Superintendent Johnson sat at a large wooden desk. In his suit and tie and pocket square he looked like a fat-cat politician or maybe a bank president, not a school administrator. He took a slow swallow from his University of Central Florida coffee mug and carefully centered it on a mirrored coaster to his side. … Continue reading The Penalty of Today’s World
Gabby, again, still
Gabby Petito, remember her? I read in an article yesterday that her parents just settled an emotional distress lawsuit against the parents of Brian Laundrie, Gabby’s presumed, but never tried killer. It left me wondering: to what end. What do Gabby’s parents hope to gain from this lawsuit? Cash? Punishment for the Laundries, who had already … Continue reading Gabby, again, still
I Believe in Myself
My daughter Sophie sent an article, a book review really, about the legend of Bigfoot. The Secret History of Bigfoot. I love bigfoot, I suppose we all do in my family. Many of us (well mostly me) have bigfoot stickers on our phone cases (above) and cars. I BELIEVE! Or at least I badly want … Continue reading I Believe in Myself
And just like that, the game was over
Mostly, we drank beer together. We sat in my dorm room planted on threadbare Goodwill furniture, feet propped on a scuffed coffee table, Marley playing not-so-soft in the background. My roommate Rob, intense, aggressive, always ready to challenge an opinion, pick at a foible, or poke your proper buttons, brought up the idea. “We should … Continue reading And just like that, the game was over
Ben – A Guest Post
David Don, also known as DD or DeeDee on WordPress, saw my years-old call for guest posts on my readers' impressions on Tourette Syndrome: Write me a story. I think in most cases I would have said “sorry, too late” But DD is truly one of my favorite bloggers. His haiku posts are interesting, cleverly … Continue reading Ben – A Guest Post
Vanishing Act
Did'ja miss me? I'm not sure if I missed you. Two weeks without blogging has been relaxing. As I get farther from my last post, as fewer people visit my site each day, I begin to lose the compulsion to check my stats every hour. But I feel I owe an update. I made an … Continue reading Vanishing Act
The last snow ever…
The last snow ever fell in 2035. I suppose someone got snow in '36, but not where I live. Not in the mid-Atlantic states. We already passed the tipping point, but no one knew this yet. Two slushy inches is hardly worth mentioning, but you asked about it, so here I go. The boys made … Continue reading The last snow ever…
Dear Psychiatrist Sam
Dear Psychiatrist Sam, My husband has Tourette syndrome and OCD. Years ago, before he began a twice-daily dose of antipsychotics to reduce his Tourette tics (unwanted movements and vocalizations) intrusive OCD thoughts regularly dragged him out of bed in the small hours of the morning. As a happy side effect of that medication, those intrusive … Continue reading Dear Psychiatrist Sam
Baby Shoes, Never Worn
The first and only time I wrote a six-word story, I did so as a joke. A bad joke, no one got it. I needed to explain the punchline. Six Word Story – Part II Last week, Bill, the library employee who runs my writers’ group, assigned homework. “Jeff and I have been discussing Negative … Continue reading Baby Shoes, Never Worn
Negative Space
First I searched Google, and later Bing. ‘Crow graphic with negative space.’ I’m planning a tattoo. I have a thing for crows. A year ago, I went on a spree—three stories about crows in two months—the one I killed, the stuffed animal from college, the one that said 'hello.' I Killed a Crow | Crows … Continue reading Negative Space
And Rumors of Wars
Part 1Shakey and out of breath. It’s unclear if I’m anxious or sick. Bombarded with depressing sh*t. A sixth grader shot and killed (too soon to talk about the trouble with guns). ISIS bombed Iran. The U.S. bombed Iraq. Confusing, I don’t understand geopolitics at all. A perpetual headline now: “Fear Grows of Spreading War.” … Continue reading And Rumors of Wars
The Good and the Bad
To those celebrating sobriety anniversaries today, or maybe just celebrating sobriety, congratulations. To those who improved their lives through willpower, determination and guts, well done. To those contemplating or preparing for change, I’m along for the ride—white knuckles, gnashing teeth, hope for tomorrow—I wish you all the best. ~ ~ ~ Haiku for a new … Continue reading The Good and the Bad
Kubrick, Chandoha, Harold, and a Purple Crayon
When my kids were young, up early at five o’clock, wired and awake, and me trying to catch up with bolshy big cups of stove-top espresso, we read. We read The Cat in the Hat, and Thomas the Train, and Pajama Time, and Harold and the Purple Crayon, and a hundred other books over and … Continue reading Kubrick, Chandoha, Harold, and a Purple Crayon
At the Checkout
As soon as I pause, she swoops in to assist. I always pause. I need a moment to count items in my head, or figure out how to enter my rewards card, or wonder who that was who said ‘Hi’ in aisle five. This is self-checkout at my favorite grocery store, the small one up … Continue reading At the Checkout
Telling my Story, or Not
I ran into Sandy in the hallway. “Oh, hey Jeff, this is a heads up. You're going to be formally invited to be a book in the Living Library.” Sandy’s statement probably makes no sense to you, so let me elaborate. A big trend in libraries right now is to offer patrons a chance to … Continue reading Telling my Story, or Not
Medication Management
Every time I talk with my father, which can range from three times a week to twice a day, depending on life circumstances, he asks me the same question, “What’s new?” And I tell him, “Nothing’s new,” every single time. He thinks I live the most boring life imaginable. When I hang up the phone, … Continue reading Medication Management
Charity, Mercy, Forbearance and Benevolence!
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: I’ve read it countless times. A week or two after the calendar flips to the last page, I get the urge. This started when I moved to Gettysburg in 2005. I found it on display at the end of a library shelf—a staff recommendation. Such a tiny book, it … Continue reading Charity, Mercy, Forbearance and Benevolence!
Animosity
He gazed out the passenger window, captivated by a farmhouse as it passed them by, the mood in the car foul to match the day. A flag, outstretched but folded upon itself matted with rain, splashed a muted stain against a pewter sky. A pond stretched, roadway to stoop with grass tufts lily padding the … Continue reading Animosity
Race Day
This is the last post I'm salvaging from undercrust.blogspot.com. There's more there, but honestly nothing I feel compelled to keep. The following post was written when my OCD was still unmedicated. Take a bunch of intrusive thoughts and mix in a healthy dose of situational anxiety--this captures well what went on in my brain in … Continue reading Race Day
Robin Williams
Originally published August 15, 2014 on undercrust.blogspot.com a few days after Robin Williams died. For years, I had a boss that I really didn't like. Ed was funny and capable, but selfish. He treated his family like crap. Married with two small boys, he spent every weekend on overnight beach and camping trips with his … Continue reading Robin Williams
The Other Stuff 