Published inTell Your StoryThoughts inspired by Pride month.The Stonewall riots happened the summer after I graduated high school, before I started college. Nobody was “out” when I was in high…Jun 11, 2024Jun 11, 2024
Published inTell Your StoryThe BurglarI woke up with a start, eyes blinking. The noise that woke me might’ve been someone slamming their apartment door or something, because it…Jun 11, 2024Jun 11, 2024
The Wizard Wasn’t The Most Wonderful Thing About OzA few years ago, I was able to watch the classic film from 1939, The Wizard of Oz, on the big screen at the Paramount Theater in Oakland…Dec 28, 2022Dec 28, 2022
Published inTell Your StoryThe Train to RomaIt was nearly midnight when I got off the train in Milan. I had made it all the way up to Denmark during my spring break from studying in…Apr 24, 2021Apr 24, 2021
Kermit SkrommeA high school English teacher with the unlikely name of Kermit Othello Skromme altered the course of my life, and in a good way.Apr 12, 2021Apr 12, 2021
It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble.I do love a good Mark Twain quote.Jul 17, 20201Jul 17, 20201
Mr. GilmoreWith all of the talk of race, I’ve been thinking a lot about my experience growing up in San Jose, California, back when San Jose was…Jun 27, 20201Jun 27, 20201
What did George Washington want for his country?I recently saw an ad for some slogan t-shirts and one particular slogan caught my eye. It was a quote attributed to George Washington that…May 13, 2020May 13, 2020
What’s Right? What’s Left? What Works?There have been many essays about problems with the old left vs. right political paradigm. I’d like to attempt a view from a higher…Aug 23, 2018Aug 23, 2018
EleanorOn July 23rd, 1926, a baby girl was born in the little town of Los Banos, California to Francis and Tillie McDonald. The addition of little…Mar 3, 2018Mar 3, 2018
The Emerald CityIt’s not every day that I connect Buddhism and L. Frank Baum, so I thought I would write this one down. The connection began recently when…May 19, 2016May 19, 2016
Published inThe PolicyThe Story of MoneyMoney is a cultural invention; it does not exist outside of human culture.May 13, 20164May 13, 20164
Published inTell Your StoryLucky MeIf you are able to read this, be it on a computer, tablet, or smartphone, you are a very, very lucky person. I certainly know I am. Being…Apr 19, 2016Apr 19, 2016
Published inTell Your StoryI Left My Car in San FranciscoIn 1967 when the Summer of Love was happening up in San Francisco, I was 15 and living 50 miles south in San Jose, so I was just a bit too…Jan 18, 20153Jan 18, 20153
