A harmonica? The thing’s only four inches long! All kinds of notes are missing! Harp players have to show up with a briefcase full of different keys, just to play! They’re so tinny and shrill! So why would a serious musician ever choose the harmonica to play music on? Admittedly, this is good question. But […]
A Full-Tilt Tribute to the 1896 Harmonica Read More »
Though I was eager to get back to The World and shed my fatigues, even before I was cut loose I felt grateful for my Army years. But I clearly didn’t belong in the Army or aspire to make a career of it, and during my tenure with the battalion, I had made this plain
Stars and Stripes Forever Read More »
For the average person, engaging in some light conversion is enjoyable. For me, it’s akin to torture. That might seem like a gross exaggeration, but it’s the truth. I know that it will not get easier if I simply avoid it, so I force myself into conversation several times each day. Whether I’m asking a
Why Introverts Should Write Read More »
My editor has written me the following: “College is now irrelevant to anyone with a good mind who knows what he wants from life. Higher Education is now just a place for group socialization or for those who need to be given discipline and direction. Digital platforms have democratized knowledge.” It seemed to me I’d
Johnny’s Wonton Shopping Trip: A Letter to My Editor Read More »
“Widespread frost expected,” warns the forecaster. It’s past sunset. We’ve already had a morning of shimmering windshields. Hauling containers full of fragile plants into shelter for the night takes a lot of effort, and for what few days until the next crystalline visit. So, I decide to take my chances by draping everything in old
I’m about to commit a sacrilege. Read on out of sheer, audacious curiosity, or safely avert your eyes. It’s all the same to me. Friends in Alaska, Puget Sound, the Midwest, and the East Coast brace yourselves. Here goes: The winter sun in Colorado stares everyone in the eyes. It’s a cheer monger. A brilliant
Celebrating in the Dark Read More »