A Short Story… The old Union Station in downtown Tacoma with it’s 90 foot tall celling constantly called to Clyde. His grandfather had told him about the history of the station as well as the beauty. Clyde had been detained for six months for some reason, but now he was free to do almost whatever […]
To Ponder
Plant your Christmas Tree in 2025
Submitted by Greg Alderete. Harvesting Christmas trees in a way that allows them to be replanted offers numerous environmental, economic, and cultural benefits. Traditional cut trees, while biodegradable, are often discarded after the holidays, contributing to waste. Alternatively, live, potted Christmas trees can be replanted, turning a short-lived decoration into a long-term environmental asset. Replanted […]
Desmond and Willie Working Together
A Short Story… Both leaders had good points to make, but it was really hard to choose who was actually on top of the best ideas. They never competed face to face. They both were the person in charge or their particular area. Desmond was just known as Mr. Desmond, while Willie was usually referred […]
Letter: Where the Road Leads
The road that could be seen from Paul McCartney’s window was a very real pathway that inspired the Beatles’ last No.1 hit, “The Long And Winding Road.” It is a road, wrote McCartney, “associated with terrific sadness and also a sense of hope. It is a road that leads to somewhere you never expected.” When […]
Let’s Talk! – Corn Fields in All Directions
Are you ready to switch off your screens and ponder or discuss another writing/conversation prompt from my friend Tyrean Martinson’s book? Here’s my take on it. I grew up in a Southwestern German city-suburb with a decidedly rural vibe. The village of barely 6,000 inhabitants was surrounded by agricultural land. One of my classmates in […]
Nothing Goes Together Like Red and Blue
A Short Story… We’re not talking about flags or uniforms, we’re talking about “looks.” Looks can bring actions to a standstill. It always depends upon the wearer, the garments, and the attitude they share. Jeanie had the style that attracted and took a hold of both men and women. She had the walk, the movements, […]
Letter: Act by January 8, to let the Washington AG know that public records are important
Friends, today we widen our field of vision beyond Lakewood. We write today about open government in all of Washington. At the least, I hope this column educates you about work to keep government healthy and open. And perhaps some of you may write to the Attorney General by a deadline of Wednesday. Jan. 8, […]
Letter: Finding Love at Trader Joe’s
Submitted by Diane Tilstra. The aisles were crowded at Trader Joe’s but the sunshine streaming through the windows made me feel warm and happy. Sunshine does that to me. Suddenly my basket collided with another shopper in the sea of people scrambling for good deals. I looked up to see a tall elderly man with […]
Across the Fence: Katzenjammer
It’s quite astonishing what kind of Germanisms have made it into the English language – and what change of meaning they sometimes undergo in the process. Today’s term I want to dissect is Katzenjammer (pronounce: ‘cut-sen-yum-muh, i.e. cats wailing or cat lament). Now, if you have some awful sounds in mind, that pretty much nails […]