The old man was a lifer in the US Army and stationed at Ft Lewis, as such when it was time to get groceries we always went to the Commissary. Mom always did the deed when I was in school, but in the summertime, she drag me with her unless she stopped on the way […]
Kid Life 1965-ish; The Flocked Christmas Tree
“Come Liebchen, we’re going to go get a tree. Put on some clean clothes!” She said. It was a declaration, not a statement. She said it with authority. A rare thing, that, the authority thing, especially when it came to a topic that was not generally hers to make declarations about like goin’ to get […]
Kid Life; They Took Her Away Again
Kid Life, They took her away again… “Did you wipe your feet?” she asked as soon as I entered the living room. I’d come in the back door. Such was my routine when comin’ home from school. After traipsin’ through the kitchen, passed the washer and dryer, the kitchen table and then into the living […]
Kid Life; Kebo’s Big Boy circa mid 1970’s
This story was originally posted in late May of this year on the “You Know You’re From Lakewood” Facebook site. There was a kindness in his eyes. The sort of thing that led you to believe that when he spoke, it would be the sound of kindness. Or timid. A softer shade of human comes […]
Kid Life; 1965-ish, The Waiting Room/Lobby
“Do I have to go, too?” Simple question. Seems there’s adult stuff to do that requires being accompanied by the kid of the family. “Yes” she said with a word and a look. “Now go wash and put on clean clothes.” No reason to fuss no more, only thing to do was comply. Fair enough. […]
Lamenting In The Hot
98° and rising on this, the 26th of June in 2021. Temps in the next few days will hit 105° or maybe a tad higher. Odd that for the PNW, especially this early in summertime. I left the comfort of A/C in our rental home and sat my aging self down in a lawn chair […]
Kid Life, North Fort Lewis. Blanks…
“What da ya wanna do?” Could a been any given day in the life of kid when those words were said. “Let’s go to the store!” “Nah, I ain’t got no money…” Boredumb was, and has always been a challenge for a kid. Yes boredumb. Ain’t a mis-spell. Doin’ what ya often did before sometimes […]
Wrinkle Ranchin’, Adult Life 2021
“Do you like bar-b-q’d chicken”? she asked. The she is my partner in life. She’s an adorable 64 year old with the heart & soul of a saint, but a fading memory akin to that of a gnat. I thought she was bullshittin’ me, so I asked. “No” she said. “I hate when people bullshit […]