Grabbing for the bootstraps

My year, like pretty much everyone’s everywhere, was a mixed bag. On one hand, I had several more acceptances to Chicken Soup for the Soul; saw a one-act play hit the boards during the festival in August; had my 226 page book “It’s Christmas!” published; I continued...

Lightning Strikes Twice

“Everybody loved it,” said Kathleen, over the phone. If she said more, I didn’t hear her—I was still relishing her initial compliment. Those are words a writer lives for: “Everybody loved it.” Validation for a story written well. Kathleen Strecker, editor of the Coast...

Be Careful What You Wish For

My friend Idaho Steve had sent me a plain manila envelope a few days before Christmas one year with these instructions written boldly across the back: “Put this under your tree! Do not open until Christmas! Trust me! I will know if you open it earlier!” Now I knew in...

The Reason for the Season

If you took the same history class as I did in college, then you know that the man known as Jesus was not actually born on December 25. He probably wasn’t even born during the winter months, as the shepherds were only out with their flocks in the months with milder...

Presents under the Tree

Each Christmas, Mom insists upon giving presents to my cat Bubba. She wraps a myriad of silly little gifts and puts ribbons and bows and tags on them, just as if the cat cares. But he seems to enjoy the fluffy little toys on strings and the plastic balls with bells...