Finding Ones Way

By Lynn on March 22, 2014 / 7,246 views

I had a man stop me by honking his horn the other day. He was looking for a church. He looked so upset, I instinctively knew something was very wrong. So I directed him to pull over his car and I would help find the church with my cell phone. As I did so, I asked "Are you okay?" "No, I just lost my brother" "was it unexpected or sudden?" "No, it was sudden". I found the directions and a number to call and asked if...

One Choice At A Time

By Joseph J. Mazzella on March 18, 2014 / 2,099 views

My dad left me a treasure when he died. It wasn't a mansion or a car. It wasn't cash or gold. It wasn't bonds or bank accounts. In the eyes of the world my Dad died a poor man. He was a simple mechanic who worked hard to support his family. My Dad's treasure rather was in a thousand wonderful memories that he gave me over the course of his life. One particular one stands out in my mind today. I was just a boy...

The Woman Who Needed A Hug

By Jeannie Walsh on March 17, 2014 / 1,710 views

I was in a small Hallmark shop looking for a card when it happened. There were two other people in the store: the clerk at the register and a woman further down the aisle. All of a sudden, I was overwhelmed by a voice and a feeling throughout my being, which said, Hug her. The instinct became more frequent and insistent until I walked over to the woman and said, "I know this will sound strange, but do you need a...

Strength From Pain , It's Possible

By Paulie O'Byrne on March 14, 2014 / 8,382 views

By Paulie O'Byrne on March 14, 2014 / 8,382 views

When I was a little boy, I dreamed big dreams, believed if I worked hard enough I could attain what my limits would allow me to do. Example: My older brother was an exceptional hockey player, I remember he score 40 goals in 18 games one season. I found that amazing , My brother kept a list of his goals on our fridge. Being 3 years younger than him , and not knowing about human development. I thought I should have 40...

The Best Meal I Ever Had

By Joseph J. Mazzella on March 11, 2014 / 2,909 views

"What was the most delicious meal you ever had?" That was the question in an online survey that popped up on my screen the other day. I moved my mouse over and clicked out of the survey, but the question stayed with me. As I thought about it only one answer came to my mind: Ramen noodles. It happened years ago during Hurricane Sandy when 3 feet of wet, heavy snow hit the mountains of my home. Trees were snapped,...

A Red Spotted Purple Butterfly, A Show Off

By Kathleen on March 10, 2014 / 5,238 views

Mesmerizing to stop and watch this lovely Red Spotted Purple Butterfly. We take them for granted, take a moment; stop and smell the coffee, notice the gardens, take the time to see the new buds forming as Winter's hold lessens. Take time for Nature, and Nurture Her....

HOW DO I PLAY A GAME OF LIFE?

By Desh Torres on March 09, 2014 / 6,656 views

Wow!!! What a question… Is LIFE really a game that we simply play? I am a 32 year old woman, at my age I could say that I have grown in maturity… I guess… But I also know that there are still lot of things for me to learn… I still have thousands of questions left unanswered… or maybe I am just exaggerating things… The truth is I am still unhappy… I am often in nostalgia… I am still searching...

A Call From The Dead

By Mia. Jo on March 07, 2014 / 6,062 views

By Mia. Jo on March 07, 2014 / 6,062 views

I remember seeing myself running in the woods. Don’t know what I’m looking for but I was just following the path. Somewhat or somehow I ended up in some random streets in London. I don’t know if it was really London, but when I saw the Big Ben and overheard people’s conversation, I knew it has to be London, because of their thick accents. I was extremely happy, it was my dream to be London and all of my...

This Is Kyle, And He's About To Restore Your Faith In Humanity

By Justin Thompson on March 07, 2014 / 3,845 views

By Justin Thompson on March 07, 2014 / 3,845 views

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was...

In And Out

By Joseph J. Mazzella on March 04, 2014 / 8,256 views

It was my freshman year of college and I was sleeping in my bed after a long day full of taking tests. Suddenly, a loud knock woke me from my dreams. Wondering who could be knocking so late at night, I stumbled out of bed, turned on the light, and opened the door. It was my best friend and roommate. The girl he was dating had just broken his heart and he had attempted to drown his sorrows with 13 Whiskey Sours....

Remembering Red Skelton, Painter Of Fine Art

By Deborah J. (Harvey) Bowers on March 03, 2014 / 5,688 views

By Deborah J. (Harvey) Bowers on March 03, 2014 / 5,688 views

The Winter here in Iowa has me rather discouraged. So in looking for ways to cope I've watched youtube.com for videos of good things. I came across an interview with Red Skelton from 1980 or 1981. I learned he was a painter as well as a tv entertainer. So I've looked at some of his paintings and was inspired to copy one in my own way. I'm sharing it with you. I am thinking of stopping looking at the regular...

The Elephant Rope

By Chris on March 02, 2014 / 4,556 views

By Chris on March 02, 2014 / 4,556 views

As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not. He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. "Well,"...

Ye I Walk Through The Valley Of Death, I Shall Fear NO Evil

By Combax on March 01, 2014 / 7,390 views

By Combax on March 01, 2014 / 7,390 views

Another adventure, NOT one i want to repeat, but i felt NO Fear at anytime knowing i was wearing God's Power Armor in the Valley of Death. My slightly inebriated friend HAD to get a beer from the local Mini-mart in my neighborhood. He wanted to walk there too (about a mile) and said the exercise would be good for us. I told him that it is not real wise to go strolling around my neighborhood at around 10 pm. We...

Through The Veil

By Joseph J. Mazzella on February 24, 2014 / 2,774 views

My two sons have Autism. It makes life difficult for them on even the best days. The condition is insidious. It hurts them and chains them in so many ways. Even though they are both full grown neither of them will ever be able to live on their own. Autism hampers their learning. It strangles their communication. It limits their interests. It traps them in their own minds. Autism makes them overly sensitive to touch...

The Treasure Guards

By Sree Hari on February 23, 2014 / 2,248 views

By Sree Hari on February 23, 2014 / 2,248 views

We all grew up listening to various tales about expeditions to unearth hidden treasures. The brave treasure-hunters had to cross daunting seas, fend off hideous monsters and make a lot of sacrifices just to get to the treasure trove. But in order to attain it, they had to face their wildest nightmare- the treasure guards. They were a group of fierce and brutal warriors whose only purpose was to prevent the treasure...

You Had Me At "Hello"

By Valerie Mangrum on February 21, 2014 / 1,657 views

I'll be the first to admit that I am not a "people person." I'm not particularly shy, by definition, but I suffer from social anxiety. My comfort-level in social circumstances is to fly beneath the radar, being perfectly pleasant but not sitting in anyone's lap. The whole notion of "working a room" is lost on me. It's something, as a professional, that I've had to deal with over the years, usually quite clumsily....

I Pulled The String And He Spoke.

By Kevin24x7 on February 20, 2014 / 5,108 views

By Kevin24x7 on February 20, 2014 / 5,108 views

I pulled the string and he spoke. As a young boy growing up in Nebraska, I wrote a letter to Santa and received my Jerry Mahoney ventriloquist puppet. I watched the television shows of the fifties and saw Edger Bergen with Charlie McCarthy, Paul Winchell with Jerry Mahoney, Sheri Lewis with Lamb Chop, and many other popular ventriloquists on the Ed Sullivan Show. Life moved on and I got involved in my high...