Five Minutes – Octember 5, 2022

Black Magic: the early yearsgraphix: spwilcen Prologue Having practiced Life in Five-minute Segments1 for an immodest number of years, I’ve become quite adept at capitalizing on those miniscule opportunities.  Especially when infrequent, I selfishly use them to do things I want to do.  Shaving, tying my bootlaces, checking the oil level on Black Magic, those

Character – Octember 4, 2022

graphix: spwilcen Just yesterday or the day before, I don’t remember and being an old fart, I’m entitled to forget, in fact might be chastised if I didn’t routinely forget, but I let the keyboard post a piece about children becoming adults.  The tragedy of it, that is. It might speak to the strength of

What’ll Ya Have? – Octember 3, 2022

Or as The Varsity1 Counter Masters would say, “What’ll ya have, what’ll ya have?”2 Looking for fiction?  A short story?  Maybe a bit of humor, sarcastically peppered, ribaldly salted? A poemetric piece? A vignette dressed as a melancholy milestone? Pure silliness or lunacy? Noir with a bit of jaundice? Rusted, twisted fairy tales? Not here,

The Problem – Octember 2, 2022

Opinion graphix: spwilcen The problem with children… …is that they grow to be adults. — Originally, the keyboard wrote “grow up to be adults.” Which implies “up” is an improvement or maturation. Neither of which is correct.  I submit maturation into adulthood or abandonment of childish wisdom is a tragic loss. Children are not to

Goodbye to an Old Friend – Septembler 31, 2022

graphix: spwilcen Photo by Chris F on Pexels.com Goodbye, old friend. The calendar says this is the final day of September.  September has not aged well.  Starting out a robust youth, bright and summer-y, September has become an old man as months go.   Where he once encouraged the tail-end of garden goodies to prosper, he’s

Kicked a Stone – Septembler 30, 2022

graphix: spwilcen Perhaps on long walks, I should ignore my inner voice. Or walk different routes so singular scenery steals attention from pernicious perplexities. — Challenging life sometimes mimics breathing in a sandstorm.  There are resources: Confused by finance, ask a banker.Should eternity escape comprehension, hear a shaman.When fidelity seems undefinable, observe your neighbor.Worried over

Flash Blog – Septembler 29, 2020

graphix: spwilcen Subject: “All God’s creatures,” 250 words, ten minutes It’s no secret I find rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, moles, and voles to be despicable creatures, serving no good environmental purpose in an urban or other setting of human habitation. Also, deer, raccoons, opossums, and certain feathered fiends like robins, goldfinches, and starlings.  I’m not proposing

Be Prepared – Septembler 28, 2022

graphix: spwilcen All of a suddenly, summer beat feet.  In the space of a day, we went from bone dry, grass parching, shirt soaking heat, to long-sleeve cool, dehumidifier running wide-open all-day damp.  Predominantly cloudy, intermittent sprinkle, cool-damp. It’s kind of nice.  Not yet cool enough you can see your breath while chasing squirrels from

Methinks the Lady Doth Protest Too Much – September 27, 2022

spwilcen Opinion Let us suppose you are upset over what you consider unjust treatment you’ve received. Perhaps you’ve been cheated of your birthrights. An odds-on possibility exists that you simply covet something regardless of your rights to ownership. Let your motives fester by themselves momentarily. “Cheated” of whatever fulfillment of your desires, you protest.  Whether

Survey Says – Septembler 26, 2022

spwilcen A smidge of clarification For those not familiar with the meaning of today’s title – certainly non-USofFA residents – it refers to early evening television’s “Family Feud” and the phrase spoken by the host as contestant’s proposed answers are about to be compared to audience responses. You might be a fan – the host