A Week of Tragic Anniversaries

By lytspeed Posted in 100 Words A Day, Signs o' the Times, Writing Leave a reply

April 19, 1995:  The Oklahoma City Bombing
April 20, 1999:  Columbine High School
April 16, 2007:  Virginia Tech Shootings

This is a week of tragic American anniversaries.  It is a week to remember the slain, honor the survivors, and treasure our loved ones.  It is a reminder that those we hold dear can be gone in an instant, and of the importance of letting them know how much we love them, every day.

To my survivor friends and family:  Know that I’m thinking of you today, and sending my love.  I wish you health, happiness, and above all, peace.

Although this original post was limited to 100 words by design, I’m editing this post in 2014 to point out that since I wrote this in 2009, three more American tragedies have occurred:

April 20, 2010: Deepwater Horizons Oil Spill
April 15, 2013: Boston Marathon Bombings
April 17, 2013: West, Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Only one of these would be considered domestic terrorism, like the ones above, but I think it’s sad that there have been any more domestic terrorism events in the last five years.

Blackberry Blossom

By lytspeed Posted in 100 Words A Day, Writing Leave a reply

Tonight, while listening to Doc Watson’s flying bluegrass fingers play “Blackberry Blossom,” I thought of an old friend, a musician.  He plays a mean version of that tune.

About a month ago, he contacted me, out of the blue.  He had escaped a bad marriage and worse divorce with nothing but his instrument and clothing.  We traded a few e-mails, but I was busy and said I would get back with him.  Tonight, I found his address and sent him an e-mail.  I got an immediate reply.

“Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently.”

Oh God.  I hope he’s okay.

Two More Bits

By lytspeed Posted in 100 Words A Day, Writing Leave a reply

Three days ago, I wrote about my state quarter obsession, and how it helps me fend off the gathering gloom.

Since finding the Oklahoma quarter mentioned in that post, I have found two more Philadelphia Mint state quarters: Colorado and Montana.  In the preceding year, I only found three that I could add to the collection.

Part of me wants to attribute this to a mystical form of karmic fulfillment; my inner skeptic insists that it’s mere coincidence.

Don’t get me wrong; I appreciate my inner skeptic.  But when it comes to my emotional outlook, I gotta follow the karma.

Two Bits to Happiness

By lytspeed Posted in 100 Words A Day, Writing Leave a reply

I received an Oklahoma state quarter as change the other day.  I got excited; it was a Philadelphia Mint, one of the ones I was missing.  Living in Denver, it’s easy to find Denver mint state quarters, but to complete the collection, I need both Denver and Philadelphia mint.

Some of you are probably saying, “This dude gets excited about finding quarters?  He needs to get a life.”  A fair conclusion, I suppose.

But I say that I must find joy in the little things.  It’s the only way to fight off the overwhelming, dark, rumbling things on the horizon.