Sure, I once ran a 10.9 hundred-yard dash in 10th grade—pretty good for a white Jewish kid from Cleveland Heights High School. Another amazing phenomenon: my wife and I hiked from Taos to Santa Fe and to an elevation of 13,000 feet…above the clouds. Now, I love the confidence of a good old-fashioned railing…pretty smart … Read more
Cindy is an adorable baby doll that has been with my wife forever. Now, I’ve adopted her! Dressed in her original bathrobe and bunting, her age and being loved too hard have rendered her eyeless. Cindy has always been around… My wife would say, “Cindy is watching you…” Pretty spooky huh? Cindy found her way … Read more
Therapeutic catharsis opens my soul as I put pencil to paper. Confessing, purging, healing, and expanding my horizons—the mind-blowing benefits that I derive from writing. Besides helping me learn through investigation and research, it exercises my old brain cells that need constant maintenance. Like physical workouts that develop the osteo, cardio, and muscular components of … Read more
It’s all in the eye of the beholder. What is normal? What does upside down mean or its corollary—right side up? Left or right? In reference to what? … the observer or the creator? So, what’s the Metaverse? It’s that strange place that exists somewhere—but where? I’ll bet my 11-year-old granddaughter, Chloe, can tell you; … Read more
Well, it has been over twelve hours since the Buckeye’s sad loss—time to move on. After all, my sixteen-year-old granddaughter, Aliyah, is awestruck by the new prospects, the hope, and the opportunity, that 2023 offers. “It’s a fresh start,” she says, “with so many possibilities!” The wonderment of a child is so pure, and as … Read more
Man, those were good times—free as a bird. President of BAT, short for Beta Alpha Tau, that prodigious high school fraternity—been around for almost 100 years. Great traditions and kids who would become masters of the universe in their professions: college presidents, doctors, businessmen, lawyers, professors, and now me—Steven, the Army Ranger Delta Force wannabe. … Read more
Really, it’s not a game… it’s a culture—more than that—a legacy, handed down from generation to generation. Yes—even family before us! L’dor, v’dor. Seated in alphabetical order in Señorita Gonzales’s Spanish class is where it all began—where I met Terri. “But for Ohio State.” Two amazing sons, daughters-in-law, and five astounding grandchildren later—celebrating our heritage … Read more
I am a pantser. Unlike with Google Maps, my destination is superfluous. I don’t need to know where I’m going when embarking on a writing adventure—just need to write. “Put the damn pencil to paper, and everything else will take care of itself!” I tell myself. “Just enjoy the ride.” As a runner, I found … Read more
The process of writing is unique to every author. Like artists—with their special paints, paper, and brushes—writers use whatever makes them comfortable. Stephen King swears by #2 pencils. Neil Gaiman loves his Waterman fountain pen—even changes the color every day. Simone de Beauvoir was infatuated with the Schaefer Snorkel pen. Me… like my hero, King, … Read more
What is the written word? It can be anything—the Bible or a stop sign. Does it tell a story or send a message? It really doesn’t matter because the writer and the reader may have altered perspectives. Like with the visual arts, the creation and the creator may be in a different metaverse. Likewise, the … Read more