In 1985 I joined the Navy. After a 14 week stint at Aviation Officer Candidate School (“An Officer and a Gentleman”), I began pilot training. Military life was a different world in all sorts of ways (I still fold my…
Proof of life
At the fold of the sky and infinite sea, Stooped and beholden in search of the key, Hunting out clues to a purposeful puzzle, The Scribner intently refuses the muzzle, Dead eager to act and driven past reason, Fueled by…
Walking the road; saying goodbye to the VW bus
According to the radio, the VW bus – or mini-van or Vanagon, depending on one’s era – will no longer be built anywhere in the world. Brazil, the last manufacturing hold out, recently announced that they were ceasing production of…
Breathe life
Life’s simple gift unexpected, Age’s reward overdue, No fanfare of Angels’ direction, Package bequeathed with a clue. No need to be hidden in secret, Transparent of motive or strife, A baby’s first lesson from daddy, Look up; raise head; breathe…
Effortless proficiency
Increasingly effective use of cognition is essentially proportional to effort until thought travels to the hidden back side of reasoning’s circle where effort mysteriously vanishes. What seconds earlier took tremendous concentration and effort suddenly flows with unimpeded focus even while…
No need to panic
The Internet was out this morning. So was the phone and cable. Only in these exceedingly rare moments of blissful disconnection (once the initial panic subsides) do I seem able to connect with the only person that matters, or at…
Ghosts of the corridor
To be unseen, everywhere an outsider, at home only with ghosts abandoned long ago in the deepest recesses of secret holds. Time is the difference, bringing closer the once imagined, but now understood to be real spirits that prowl the…
Keeping it real
Have you ever attempted to count the number of times over the course of a day when asked, “How are you?” I haven’t yet, but I think I will tomorrow. Why? Most everyone rely on a canned response to this…
Running in sand
Run fast; try to pass quickly, nimbly, but in the recurring multi-dimensional purgatory of the ailment, of my ailment, it is not possible to clear feet of the drag of thousands of emotionless grains of thought, each cognitive morsel bogging…
Veteran’s Day
Being a combat veteran is not simple. A personal incident from several months ago comes to mind as an illustration. Please let me explain. I had been invited to a dinner sponsored by the Northwest chapter of the Intruder Association…