People of a certain age will recall the title from a popular radio drama that became a film noir classic with Barbara Stanwyck as the damsel/wife in distress and Burt Lancaster as the spouse with mayhem on his mind. You can also dial "M For Murder" with the same theme: the telephone as a nefarious … Continue reading SORRY, WRONG NUMBER – By GARRY ARMSTRONG
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SMILING FACES, SOUR CHERRIES – Marilyn Armstrong
Bad days are like sour cherries. Even in a great batch of fruit, you hit some duds. As you munch, you're going to get some berries that are overripe, sour, or bitter. You bite into them, make a face, and put them aside. You don't eat them because they don't taste good. Life is like this. Day … Continue reading SMILING FACES, SOUR CHERRIES – Marilyn Armstrong
HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLE BLUE EYES – GARRY ARMSTRONG
It's Frank Sinatra's 104th birthday. Somewhere, Sinatra and his pals are smiling and ordering another round of the good stuff. I recall another Sinatra birthday celebration. 1962. It was a very good year. '62 was the year JFK met with a group of young reporters and told us we were making history. I'm not sure we … Continue reading HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLE BLUE EYES – GARRY ARMSTRONG
A NOSE JOB FOR MOM – Marilyn Armstrong
I don't remember how many times my mother told me this story, or how many times I have told it to you. It bears retelling. My mother, like many young women of her generation, had wanted to attend high school. And college. But the family was poor, and there were many mouths to feed. In … Continue reading A NOSE JOB FOR MOM – Marilyn Armstrong
FIRST, FORGIVE YOURSELF AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW – Marilyn Armstrong
One Sunday in church, Pastor's sermon was about forgiveness. He asked everyone in the church to stand up. Then he asked those who had any enemies to sit down. Everyone sat down but one very old woman. "You have no enemies at all?" asked Pastor. "Not a single one," she answered, nodding her agreement. "Please, come up … Continue reading FIRST, FORGIVE YOURSELF AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW – Marilyn Armstrong
REGRETS, I’VE HAD A FEW – Rich Paschall
But Then Again, Why Mention? by Rich Paschall We all have regrets, that's for sure. You can not lead a life without them. You may regret that first stumble and fall, if you remember it at all. You may regret dropping that toy. You may regret letting go of that balloon. You may regret throwing … Continue reading REGRETS, I’VE HAD A FEW – Rich Paschall
WALLOWING IN THE PAST – Marilyn Armstrong
An endless recitation of woes are giving me migraines. It's not that I lack sympathy. More like I'm emotionally exhausted. So many people are stuck in a pit of youthful misery. Bad childhoods, terrifying ex-marriages or other horrible relationships. Or worse, they want to write. They need to write, but they can't. The words won't … Continue reading WALLOWING IN THE PAST – Marilyn Armstrong
