Stories from the Steps

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  • Vol.1 Chronicle 44

    (38TH ANNIVERSARY) THOUGHTS FROM THE DEEP END WITH MISS JULIE’S POOL BOY: 38 years ago today, the Pool Boy clicked “I agree” on the non-negotiable, yearly renewable terms & conditions on his marriage app with Miss Julie. Terms & conditions… Continue reading

    Vol.1 Chronicle 44

  • Photo Interlude, Composition 9

    This morning over 5 o’clock coffee, for the second time in as many weeks I watched hurricane coverage & its gut punch of “how will we recover?” & “why us?” to residents up & down the east coast. Now, close… Continue reading

    Photo Interlude, Composition 9

  • Vol.1 Chronicle 43

    STORIES FROM THE STEPS, VOLUME 1, CHRONICLE 43, TUESDAY GIFTS FROM GRANDADDY: “…It’s not what you got, it’s what you give, it’s not the life you choose,. it’s the life you live..”~Tesla~ “What You Give “ On this day in… Continue reading

    Vol.1 Chronicle 43

  • Vol.1 Chronicle 41

    (4:45AM DAD’S & A POOL & THE GOSPEL OF MARK, NOT SO) SHALLOW THOUGHTS FROM THE DEEP END WITH MISS JULIE’S POOL BOY: Miss Julie unlocked the pool gates at 4:45 this morning, not to fix the pool’s condition but… Continue reading

    Vol.1 Chronicle 41

  • Vol.1 Chronicle 39

    FOUR GENERATIONS: On one of the final 4 Sundays of September 1968, my parents, after escorting me & my sister up the only staircase (pictured) in our church at the time to 9:45 Sunday School & then down it to… Continue reading

    Vol.1 Chronicle 39

  • Vol.1 Chronicle 38: Farewell 9/2/2021

    CHINSTRAPS & HEROES, A FAREWELL TO JIMMY: I wasn’t expecting to cry today. I especially wasn’t planning on one of those heaving cries that convulses down to the gut. I’d already been a little emotional in dreading next week, a… Continue reading

    Vol.1 Chronicle 38: Farewell 9/2/2021

  • Vol.1, Chronicle 37: Keys, 8/27/1984

    KEYS, A 40 YEAR STORY OF MISS JULIE AND HER POOL BOY: Miss Julie gave me these keys for Christmas 2023. They used to work the locks of Maclellan Gymnasium on the UT-Chattanooga campus. Today, technology has rendered them useless… Continue reading

    Vol.1, Chronicle 37: Keys, 8/27/1984

  • Volume 1, Chronicle 36, Lottie’s Song

    Today, August 10th, 2024, marks 21 years since my grandmother passed away. What follows was written a year ago to her namesake great-great-granddaughter. I thought about brushing it up with a rewrite as I scrolled the socials on a sleep… Continue reading

    Volume 1, Chronicle 36, Lottie’s Song

  • Vol.1, Chronicle 35

    INTROSPECTIVE INSOMNIA, ‘70s ANTENNA TV & MARCIA BRADY, SHALLOW THOUGHTS FROM THE DEEP END WITH MISS JULIE’S POOL BOY: This very Monday, only 3 days from children reporting for academic duty, Miss Julie’s Pool Boy disguised in his normal identity… Continue reading

    Vol.1, Chronicle 35

  • Vol.1, Chronicle 32

    THE WEDNESDAY FOOTBALL FIX, 1974 WITH LOTTIE & JULIA: As days sometimes thunder by slowly & the years are greased lightning, I find myself recognizing deeds that went by without applause. I find the words in Maya Angelou’s “Continue” both… Continue reading

    Vol.1, Chronicle 32