“Tony, you don’t have any money … how are you going to take Jill to
the fair?” asked my friend Greg.
Greg was talking about the Arkansas - Oklahoma State Fair in Fort
Smith, Arkansas. It’s Fort Smith’s version of the Mid-South Fair with
all the rides, food, side shows, and games of no chance. Greg and I
were in [...]
Takahashi Sensei was my martial arts instructor and a Buddhist Monk.
When I met him I lived in a small town, small by Japanese standards,
called Owariasahishi.
Takahashi Sensei, about 68 years old when I met him, was also the Abbot
of the Buddhist monastery that was practically next door to me. I had
to walk past the monastery everyday [...]
If you’re on Facebook you probably have some of the same kinds of friends that I do. On Monday their status updates are full of negative and downer talk.
(If you’re NOT on Facebook, a “status update” is a way for you to tell your friends something about your day or your life. Some people update [...]
I used to be a super-hero. I possessed a super power. It’s true.
I didn’t have a cool suit with a cape or anything. And quite frankly, my powers were a little limited. Let me tell you about those super powers and how I used them for evil. (I didn’t say that I was a good [...]
As a high school teacher I attended a lot of graduation exercises. Commencement speeches, usually delivered by some successful and/or famous person, are notorious for following a certain formula.
1. Congratulate the graduates.
2. Commend them for their hard work.
3. Challenge them with the need for their contribution to our country.
4. Motivate them [...]
It was about 2 AM when the bus came to an eery stop.
I heard the air brakes make that sound that says “done, all done.” I felt the vibration of the engine stop. It was all quiet.
We had crossed a small bridge about 10 minutes earlier. The tinted windows offered nothing to see [...]
I set a record in high school.
It still stands!
No, it’s not “most number of times sent to detention.”
It’s not “most number of times rejected by the homecoming queen.”
I set a swimming record in the 100 yard freestyle.
I played all the manly sports that involved a ball: football and basketball. Not baseball. That’s a game that [...]
She was pretty.
Prettier than those she was with.
But I knew she was trouble from the instant I laid eyes on her.
I wanted to meet her, but there were barriers both real and social.
I went through a middle man. He arranged the meeting. I was too chicken to approach her without someone to [...]
I wasn’t expecting anything profound.
There are TV shows that I really like, and a few that I’ve learned to like. “Grey’s Anatomy” is one of those I learned to like.
Ordinarily this hospital melodrama wouldn’t have appealed to me. Too much “McDreamy” and “McSteamy” makes me a little “McQueasy.” But “Grey’s Anatomy” was a [...]
I was standing in line at the grocery store the other day, doing what we all do. I was looking around at the stuff to buy on impulse. It’s usually junk you don’t need.
Tabloids and gossip magazines with their titillating headlines. Usually filled with information about people and things I don’t know about or don’t [...]