Fred Myers

Fred Myers, born and raised in rural Indiana, lives in Alabama. Trained in agriculture at Purdue University, an inner voice caused him to spurn the usual employment track and become a writer and photographer. Despite the lack of formal training and experience in both disciplines, he spent the next thirty-one years in a myriad of mostly agriculturally related corporate and freelance experiences. He achieved a high level of success serving as writer, journalist, editor, and photographer. Next, he published a series of popular guides for cruising boaters to earn a national reputation in that recreational niche. Most recently, a brief incident while vacationing in Nova Scotia caused him to venture into the world of fiction. The result is his first novel, Goodbye Akron.

Playing Both Ends Toward The Middle

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Traffic is heavy and fast. Suddenly and seemingly from out of nowhere, a car races past you, then missing you by inches, cuts in front of you, changes lanes again, and is soon out of sight. Emotionally rattled, you utter several unkind, maybe even unprintable words. No harm was done, but the stupid and potentially dangerous acts committed by the other driver grind at you for the rest of the day.

Or consider this:

Barely two months have gone by since a person was hired to join your group at work and you are already feeling uneasy. The solidly credentialed … Read the rest “Playing Both Ends Toward The Middle”

Of Hopes, Dreams, And Eternity

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It’s a tall stone obelisk, all four sides covered with heartfelt words written by a grieving mother.

She had been so proud of her son. While still in his twenties, he had already made his mark as a fine railroad engineer. It all came to a tragic end one stormy night on the side of a mountain near Asheville, North Carolina.

He was at the throttle as the engine and its attached coal tender began the long descent. About half way down, the brakes suddenly failed. Faithful to the end, her son was still frantically attempting to stop the increasingly … Read the rest “Of Hopes, Dreams, And Eternity”

A Day Of Contradictions

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Before you ask, yes, these events did happen in just one day.

6:19 A.M.
A fellow subscriber on a forum devoted to photography detailed how, despite his best efforts, his bank account narrowly missed being robbed by an internet thief. That reminded me of our son’s friend who just last week lost $11,000 when a thief cleaned out his bank account. Another forum subscriber said AI (artificial intelligence) will soon be able to duplicate any person complete with photo I.D., handwriting, and almost all related statistics. His educated view: Thieves and scammers are outwitting the best of security systems.

9:05 … Read the rest “A Day Of Contradictions”

Inviting Rivers And Oceans To Enter Your Life

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All rivers have a beginning. Some are hidden and rarely seen while others are popular tourist destinations.

For example, a small spring at the bottom of a hill on a farm in southwest Virginia is the most distant source of water that eventually becomes the Tennessee River. There are no signs, so you must know exactly where to look to find this river’s birthplace. In human terms, being born there would be a quiet event.

The much larger Mississippi River, however, begins as the outflow of Lake Itasca in Minnesota. There, you can actually wade across the Mississippi, and on … Read the rest “Inviting Rivers And Oceans To Enter Your Life”

The Logic In Magical Darkness

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Hard to believe but true: Only two lifetimes ago, the only light your kinfolks had came from candles, lanterns, and fireplaces. From nightfall to sunup, darkness had the upper hand. Then came the electric light, a development realized every time we flip a switch to flood with light what an instant before was in darkness.

A bit of indispensable even remarkable progress? Of course, but at an expense of which most of us are unaware.

You see, with the coming of darkness, we also sense tiredness, the result of a busy day. Its intensity increases to the point that we … Read the rest “The Logic In Magical Darkness”

Staking Our Future On The Wise Ones

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Every civilization has had those who thought, believed, acted, and spoke wisely and with solid logic. Such wisdom was often hidden beneath another label such as an elder, minister, or teacher. Social standing didn’t matter, neither did wealth nor lack of it. The invisible badge they wore, and often in humble fashion, was that of Wise One.

In that respect, the past is also the present. Many people throughout the world qualify for that badge. They can be anywhere and everywhere, well-known or obscure, in a city or tucked away in some small town or on a farm.

So, you … Read the rest “Staking Our Future On The Wise Ones”

You And Your Extraordinary Idea

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By extraordinary, I mean something wild and illogical enough to be exciting. It wouldn’t be impossible, but it would be probable enough to awaken and stimulate your brain cells to new heights.

The idea here is to step outside whatever you or someone else has assumed you would do. It would take advantage of your personality and talents, and activate your ability to go where you’ve never gone before. In making that happen, you would add spice to your life, and open new opportunities you never dreamed existed.

Sure, it would test your courage and your ability to innovate, to … Read the rest “You And Your Extraordinary Idea”

A Monster In A Pretty Box

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Yes, the marketing geniuses had designed the box to colorfully display good things organically related to the proper nourishment of humanity—butterflies flitting from flower to flower, trees loaded with ripening fruit, kids happily romping through tall green grass.

I shoved the hype aside to tell myself that yes, I really could use this latest electro-mechanical wonder. Even if it made good on only half the claims, it would be an efficient helper in my quest for a longer life. At twenty-two bucks, even the price was right.

As I left the store, I peeked into the shopping bag to again … Read the rest “A Monster In A Pretty Box”

Where Is Miss Congeniality?

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It seems like only yesterday that she existed, when she was voted that title because she was unquestionably qualified. She was the girl next door—friendly, engaging, an innocent bundle of energy, fun to be around, a girl with a sense of excitement who went beyond the ordinary to meet, greet, and visit with people.

Although the likes of her were everywhere, there was never a contest to see who was the best. No one cared. It was enough to admire such qualities and hope that whoever had them continued to be themselves.

Over the long haul, many who were never … Read the rest “Where Is Miss Congeniality?”

Taking A Look At Your Yesterday

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You ask: Why should I do that? Sounds like a waste of time.

Nope, not at all. Of all your resources for leading a better life, your yesterday is among your most valuable.

Technically speaking, our yesterday began when we were born, but it didn’t begin taking conscious shape until we were maybe three or four years old. That’s when most people begin remembering. By age eighteen, we are well on our way to having much to remember.

The irony, however, is that regardless of how old you are, your yesterday continues to become ever larger. That’s true even if … Read the rest “Taking A Look At Your Yesterday”