Chapter: December “Don’t Dream, It’s Over” *** Losing someone you love is a devastating experience, and even after decades of weathering life’s travails, the human body is a terribly fragile creation. Grief is the embodiment of stress, emotional strain, and the body reacts adversely. The immune system may be compromised, a heart condition exacerbated. Couple overwhelming grief with a physical weakness and suddenly “dying...

Chapter: November “Nightmares Are Made of This” *** Never quite even-handed or necessarily fair, life settles on the precipice of endless balances: wealth and poverty, ambition and apathy, love and hate, darkness and light… dreams and nightmares. Often it seems as if there is an excess of the bad and the good will never come, or not enough of the good, and too soon dispersed. Living in the space between, we try and hold o...

Chapter: June “Ties That Bind” *** In a parallel universe, anything is possible. A world might exist where you’re the president, a prize-winning journalist, a loud-mouthed radio host, or maybe just a homeless bum. An ideal you might even exist, a you that never had any regrets, made all the right choices, and walked through life with a song upon their lips. It’s an appealing fantasy for those who are sure there are worlds...

Chapter: October “The Light of the Sun” *** For all of the human heart’s shortcomings, there is a great deal to be said for the sphere of emotion. Reason, insight, and intellect are admirable, even outstanding in their ability to teach us to overcome our obstacles, but on their own, they lack depth and complexity… a soul to give them context. Physics and engineering give us a glimpse into the inner workings of the univers...

Chapter: September “The Glow of the Moon” *** Decisions vary in scope and importance. We make them all the time; their making defines us as people, tells others who we have been, what we are, what we might be. Maybe you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain, or hot summer nights with a tall glass of cold lemonade. A slender girl with legs that climb all the way to heaven, or one with curves that don’t quit, pro...

Chapter: August “The Sun and the Moon” *** Life is as full of treasured moments as it is of hardship, though the challenges and obstacles that must be overcome can seem insurmountable, weighing so heavily that it seems even Atlas must be crushed under its mass. When those special gifts keep coming, it is easy to be desensitized or to focus on them to the expense of missing greater opportunities. And if you do see them, wh...

Chapter: May “Reality Check” *** Meeting a girlfriend’s parents is a defining moment in a relationship; theoretically, you’ll make a lasting impression on your honey’s parents that won’t make them go for the shotgun. Yes, ma’am. I do think your daughter is a lovely, talented young woman and I think the world of her. No sir, I wouldn’t consider for a second bringing her home even a hair past eleven. Not that easy, of cours...

Chapter: April “Dirty Dancing” *** If you have any talent for bullshitting, there are some torpedoes you can see coming and prepare for with a little well-intentioned manipulation. Evil questions like ‘Do these pants make my ass look fat?’ or ‘Do you think that girl’s hot?’ can be deflected with a casual compliment to the fine derriere of the former, or the snarky comment about dime-a-dozen looks to the latter, because un...

Chapter: March “Between the Bars” *** There are moments so uncomfortable that you wish you could be anywhere else, like being face to face with someone calling you an asshole, or a post-sex confrontation with your girlfriend’s shrieking sister. An invitation to meet your sweetie’s father shouldn’t be one of those, of course, but when her daddy just happens to be locked up in a prison with a reputation for its inmates, jus...

Chapter: February"Love (and Lust) is in the Air" *** Ever get a feeling of intense guilt when you’re not sure exactly what it is that you’re supposed to be guilty of, a sense that an apology is demanded in a situation where you’re dead certain an apology would only make things worse? Oil on water, Jahn thought, gaping at the shrieking girl before him. Woman, he mentally corrected himself. Both of them, however small and s...

Chapter: January "Starting the Year With a Bang” *** “Hey, asshole.” Isn’t it funny how some things never change? First and last impression, like mirror images. Those were the first words Greg Bartels had ever spoken to him, and despite not having seen the guy for nearly two years, were the first to spill out of his mouth again. It wasn’t unexpected, but Jahn hadn’t liked the guy since the beginning; he came off a cocky b...

We started out great just you and me in a friendshipfull of understanding, listening, and patience. It continuedto grow, the longer we talked and the more we shared of each other’s dreams.Then just yesterday you looked back and decided no more!Why did you tell me things you would later take back?Did you even want me at all or was it just a game to you?I guess I can continue to ask myself these questionsbut in reality I gu...

STROKE YOUR MAN Stroke him nice and easy, Real slow. That's it, Take your time, There you go. Don't rush, Show him you are sincere. He loves how you stroke him, Show him you really care. Ladies, stroke your man, Tell him he is at the center of your world.  Let him know how deep he is, And how much further he can go. Even though he knows it, With that sexy, cocky smile. Using your lips, Stroke him with your mouth. Simply s...

Chapter XVIII Wednesday morning, they all three awoke at the crack of dawn. Isolde wondered if their new-found camaderie, or maybe love had recharged all of them, and made them want to wake up early, to be together.George spoke first, saying, “Good morning, you two. I love you guys.” Then, springing out of bed, and turning toward Isolde, he said, “If you don’t mind, I’m gonna hop in the shower first, so I can get my ass o...

Chapter XVI While they were sitting out on the porch, George started having second thoughts again. He was sitting in one of the rockers, with his feet up on the crossbar, and suddenly sat forward, and planted both feet on the floor. He stood up and turning, said over his shoulder, “I gotta got to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” He went through the front door and down the hallway. After he left, Isolde said to Terry, “I...