It’s just a little thing, passed around and loaned down the years. Once upon a time, it belonged to a boy. His dad was Chuck and his mom was Susan. Chuck is a Vietnam vet and Susan has been his sweetheart since seventh grade. In their garage sleeps an R60 BMW. Chuck inherited it from … [more]
When borrowing a man’s truck…
30-December-2012 by 5 Comments
…or a woman’s, since ours more than ceremonially belongs to Pretty Wife, here are a few things to keep in mind: When you swing by to pick it up for your apartment move or latest oversized Craigslist acquisition, you won’t find much gas in the tank. If you know something about non-current models, you might … [more]
Greatest Grand
22-November-2012 by 5 Comments
Born in 1893, she was the eldest. Eldest sons assumed their family’s fortunes — however plush or mean they may be — but an eldest daughter assumed only responsibility, even if she grew up in a town bearing her surname on its sign. She left school after the eighth grade, discarding academic promise in favor … [more]
Things men should know
8-October-2012 by 12 Comments
For my stepson, on the imminent occasion of his moving out into the world: Here are a few things that men told me when I was young (and which I ignored), beside a few that I had to learn on my own (several times, in most cases). No matter who you are, or what you … [more]
Dialing 9-1-1
11-September-2012 by 5 Comments
Some of us are tired of rehashing September 11, 2001. “It’s been more than a decade,” some say, “why can’t you just let it go?” There are, after all, so many things to be concerned about. People die every day, and in a country of nearly 300 million souls, even the death of 3,000 at … [more]
Heirloom china
7-September-2012 by 1 Comment
So there’s a meme going around (as memes will do), poking fun at Mitt Romney’s new campaign button. It apparently reads “Believe in America” on its face, and has “MADE IN CHINA” stamped into the back. I have no idea whether this is true. So many scurrilous things are mumbled about national candidates these days. … [more]
Off to college
3-August-2012 by 4 Comments
Look at the stars Look how they shine for you And everything you do Yeah they were all yellow… –Coldplay, Yellow So that’s it, then. All those years, you knew it was coming but you never quite thought it was here; never quite imagined that you’d really be packing the last boxes, doing that final … [more]
Old Enough, To No Better (posted from Iron Horse Garage)
21-July-2012 by 10 Comments
Chantilly lace and a pretty face And a pony tail hanging down That wiggle in the walk and giggle in the talk Makes the world go round —Chantilly Lace, The Big Bopper There are certain things that give women to understand that we — that is, male humans — don’t ever really grow up. Never … [more]
"Jack Lewis takes the overall literary crown with his new book...there’s a lot more to Lewis’s work than what it feels like to ride motorcycles.” — Ultimate Motorcycling
"Insightful and from the heart ... a driven and much recommended look into the mind and conflict of the next generation of war veterans. " — Midwest Book Review (Reviewer's Choice)