the RAND Corporation.