Stories from the Steps

1980s

  • Vol. 3, Chronicle 15

    SAND & DAD, A MEMORIAL DAY STORY: I got this vial of sand from one of the many wonderful educators that I am privileged to work alongside. She got the sand from a beach in France once codenamed Omaha. My… Continue reading

    Vol. 3, Chronicle 15

  • VOLUME 3, CHRONICLE 11, ARPEGGIO, THE BIRTHDAY EDITION: Music’s broken chord, the arpeggio, occurs when notes normally played simultaneously are played individually. Anyone with someone suffering a physical or mental ailment knows the difficulty of dealing with brokenness of what… Continue reading

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  • DEAR DAD,     Today marks the 13th time I’ve celebrated your birthday without you. Before you left us in September 2013, we had taken advantage of time & said the things fathers & sons need to share.       The five years… Continue reading

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  • Thank you to everyone for making 2025 a success for this little writing adventure. It began two years ago, a crusade of creativity into sports, music & pop culture. An effort hoping with each effort to equal creatives with words… Continue reading

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  • Vol. 2, Chronicle 33 1/2

    SHALLOW THOUGHTS FROM THE DEEP END WITH MISS JULIE’S POOL BOY IN HIS P.E. OFFICE, 4 ½ days ‘til Christmas Break edition: This week, MJPB pondered a silent pool phone while side hustling in the physical education world. He pondered… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 33 1/2

  • Vol. 2, Chronicle 27

    38 YEARS & 51 WEEKS, WHAT I’VE LEARNED: This past Saturday, exactly one week shy of 39 years, Miss Julie & I attended a wedding in the same gorgeous cathedral where we stated our vows. As I sat with my… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 27

  • Vol. 2 Chronicle 22

    LIBARY (sic) DAZE : My circumstances have led me to the library over the last 3 weeks. The first fortnight, a group project moving a school library from the 1st floor to the 2nd.       As with all group projects,… Continue reading

    Vol. 2 Chronicle 22

  • Vol. 2, Chronicle 18

          As the Carpenter’s sang, “long ago & oh so far away”, I informed my dad some 40 years ago that I was leaving school for a job on the team sales side of the sporting goods industry. He begged… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 18

  • Vol. 2 Chronicle 17

    THOUGHTS FROM THE DEEP END WITH MISS JULIE’S POOL BOY–STILL DOING DUMB STUFF, ONLY SLOWER: Some 12 weeks ago, Miss Julie’s Pool Boy saw a photo of himself & then stepped on a scale to the horrific number of 217.… Continue reading

    Vol. 2 Chronicle 17

  • Vol. 2 Chronicle 10

    THE SUNDAY NIGHT DIATRIBE & FINAL 4 THOUGHTS: Tonight, as I set the timer for my 5:00 AM emotional support caffeine & face the ever increasing prospect of the question in this IRL game of Jeopardy to the answer of… Continue reading

    Vol. 2 Chronicle 10