May 17, 2021Travels with Bessie: New Owner and the First WeekHello, my name is Bessie and I am so happy to meet you. I am a 2013 Forest River Sunseeker 2300 recreational vehicle and since my new owner purchased me in July 2020, my life has changed for the better. My previous owner did not keep up with my maintenance…Short Story10 min read
Nov 8, 2020The Meaning of the Raven — Path of EnlightenmentDuring my trip through the Petrified Forest National Park and Painted Desert National Park, I saw several ravens at several of the park’s pullout parking areas. They wouldn’t move when I approached; so, I began to search for a deeper meaning of their presence in my travels.Life Lessons3 min read
Mar 29, 2020The USA is Not The Greatest Country in the World, But She’s MineContrary to popular belief, the United States of America has never been the greatest Country in the world. Really? That’s sacrilegious and anti-American, Stan. No, it is not either one of those; it is just the unvarnished truth. Why? First, the United States of…Politics4 min read
Feb 25, 2019Eulogy of a Yellow DogSC’s Hunt’em Up Ryder along with his hunting partner, SC’s Hunt’em Up Bella, joined me at a time in my life when I really needed a change. I was working 60+ hours a week as an IT Manager and quickly approaching burnout.Dogs6 min read
Published in Publishous·Feb 10, 2019Coming Home… FinallyIt was a beautiful morning as I made my way to the galley of my ship for breakfast. Growing up on a farm in Kansas, breakfast was my favorite part of the day because the world is just beginning to come alive. The galley smells of bacon frying, and the…Historical Fiction5 min read
Published in Publishous·Feb 6, 2019A Relational Witch’s Brew — The Bubble, Bubble, Toil, & Trouble of ResentmentA prompt from one of my writing workshops asked students to discuss the following, “Where is anger found in relationships and what causes it?” My thoughts… There is a wave of anger bubbling just beneath the surface. It is there when someone feels taken for granted. Patience and empathy are…Love3 min read
Published in Publishous·Jan 30, 2019What Have You Done for Me Lately?“What have you done for me, lately?” How many times have you rhetorically asked or been asked that question? I cannot recall the number of times I have asked this question nor can I remember how many I have been asked this question. …Love4 min read
Jan 29, 2019Just A DogIn 2005, two little yellow furballs came home with me from separate breeders, and the legends of Ryder and Bella began. Bella came home in May and Ryder came home in October. Both puppies had all the potential in the world and would make any Labrador Retriever owner proud. But…Dogs5 min read
Published in Dialogue & Discourse·Jan 22, 2019State of the Union — Race Relations — 2019As I turned on my computer this past weekend, I saw once again three ethnically disparate groups of Americans disrespecting one another. One group was African-American, another was Native American, and finally, a group of Caucasian Americans all came together on the Washington Mall at the Lincoln Memorial. …Native Americans6 min read
Published in Live Your Life On Purpose·Jan 19, 2019Life’s Better When We Pay It ForwardAs we walk through life, we encounter many people who affect our lives for better or worse. Some people we meet leave no impression at all. How does your life affect others? …Kindness3 min read