The term “unalive,” while used since 1828, has evolved into a vague euphemism that undermines language clarity and seriousness. Its modern application as a verb often circumvents content moderation and promotes linguistic laziness. Meaningful communication relies on precise language, essential for discussing life’s gravitas, especially in challenging contexts like death and grief.
Did you know there are over 43 quintillion permutations of 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube? That’s 43 followed by eighteen zeroes. 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 to be more precise. For most of us, that’s a number we can’t even comprehend, so let me put some perspective on it. If you had one of these at the Big Bang (13 billion…
What follows is the speech I gave at an old Army friend’s wedding in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in November of this year. I’ve known Don for twenty-two years. My earliest memories of him are from Ft. Huachuca wherein I thought, “Who’s that old guy running in our group?” [aside: he’s only five years my elder].…
Tuesday night (August 1, 2023) was the Alpharetta, Georgia, stop of Disturbed’s “Take Back Your Life” Tour. Jinjer and Breaking Benjamin accompanied the headliner as special guests. I had never seen any of these bands until this show and I almost didn’t this time. None of my friends could make the show and coordinating it…
Dreams are tricky. Some people believe they carry meaning. They can be transparent like “You’re dreaming of an ex-girlfriend? I think it means you’re lonely.” or “You met your ex at a waterfall? The water symbolizes rebirth. Forget the girl…what’s new on your horizon?? Whatever it is, this is your cue to take that chance.”…
If 2022 was the year of misfortune for me, 2023 could be the year of missteps if I’m not careful. It may be unsettling to some to learn that I’ve been on a handful of dates this year. For the most part, they were surprisingly easy. Whether I did them “right” or not doesn’t matter.…
When I was young my biological father got a new black lab puppy that he named Corndog. He and I were never close. I mean my father, but neither was I close to Corndog. I met him once. On a rare excursion to the lake with my father (he had a new wife he was…
What becomes of these locks once an unbreakable love is shattered? Does the jilted lover return, key in hand or combination recalled, to remove the token in a symbolic act of catharsis or maybe retribution? Do they let the talisman stay as a gesture of goodwill and remembrance of better days gone by? Or perhaps…
What do I say about this woman when my feelings for her are ineffable? Jessica suggested I say she had straight teeth. Because “she’d like that”… Jess is right. She had beautiful teeth. Everything about her was beautiful. But still. A eulogy? I’m not good at speeches. I’m too soft-spoken to be a wonderful orator.…