Monthly Archives: May 2023

New Year’s resolutions are an utter failure. Before you stop reading this in anticipation of a soul crushing attack on weak willed humans, consider this- perhaps it’s OK to start off the year with lofty goals, but reset these to … Continue reading →

(For those of you who would prefer a more feel-good story) “Grandpa, Mom told me you can make music with a comb. She was joking, right?” “Nope, she was telling you the truth. My dad, Billy, who is your great-grandpa, … Continue reading →

The roar of motorcycle engines echoed through the normally quiet valley, alerting the villagers to the potential chaos about to arrive. Most residents hoped the riders would pass through without stopping, but a few waited anxiously for them to arrive. … Continue reading →

In response to the word-puzzle prompt, I’ve excerpted from and repurposed a chapter from one of my earlier novels, First, Do No Harm. Jack Lambert called Sheila Forbes at home, fearful she’d be out, relieved when she picked up the … Continue reading →

Below is a press release from the Gulf Coast Writers Association. An active-voice rewrite follows. FORT MYERS, FL., March 27, 2023–A writing contest open to the general public including adults and youth was announced today by the Gulf Coast Writers … Continue reading →

John’s alarm clock beams loud like a firecracker in his ear. “What, I can’t hear, where am I? I am deaf like an old lady on roller skates who passes through a crossing as the policeman blows his whistle at … Continue reading →

I spotted the tiny flashing red light on the third shelf between “Macbeth” and “Me Talk Pretty One Day”. I wondered how Mary came to this mysterious pairing. I smiled and shouted out to Mary, working in the kitchen-  “You … Continue reading →

Jean thought dating Todd required a PHD in contrarian. Despite their seven years as a couple, she still found herself constantly shaking her head like a bobble head doll about their relationship. He complained he missed her when she worked … Continue reading →

I can count the number of times I have been drunk on one hand. And if you open my refrigerator in the middle of May, you are guaranteed to find a few chocolate bars leftover from Halloween. But don’t get … Continue reading →

“Yes, they are!” the lissome, young woman declared, annoyed at her friend for contradicting her.  “They’re a pair o’ Docs!”  Indeed, the shiny-new, black Doc Martens that graced her small feet proved the truth of her words.  “You’re as stubborn … Continue reading →

I saw him moving his mouth but somehow he sounded like a muffled voice coming from deep inside a trash can. My mind was in another, safer place. I decided he reminded me of Frank Reagan, the NYC chief of … Continue reading →

Several years ago my  lady friend Gigi, who is French, and I took a trip to Sydney Australia.  We decided while vacationing it might be fun to take a cooking class.  The 1st hour was a demonstration on how to … Continue reading →

“How did you like the story, Sam? Is it the way you thought it would go? I tried to mimic your writing style. “The story is phenomenal, much better than anything I could have written, and that’s the problem. I … Continue reading →

To Carolyn, being single was both a gift and a burden. She hated sharing absolutely every space 24/7, feeling suffocated and trapped, but she liked having someone to cheer good days and help cry in her wine on bad ones. … Continue reading →

This is not my writing. It is a Washington Post Opinion piece by Rick Reilly that I simply must share, based on today’s discussion of pickleball. I found his argument persuasive… ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “I’m 65 now, which means that, according to … Continue reading →

The Green Beans of Doom The time had come for Arthur to meet the mother-in-law, Edna. Though I was only five at the time, I knew even then that the meeting of this small, hairy, bespectacled Jewish lawyer from New … Continue reading →

The sun rises on a Thursday morning in the spring of 2022. All 6 players descend on court #3 at Colonial Preserve for an 8:30 AM court time for 2 hours. Bobby Frank, a short stocky actively working middle-aged dude … Continue reading →

My nana was to the kitchen like a honey bee to a flower. She happily buzzed around her warm yellow domain to fill our plates with love. The tang of simmering sauerkraut assaulted our senses upon entering the front door … Continue reading →

I found the marker in the rocky soil. It was the usual day- cloudy with a light mist in the air. The wind was a steady 15 knots out of the northeast blowing in the cold North Atlantic air over … Continue reading →

“So, this is what I get for trusting you.” The vitriol oozed from Cain’s words. His eyes burned with hate as he glared into her gold-flecked orbs. All he needed to do was pay attention, but that was something he … Continue reading →

I wish I had paid more attention when the annual Queen’s birthday celebration had arrived in late-May, the first long weekend of the year.  With it had come the customary rites of spring, traditions that herald the soon-to-be-arriving summer holiday … Continue reading →

In 1969 I was a pharmacy student at Temple University in Philadelphia.  After 3 years of undergrad I was enrolled in another 3 years of pharmacy school.  During that time there were 3 women in the class and I hooked … Continue reading →

Johnny Jenerette, a small boy in his early teens moved to Ped Rock, Colorado in 1998. Johnny’s father Hal was a concrete plant manager who received a promotion with Haligon Industries which had concrete plants all over the world. Johnny … Continue reading →

The voice was calm and assured- “You are 1.5 miles from your destination and you will arrive in 3 minutes. Turn right into the parking lot”. I had to admit, modern technology was amazing. I had just Googled “Tell me … Continue reading →