Today, I have chosen a Germanism in the English Language that touches on psychology as well as sociology. It is called Verstehen (pronounce: fair-shtay-enn, meaning understanding). Very obviously, it goes beyond the mere hearing of what somebody else is saying. It is not a physical event but a motivated psychological one. Now, what does that […]
To Ponder
The Elephant in the Closet
A Short Story… Eddie had been having a good time. Although he hadn’t been doing too much, he was looking at the week and a half as a reward for not screwing up a number of things. He sat back in his favorite living room chair, relaxing with a bottle of beer on the small […]
Letter: Every Minute of Every Hour
My plane arrived exactly twelve minutes after ten. In commemoration of my arrival, she set the hands of the old clock on the mantle at exactly that hour and minute as a forever reminder of the first time we would meet in person. Previously we had spent tens-of-hours facetiming and laugh now that if we […]
The Gringo and the Taco – George and Nancy Come Together
A Short Story… George had maybe three days or three days and a half to entertain himself before starting back to classes at the University of Washington. So far he had touristy purchases in Arizona, but nothing of value. He was kinda on vacation and kinda searching for information and details of the past. He […]
Letter: A Gloomy Holiday
Submitted by Paul Nimmo. I have heard a lot about this being a gloomy holiday. At first I thought people were talking about an economic forecast. It was also safe to say it is about our late fall/early winter weather. But in driving around Lakewood retail areas, primarily the Towne Centre, that there are no […]
A Story of Christmas Presents
A Short Story… It was darn near Christmas Eve. Most of the Christmas presents had been wrapped or sent out. I was about to relax sitting in my rocking chair just a across the room from our cozy fireplace when I realized aside from a few books she asked for, I had nothing on hand […]
Choosing the Road Taken – Compiled by Peg Doman
After being introduced, I stepped up to the microphone and addressed the audience. “It is so nice to see all of you all here this morning. It’s not often that I get to speak to anyone about my early life! Here’s a story I think you’ll like.” “I think I had just turned sixteen. I […]
Let’s Talk! – It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
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. Can you hear this waltz faintly playing at the background of whatever you are currently thinking? Because it is such an earworm? It’s the most wonderful time of the […]
Mr. Trilore’s Educational Problem – Noah
A Short Story… Some teachers don’t care about their students. They, like some regular workers around the world, only care about getting paid and don’t really care about the students in their charge. Mr. Trilore, a local teacher, cared . . . and because he cared, he wanted to get through to his charges and […]