But Screwing up is so Easy” — @Lawson Wallace “ You need to stop getting high, Lawson.” “ You need to stop getting high, Lawson,” the voice whispered in my head through most of the eighties. I ignored it or tried to. I kept getting high, but I was enjoying it less and less as time went on. It finally dawned on me. The weed was making…

You can rise above it — I don’t know how old I was. I was very young, but I can imagine what it was like for my parents in the doctor’s office that day. The Doctor glanced up from his notes. He gave my parents a quick nod, then he picked up my chart. “ I’m…

Or how my wife and I dodged some Bullets — I was sitting in front of my computer cursing writer’s block when my wife and I heard the gunshots. We went outside to see what was going on. The cops were already onsite. The kid that did the shooting was in custody and the victim transported to the Hospital. …

Believe me, I cried a lot. — I was a little kid, I can’t remember how old I was, but it doesn’t make a difference, whenever, I would get lost, then I would get frustrated and upset-this persisted into my twenties. As an adult, it sometimes takes me hours to go and come back from a trip…

Being there was enough — It was a hot Florida day ten years ago. I was at work at a County transit bus terminal in Clearwater Florida. It was a busy place to work. I called the cops almost every day. I loved getting people arrested. The offenses were stupid. Drinking on the property, drunk…

Stories that rocked my world this week — Melinda Blau shared her story of a conversation with people she randomly met. I enjoyed it, and I’m a little envious, I’m not good at doing things like that. The Magic of Fleeting Encounters Everyday conversation with strangers gives you information, understanding, and a sense that you’re part of something…medium.com Mary Liga gave me a lot to think about 4 Gripping Questions That Can Change Your Life And get you focused on what mattersmedium.com

A writer for Illumination Integrated Publications — A little about my background I’m the oldest son of an Air Force Enlisted man. We traveled all over the country. The two places I would love to return to are Anchorage Alaska and Tokyo Japan. When I came back to the states, after graduating from high school, I struggled to find my place in…

I shouldn’t have ordered that drink — I was living in Florida, with my dad, my uncle Richard and my younger sister Mary. Dad had co-signed a loan for my sister to help her buy a car. Le Miz was playing at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. I had never had the desire to see a Broadway…

Dogs understand more than we know — The three-bedroom house sat on a quiet street in Florida. A family of five adults shared the house with two cats and a Doberman named Barney. The house was quiet that evening Barney lay under the dining room table with his eyes open and his ears up. “ I wonder…