In The Name Of Dignity

by

It was 1953. A war had boiled up in Korea and we four, Morris, Wayne, Robert, and me, had been requested to help win it.

That had meant joining others from everywhere for sixteen weeks of basic infantry and artillery training. Ordinarily, that would have been enough, but we were among the select few who had volunteered for and had managed to survive eight weeks of leadership training, a grueling assault on both body and brain. All of it was to toughen our abilities and resolve, give us an edge on the battlefield, keep us from being shipped back home … Read the rest “In The Name Of Dignity”

Logic’s Erroneous Backside

by

If you have ever wondered why the word “logic” is regarded as a positive element in our lives, know that the words good, rational, reasonable, sensible, sound, and valid mean the same thing.

In all of these columns, logic is portrayed as being a handy and useful tool in coping with life’s difficulties, a way to clear up confusing elements so a simpler answer can be applied to the question.

The problem lies in our tendency to misinterpret the word when it’s used in a certain situation. One of the best ways to understand that is to look at what … Read the rest “Logic’s Erroneous Backside”

Life’s Three Big A’s

by

The first one is anticipating, because you will never have what you don’t strive for. The second is applying because you will never know what you can do unless you do it.  And the third one is the afterglow of a good life you won’t have if you haven’t lived it.

Yes, you think that’s too much to wrap your arms around, is much too simple to be believed, comes too late to make a difference. Logic, however, has no boundaries, and is so flexible and adaptable it can be applied no matter who or where you are, or … Read the rest “Life’s Three Big A’s”

It’s Over Miami And Everywhere Else

by

The world often demands far too much of us. We feel as if we are spread-eagled on the bottom of an overturned life raft, hanging on for dear life against howling winds and turbulent seas. We keep looking for anything to logically ease the threat or pave the way for rescue.

Well, one need not look any farther than skyward and toward the moon. When spiced with only a small bit of imagination, it’s ready to sooth the soul, help verify a decision or even help one forget they had one to make.

Among those who have already figured that … Read the rest “It’s Over Miami And Everywhere Else”

One Logical And Powerful Word

by

Of all the wonders of life, few can top the stories every human being can tell about what has happened to them.

And so it was during a recent morning walk that I met a man who was putting the final touches on his new self-designed street-side mailbox. After I told him how good it looked, he introduced himself as John, and we drifted into the subject of our respective pasts that brought us both into the latter stages of a good life. That’s when he told me a story.

He was born, raised, and educated in Chicago. His first … Read the rest “One Logical And Powerful Word”

When More Of Everything Means Less Of Anything

by

A sing-song play on words? No, it’s the more serious matter of us being close to having exhausted all the logical superlatives in describing an object, happening, or situation.

The trend never had an identifiable beginning. It just sort of happened. Still, you might remember when such words as “nice,” “wonderful,” and “terrific” did most of the heavy lifting.

Then along came “super” and “shocking” plus such compound descriptors as “jaw-dropping” that reference the human body, and “earth shaking” and “out of this world” that suggest far larger dimensions.

More recently, however, we began reaching even higher to include such … Read the rest “When More Of Everything Means Less Of Anything”

Searching For Perfect

by

Having already brought the iced tea, she was now ready to take my order — the cheeseburger special with fries and slaw on the side. I said it right and she wrote it down right. “Perfect,” she said with a smile, then she was gone.

What went on between her and me was, indeed, perfect. Beyond that, however, was another story. The place was packed so we were lucky to get the high table with the potentially dangerous high stools. After all, an extra powerful sneeze, a reach too far for a lost napkin, or simply attempting to maintain balance … Read the rest “Searching For Perfect”

The Magic Of Winter Light

by

There was no refusing my friend’s invitation. 

He and his wife were about to take their brand new to them 38-foot motor yacht from their home on the Tennessee River in northwest Alabama to a boat repair facility in St. Petersburg, Florida, a run of about seven hundred miles. 

The boat was in excellent condition, but because it had logged only a few miles during the previous two years, it would also be a shakedown cruise. That was part of the main reason he wanted me, an experienced boater, to come along as an extra hand. I had cruised that … Read the rest “The Magic Of Winter Light”

Be A Lover Of Life

by

She was a follower on Twitter, but as so often happened, she was nobody I knew. So I did some checking and it revealed that her name was Andrea and that she was living on a farm in Alberta, Canada.

In a quick scan of her bio, my eyes locked on these words: “Making mediocrity fabulous one day at a time.” Those words weren’t the ordinary kind that merely talked. They yelled, almost screamed: “Look at us real close. We are expressing something profound, a great thought to live by, an even greater one to wake up to every morning.”… Read the rest “Be A Lover Of Life”

This Is About You And Me

by

Now that I’m well into my fourth year of writing these columns, I should already have shared with you the information that appears here. So I’m doing it now as if you and I were visiting and I was answering your questions.

Why did you decide to write this column?

Most book authors have a website for promoting their books and some write a blog for that site. I wanted to do the same except instead of a blog which usually concerns recent personal happenings, I decided to write a column of possible help to readers.

How did you come … Read the rest “This Is About You And Me”