Bravery One early spring night, my father told me to follow him down into the basement.  He opened up several drawers which held some cash and a few keys.  He took the keys out and told me what each one opened what drawer or box, including something called a “deposit box” in the bank.  “Remember what I am telling you,” he stressed several times. “Why are you telling me this?”  I was becoming...

Dollar Spree When I was in college in the sixties, one of my dorm buddies and I were watching the news showing American dead on the tarmac in Vietnam.  Stan suddenly said, “This is too sanitized.   We’re sitting here munching on popcorn and drinking chocolate milk watching kids our age die.  The Vietcong should invade San Francisco.  Then the powers that be will end the...

Junk I saw the giant blue and red monster truck rumble down my street and slowly back into my driveway.  The Just Junksters were here and they lowered the massive pod onto the black surface where our car was usually parked.  Hours seemed to go by before two burly young men, men whose muscles had muscles, exited the cab and introduced themselves.  Polite as can be. “Yes, sir. ...

The New Normal First, a disclaimer.  I know compared to many others, I am very fortunate.  I am retired.  I can stay inside and try to insulate myself from the Corona virus without too much disruption of my life.  I have not suddenly found myself unemployed, through no fault of my own, with children to raise and now to tutor, worrying over how to pay my bills.  This...

One Person's Guide to Watching Murder Mysteries on Television One Man’s Guide to Watching Murder Mysteries on Television It is so interesting how one market closes because of a crisis, and another market opens up so quickly because of that same crisis.  The media…..all media…is filled with warnings about contracting the corona virus.  When I was eleven, I and my eleven year old...