Stories from the Steps

defeat

  • Vol. 3, Chronicle 23

    8:13 PM, Fall break day 2, Stroke recovery day 37: Woke up satisfied with coffee & a state qualifying XC runner. Messages from the runner’s mom made my efforts, from morning car line fist bumps to teaching to assuming my… Continue reading

    Vol. 3, Chronicle 23

  • Vol. 3, Chronicle 22: 40

    40: One year ago, exactly one week shy of our 39th anniversary, Miss Julie & I attended a wedding in the same gorgeous cathedral where we stated our vows. As I sat with my sons & daughters-in-law behind me &… Continue reading

    Vol. 3, Chronicle 22: 40

  • Vol. 3, Chronicle 21

    THE POWER OF WORDS IN SHADES OF GOLD, RED, EBONY, & IVORY:A golden anniversary, a polite way of saying a half century has passed. And here I am, in a golden sunset, reflecting backwards to an overcast Thursday October 7,… Continue reading

    Vol. 3, Chronicle 21

  • Vol. 3, Chronicle 20

    THE EVENT, DAY 21 – WHY?Why. It’s a word that checks the box on five parts of speech in its definition of “ for what cause or purpose, or reason. It is a word I met twice this weekend in… Continue reading

    Vol. 3, Chronicle 20

  • Vol.3, Chronicle 18

    THIS IS THE FACE OF AN UNEXPECTED MEDICAL EVENT: This Tuesday morning, today, I cried trying to put on a shirt. I got my arms & head through the right spots but it rolled up on my back & I… Continue reading

    Vol.3, Chronicle 18

  • World Cup 2026

    TAKEAWAYS, THE WORLD CUP WEEKEND I DIDN’T KNOW I NEEDED:     The countries of Cape Verde & Norway, their national soccer teams & each team’s goalkeeper gave me a weekend of World Cup soccer I wasn’t aware I needed.        Cape… Continue reading

    World Cup 2026

  • Vol. 3, Chronicle 16

    STORIES FROM THE STEPS, VOLUME 3 CHRONICLE 16 – LISTEN TO YOUR DAD: Dear 3 year old standing by your dad, Last week we shared a birthday. On Father’s Day, I want to share something else. I believe this life… Continue reading

    Vol. 3, Chronicle 16

  • The Dementia Talks #22

    NOTHING:Monday, it was time to take my mom from a pedestrian bridge in our last talk to a church. It was a journey yielding nothing… Over the weekend while following like Jason & the Argonauts a YouTube golden fleece, I… Continue reading

    The Dementia Talks #22

  • Vol. 3, Chronicle 13: Car Line

    MORNING CAR LINE, A RANDOM TUESDAY:“…Don’t let yourself go,‘Cause everybody cries, Everybody hurts sometimes…”“Everybody Hurts”  ~~R.E.M.~~      Powerful lyrics I think about sometimes as I participate in one of the unanticipated joys of my job, morning car line. Every morning,… Continue reading

    Vol. 3, Chronicle 13: Car Line

  • Vol. 3, Chronicle 10

    VOLUME 3, CHRONICLE 10: 4 YEARS IN SUNDOWN, NOW & THEN. As I say good morning to another night, I’m struggling with do I need to say something or do I have something to say? John Steinbeck said, “I write… Continue reading

    Vol. 3, Chronicle 10