Champion

“I remember,” he said. “Yeah, I remember.” He leaned into the engine compartment of his old pickup. By old we’re talking decades, a 1985 model now well into the twenty first century. That’s old. Trouble started with the misfiring of a couple cylinders. He didn’t know how many. He didn’t know which ones, but he…

The Second Fire

Prometheus brought fire to the earth we are told and lo, the Gods punished him, because Gods are wealthy and jealous of power. There’s a second fire we can bestow, if only we dare. The fire of love. Gods are wealthy and jealous of power. They seek to punish. We must beware. Reckless and heedless…

Memo

The darkness used to be ignorance. Now it’s technology. Every time I see a person walking down the street with head down and their eyes glued to a screen, I know they’re illiterate. ƒ

Hooks for Hands

He lost them by accident. One false move, one unguarded moment and he burned. They cut off what was left and right and fitted him with steel actuated by cables, attached to his shoulders by leather straps.   I found him smiling, greeting children and ringing the bell in a parade, having his picture taken…

Musicianship

Ever seen those guys playing their music? Rock and roll, rhythm and blues, classical or jazz.   It doesn’t matter what. They jive. They play their music. They listen to each other, fall in and out, nod and smile.   Ever seen those guys playing their politics? Can’t hit a single note. Got no rhythm.…

Intrepidity

A woman is singing at a banquet. Over one thousand people are eating and talking and no one can see the head table without binoculars. There is so much noise. The woman is singing at a banquet. She’s getting paid. She has a microphone. She loves music. It doesn’t matter. No one is listening. The…

Con Ve Nience

I am the great God Con Ve Nience. Sacrifice to Me. Give Me everything. Sacrifice your time in the hunger for more time. Give to Me your treasure in the thirst for more treasure. Sacrifice quality, craftsmanship, reliability, dependability, durability and endurance for the sake of Me, always Me and Myself. I am Con Ve…

Ripping

In the old days a man faced a six foot plank with a rip saw and he wanted two planks so he began. He marked the plank with a ruler and a pencil and he drew a line where he wanted to saw and he began. He began to saw all the way down that…

Smoking

It isn’t really about the nicotine or the tars and resins. It isn’t about the warnings. It’s really about the snap of the lighter when you shut it, the placement of the flame so close to your face, the first wraith of smoke ascending into the air like your life and the love you feel…

Cut the Power

They cut the power today to work on the lines. The computer went off. The lights went off. The refrigerator went off. The garage door wouldn’t open. I wanted to mow the yard. The door has a release. I opened it by hand. When it happens you learn a few things. You learn how important…