Monthly Archives: September 2023

Rocket Richard- a tall white-haired thin man wearing blue jeans, a cowboy hat and a Dallas Cowboys jersey strolls into the depot wondering what work train he will work as a brakeman. Rocket has 35 years as a brakeman and … Continue reading →

Watching others is generally great entertainment. Except today. I watched a couple sit on a small bench without speaking a word. Usually there’s animated conversation while you wait. Couples share the day’s news, argue about things and complain about the … Continue reading →

I attended (online) an Author Talk with Amor Towles. I found his description of his writing process so fascinatingly thoughtful, I immediately realized I had to share it with my dedicated writing friends. Here’s the link: https://libraryc.org/lanepl/31896/544015

Sandy was tired of her world. Drudging to the overworked menial office job she hated left her little time for a life. And more and more her friends peeled off after getting married and having kids, leaving her alone on her hellish daily treadmill.  The nightmare of dating … Continue reading →

Most of us have had the experience of hearing a song that suddenly transports us to some other time and place. I find this happening to me frequently. Without any warning, a few chords will trigger memories of sights, sounds, … Continue reading →

“No!” he declares vehemently.  “I will not say No to them!” “No, you won’t say No?” she replies incredulously.  “That doesn’t make sense!  It’s a double-negative.  Surely you mean Yes, you won’t say No.” “No, I don’t mean Yes!” he … Continue reading →

Early Saturday morning on a cloudy day, Dana- a petite lady pulls her 1967 red Covair with white convertible top up our concrete driveway and stops in front of our house. The white house with green shutters stands out in … Continue reading →

As I look back on the events of the last three days, I still can’t believe how fast my life has spiraled out of control. Everyone says a deal is a deal and once made, there is no going back. … Continue reading →

George- You captured the homo-erotic interspecies tensions perfectly in your last piece- “Irreconcilable Differences”. It all ends tragically of course in smoke and fire- as it should. Smoke and ashes represent the mystery of life. Tragic, unrequited love is the … Continue reading →

A nickel could buy a nice piece of candy in the 50s. I had narrowed down the choice between a pack of bubble gum cigarettes or Turkish taffy. It was a real honey of a choice, spending the nickel I … Continue reading →

I was in the bar in the new adult community I recently move to nursing my Jack Daniels and watching the game when I overheard the strangest conversation. “Are you a pineapple?” the man said. “I’m a green pineapple,” the … Continue reading →

Johnny Carver, a mid-sized tobacco chewing cowboy in his 20’s was excited because he was attending the Denvo Stock Show this cold breezy Saturday evening in January 2020. Also, his beautiful red-haired petite girlfriend named Carol Moore was going to … Continue reading →

Louis was very independent. He tolerated people but he was careful to avoid any intimacy. People were too emotional and unpredictable. They also were too demanding. They want to control your life. Even Louis’ new  roommate, Harold, had all of … Continue reading →

Brilliant hues of yellow, orange, and red pierced the evening sky, turning it from black to a faded purple. Such a beautiful and terrifying sight for all to see, but no one was there to bear witness. The neighborhood was … Continue reading →

These are frightening times for writers everywhere. It’s not just Hollywood writers who are threatened. It’s all of us. I foresee a time in the near future when the Pelican Pens writers group will be nothing but a club for … Continue reading →

Note: This is a continuation of last week’s story – Rule 30. With ideas of green ink, government paper and presidential profiles swirling in my head, I’m ready to get to work uncovering Carrington’s plot. I rush through the newsroom … Continue reading →

The three railroaders, Scooter Harris- Conductor, Bubba Walsh- Engineer, and Rocket Richard- Brakeman were finishing up laying down rail along Main 1 track in Rubber Canyon. Rail Supervisor John Morris speaking on the train radio channel 70, “CRSL 6027 Conductor … Continue reading →

The northbound freight train carrying 30 gasoline, 25 diesel, 30 grain, and 40 inhalation hazard cars click and clack as they shift back and forth while sliding smoothly into the monument mountain siding. At the same time, Scooter Harris- conductor … Continue reading →

I’m not saying my parents were superstitious, but the one phrase I heard over and over growing up was, “Everything happens in threes.” If someone in the family died, there appeared to be unofficial odds makers taking bets on who … Continue reading →

good things come in threes—- like lines in haiku poems, making us happy good things come in threes—- like the start, middle, and end of a good story good things come in threes—- like triplets identical, instant family good things … Continue reading →

Avi Loeb was soon to come to the podium to present the biggest news in this or any century. CNN had been broadcasting live drone shots of Avi driving about Boston for the last couple hours. He apparently had a … Continue reading →

Sometimes being right is an overwhelming burden to bear. But I knew something about this case stunk like a bad fish and Limberger cheese sandwich. They sell those at the food cart down the block from my newspaper, the News … Continue reading →