Ale for the Soul

**Found this story I penned for a writing contest and wanted to share.** One beautiful sunny afternoon as the kids entertain themselves with TV and toys, I continue to go about my daily chores of house cleaning while baby-sitting four precious grandchildren.   Stealing away for a few moments of rest, I quickly and quietly repaired to the living room in order to lay down on the sofa.   Ahh…rest and ease!   I wonder how quickly this will end as the children discover Grandma is not to be heard in the kitchen.   Immediately my eyes close and I drift off to Never Never Land.   Not realizing how long I had been asleep my eyes opened to find Hollie holding her arm tight to herself with a twisted look of extreme horror and discomfort on her face.   The transference of horror took upon my face as I discovered her arm seared by a nasty burn, and the hand missing from atop her wrist.   In my hysteria I desperately tried to find what she had done to cause such hor...

**Found this story I penned for a writing contest and wanted to share.** The time was the 1940s in America.  War!  Gradually the grip of the Great Depression loosened as the nightmare that held this country in such terror and horror diminished into a fleeting nightmare as the economy began to hit on all four cylinders.  The New Deal!  The American Dream a reality once more!  As a young couple in love, the thought of hope and a future life together seemed easily within reach.  Closing on our new home in Austin gave us the confidence and security in the fact that very dream can be had upon the strength of a good work ethic.  For isn’t this what America was built on?  Wasn’t it by our resolve and determination, the sweat of our brow, so we were told and had lived out for us that gave the sense that the world could be ours if we simply went after it?  For this is what made us the Greatest Generation.  Soon the reminder came that dreams come ...

Three more months remaining in 2021, and I'm curious if time can pass by any faster.  September was an incredible month as I saw the arrival of the first official day of Fall.  With cooler weather fast approaching, I can finally look forward to a time of camping.  In addition to the changing of seasons, I am now settled in working for the local tobacco shop.  Living in Houston for many years, I was a die-hard shoe salesman managing and training within various companies and their subsequent regional locations.  After arriving in Fort Worth, I transitioned to a new area of employment expertise becoming a purveyor of cigars, pipes, pipe tobacco, and the many differing accessories.  Finding my place at Big Dave's Cigars felt as if I had come home after living as a prodigal working at other companies.  Getting along with the store's staff wasn't very difficult as we are all more mature in age and seem to have the same strong work ethic.  The cherry on ...

On many occasions, I wonder what life would have been like had I actually got what I wanted.  Growing up as a little kid, I had a vision for life that may seem fairly run-of-the-mill: college, career, family, hobbies, and so much more.  None of it came to pass...or at least not to the degree desired.  (The vision I had was very detailed.  For the sake of this blog entry, I generalized what the vision for life included.)  What I didn't factor into the equation was the fact life simply happens.  Yours truly never quite learned, until much later in life, that one must roll with the punches.  That doesn't mean I lose sight of the end goal or heart desires, but I must also not wreck myself trying to force a square peg into a round hole.  Somewhat recently, I came to the conclusion that maybe what I wanted out of life wasn't God's Will.  Apart from telling people about Jesus, I don't have the faintest idea what God's Will is for my life or how that...

"Hey, bro!"  "What's happening, brother?"  Statements like these can take on various forms depending on who is speaking.  Honestly, it irks me to no end.  The speaker assumes there is a relationship of some sort in place that carries with it a certain level of intimacy and trust.  This casual friendship may or may not even exist beyond the mere acquaintance of another person; however, such a connection is earned and not given.  The bond of brotherhood, by blood or circumstance, is extremely sacred and trascendent.  For example, I have a biological sister and brother.  Simply because they are in my family doesn't mean the spirit of brotherhood is present.  Thankfully, in my case, it does!  Then there are those who have become my "brother" or "sister" through circumstance: a bond born out of adversity...a fiery trial that purifies and strengthens the relationship.  In both cases, biological or otherwise, I would storm the gates of hel...

On Tuesday, my job search came to an end with employment at  Run On! by JackRabbit .  I finally found something I can dive into with the totality of my being...a full-time job with decent pay and benefits.  The cherry on top is I will now work Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  No more dead-end employment running the rat race with no real goal to reach.  The job description includes working in the distribution center fulfilling orders and maintaining organization in the stock room, which is something I formerly performed with other shoe companies in Houston.  I couldn't be more pleased with this immense blessing from my Abba Father, the Lord Jesus.  Now the challenge is to learn what is both required and expected from me.  As an older, more mature, individual, I also need to the learn the tech aspect of the position, as well as to make sure I am physically capable of accomplishing the tasks at-hand.  After working four days, I am...

Alcholics Anonymous is a twelve-step group providing support and encouragement for breakfing free from the addiction of alcoholism.  Over the years, I have considered myself a member of this organization, specifically calling Southwest my home group.  This fellowship, especially as I gain significant distance from my last foray as an active drinker, has evolved to hold various meanings during the different seasons of life.  At this point, I mainly attend as a means to get out of the apartment for a bit and to meet my social needs.  Lately, I have found it increasingly difficult to maintain a semi-active role in the program due to disagreement with a few core beliefs held by A.A. in general.  Not in any particular order, I adamently disagree with calling alcoholism a disease and refuse to acquiese to the overarching view a member can define or create his/her own higher power.  Alcoholism is an addiction, not a disease.  It is a learned behavior and, qui...