Stories from the Steps

determination

  • Vol. 2, Chronicle 35: Genesis

    FOREWORD: Three years ago, December 16, 2022, these steps met their final student footprints. In the past three months, they met their demise.      I didn’t know it lying on that couch in Pearl, Mississippi that “Stories from the Steps”, with… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 35: Genesis

  • Vol. 2, Chronicle 34, “TRIBE”

    “…Oh, so hold on to the ones who really care, In the end, they’ll be the only ones there…”from “MMMBop” by Hanson MY 2025 BOOK & WORD OF THE YEAR: In an upset, a reread claims both titles. TRIBE. It… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 34, “TRIBE”

  • 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 32

    NOT MUCH TO BE THANKFUL ABOUT(?): These last 13 months have been, if not the most challenging period of all my circuits around the sun, they’re certainly in the team picture.  According to one fella that crossed my path this… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 32

  • Vol. 2 Chronicle 31

    LIFE ADVICE FROM OCTOBER, HOMECOMING 1976:        On the 26th day of October in 1976, it was Homecoming at a little school that now exists only in memories. This past week, as dementia opened another front in its dirty little war… Continue reading

    Vol. 2 Chronicle 31

  • Vol. 2, Chronicle 29

    STORIES FROM THE STEPS, THE ROLL, PITCH & YAW OF FALL BREAK ‘25:     “Don’t let the hard days win”, six words that would have been easy to post last week amongst the surf, the sun in its rising & setting… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 29

  • 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 26

    (4:45AM & THE GOSPEL OF MARK, NOT SO) SHALLOW THOUGHTS FROM THE DEEP END WITH MISS JULIE’S POOL BOY: On this day one year ago, Miss Julie unlocked the pool gates at 4:45 in the morning. She did it not… Continue reading

    Vol. 2, Chronicle 26

  • Vol.2, Chronicle 25

    A SEPTEMBER THANKSGIVING: “…and even though this world needs so much more, there’s so much to be thankful for…” “Thankful” ~~ Josh Groban ~~      It was a little after 4:00 on this September Sunday. A week of chaos gone… Continue reading

    Vol.2, Chronicle 25

  • Vol 2, Chronicle 23

    STORIES FROM THE STEPS, VOLUME 2, CHRONICLE 23, DEFINITIONS:      Urban slang & the great guitarist Jimi Hendrix have a differing definition of “gypsy eyes” than me. I’ve increasingly felt that the eyes of that nomadic lifestyle are wise & tough… Continue reading

    Vol 2, Chronicle 23