The phone rang. The caller ID flashed, showing one of Boston’s two major newspapers. I figured it was the sales department. I handed the phone to Marilyn. I heard Marilyn respond “yes” several times and was puzzled. We didn’t need… Read More ›
anecdote
HALLWAYS OF MEMORY
Every night, I fill up my cup, grab my bag of medications, give the Duke his nighttime treats, and hike the hallway to the bedroom at the other end of the house. After arriving, I put the bag where it… Read More ›
SAYING NO TO BULLETS: THE FIRST TIME – BY ELLIN CURLEY
This is one of the funnier old family stories. My family believes that it documents the first time being a conscientious objector was used as a rationale to get out of military service. The concept didn’t exist in World War… Read More ›
WHAT A SHOCK! – Marilyn Armstrong
You think you know someone. You hang out with them, exchange emails, jokes, and anecdotes. Maybe you even work with them. Then, one day, out of the blue, you discover they are fundamentalist Christians who believe you are going to… Read More ›
NOT GETTING A NOSE JOB – 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 especially since racism and bigotry are the words of the month and maybe, the year…. Read More ›
DAY OF THE MONARCHS – Marilyn Armstrong
We named our little sailboat Gwaihir, the wind lord. Really, she was a wind lady and the name was a bit pretentious for such a tiny boat. Somehow, I thought it would be a lucky name. She was a 16-foot Soling with a centerboard. She drew a… Read More ›
BLACK LIKE ME – RICH PASCHALL
From the battleground, by Rich Paschall My father’s parents, my grandparents, were from rural Tennessee. They lived in Weakley County and their town was Martin. They were farmers but after World War II life there was hard and they moved… Read More ›
GIVING UP, NOT IN – Marilyn Armstrong
I almost quit any number of times. I didn’t smoke a lot. Less than a pack a day and eventually I got it down to five or six a day and sometimes less. The problem with cigarettes is that one… Read More ›
EXTRACTION FROM THE MIRE OF THE PAST – Marilyn Armstrong
The endless recitation of woes on blogs I used to enjoy is giving me a headache. It’s not a lack of personal sympathy. It’s more like emotional exhaustion. So many people seem to be stuck in the mire of misery… Read More ›
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOUR NICKEL WAS MINTED? By Marilyn Armstrong
I picked up the only coin I have larger than a penny. I used to have coins in my wallet. These days, I never have anything except a few odd pennies. Why is that? It isn’t even that I pay… Read More ›
SORRY, WRONG NUMBER – By GARRY ARMSTRONG
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… Read More ›
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… Read More ›
