Only six-thirty, the old mantle clock read, but he was already tired. The half-hour chiming would, within mere minutes, stir him from his reverie. The man – his age reflected in greying temples and permanent laugh lines etched and pronounced, his eyes crinkling at the corners when he smiled – gazed up at an angle […]
To Ponder
Letter: Go Gently
There’s an ancient proverb that flat out states, “The blessing of the Lord makes rich and he adds no sorrow to it” (Proverbs 10:22). At face value, that’s just flat out wrong. There is no such thing as blessing without brokenness. There isn’t. Life is not a fairy tale. We don’t live this life without […]
“Taking Leave” a play for all of us
I’m going to share this upcoming play at Dukesbay Theater before I forget about the . . . the a . . . now where was I? Many of us as we grow older get more forgetful. Worrying about it makes it worse. The play “Taking Leave” gives us much to be concerned about but […]
Let’s Talk! – Marshmallows Melting in Hot Cocoa
What a typical American concept, I thought as I read this prompt from Tyrean Martinson’s book. Marshmallows and hot cocoa. Maybe, these days, it’s something common for kids in Germany as well. In my childhood I knew marshmallows and I knew hot cocoa – but they never came together. Hot cocoa is an item of […]
Letter: Saying Goodbye
It is never easy – much more like gut-wrenching misery – to say goodbye to someone you love. The promise of love is like the spring sun that warms the earth where late-fall bulbs were planted. Responding from beneath the soil little green sprouts suddenly appear and excitement builds for the intricate beauty of what […]
In the Book Nook with … Becky Garrison
Author Becky Garrison from Greater Portland, Oregon, has been a professional writer since 1994 with experience in nonfiction book, magazine, and online writing. She received a dual MDiv/MSW degree from Yale Divinity School/Columbia University in 1992, a background that led her to write about the rise of secular spirituality, religious satire, and faith & politics, […]
A “Welcome Wagon” meeting at Lakewood Rotary
My longtime friend Donn Irwin contacted me about visiting Lakewood Rotary. He knew my wife Peggy and I love theatre. The reason for the invitation was because the program speaker was to be Joseph Walsh, the new Lakewood Playhouse Director. We jumped at the chance. The noon meeting was held at the Tacoma Country & […]
Letter: And I Think to Myself, What a Wonderful World
My writing desk is surrounded by joy. There’s the latest drawing by my granddaughter depicting her conception of her picture being taken by her mother, whose outstretched cell phone captures both their biggest-grin faces, and both – accurately drawn – with lots of hair. “And that’s you grandpa,” she said, pointing to the stick figure […]
Part 5, Last season in the sun
Submitted by Paul Nimmo. In the previous chapter it was noted that my son lost his Junior year of High School Baseball, but his New Level Team was very active that Summer. However, that was not the only team Ethan played on. Ethan played for Lakes High School in a summer development League. This allowed […]