Sitting here, in this strange place, a place that in all his long life he had never been before and in a situation he had never once imagined for himself, he considered all of the old wisdom he had heard about warriors like himself who lived, fought, and struggled and then, later realize that it … Continue reading The Old Warrior
Author: charlesmerle
Nearly IndestructIble “Nuts.com”
About two weeks ago, I ordered seven-holiday tins from Nuts.com. These gifts were mailed to three different states. Two days later, I heard back from recipients one through five, happily expressing holiday gratitude. Yesterday, I contacted number Six, thinking I probably screwed up their address. “No,” said Six. “I thought it was from (blank), an … Continue reading Nearly IndestructIble “Nuts.com”
Three Wrong Numbers
I have had three wrong numbers of note in my life. They span more than thirty years. The first was sometime during the summer months of 1994, the second was about nine years later, and the third was last Thursday. Each one is a singular mystery, an enigma, an odd-enough-to-remember event. It was this third … Continue reading Three Wrong Numbers
A 3X Arctic parka – muck boots – smoke alarms – a maintEnance man to the rescue – 126 miles to go – and a pizza order
For this story to make sense to you there are a couple of facts you need to know. I wander around often. Ohio, Georgia, Gulf Shores, Alabama, and South Florida mostly. Sometimes Arizona too. I have a wonderful and comfortable relationship with a great lady who, for the purpose of this story, we shall call … Continue reading A 3X Arctic parka – muck boots – smoke alarms – a maintEnance man to the rescue – 126 miles to go – and a pizza order
A Bedroom Black Hole Mystery
Don't worry, it's not that kind of story… Every one of us has had it happen, the missing sock that the dryer ate. Eventually, sometimes, it turns up behind the machine, or static-stuck inside a polo shirt or with the dryer sheet inside a pair of pants. It happens. What I am about to tell … Continue reading A Bedroom Black Hole Mystery
The Ultimate Baseball Game
Math fascination snuck up on me by way of baseball. Addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, percentages, averages, angles, distances, probabilities, speed, projections, time, all of it within the context of a baseball game. Baseball was my personal gateway drug to mathematics. Baseball counts everything! Then, before I knew what was happening to me, I learned that … Continue reading The Ultimate Baseball Game
Your Truck!… It’s Illegal!
This morning, at about 07:30, I was out on the walkway enjoying my coffee and a beautiful morning. (Sadly, the condo I am now in has its balcony enclosed so there is no outside space except on the walkway out front.) Fortunately, mine is a corner unit so I am not in anyone’s way here … Continue reading Your Truck!… It’s Illegal!
Sleeping with a Freight Train
I was in my favorite hotel on the Oceanside of Florida, when Hurricane Ian slammed into the Gulfside. I watched in horror as it demolished Sanibel Island, Ft. Myers Beach, and Pine Island, where my buddy’s house is located. Ian lumbered across the width of Florida wreaking havoc and moving in a general northeast direction … Continue reading Sleeping with a Freight Train
sweet dreams
The strange thing about this story is that I am not a country music fan. I mean, don’t get me wrong, who doesn’t sing along with Brooks and Dunn when “My Maria” comes on the radio? Neither can I resist any Johnny Cash song or when Jennifer Nettles sings “Stay”. Those, and a few other … Continue reading sweet dreams
about my grief
Full disclosure, this story is not a “story”. This story is a look back at my journey through the death of my daughter Katie, and the aftermath. As with most of my stories, this one began its life as a thought seed germinating in my brain for weeks. Like most of my musings, this one … Continue reading about my grief
Chuck Choate Words & Pictures 