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I have witnessed unbelievable angry tantrums by toddlers, children, teenagers, and adults. But, during an incredibly beautiful wedding, I watched as a 5’4″, 180-pound, grey-haired woman, with red lipstick, crimson rouge applied to her cheeks appearing to be in her late eighties was slowly escorted into the church on the arm of who I later learned was her grandson. She used a cane painted blue … Continue reading “Astonished tantrum.”
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With each swing of the mallet, I pound the spike deeper into the ground. Anger, jealousy, envy, and hate fuels my swings but, I cannot stop pounding the spike more profoundly into the ground until my arm and shoulder begin to ache as tears and sweat streaming along my cheeks. I hear the faint echo of voices rising above my delirious fog of emotions. With … Continue reading “Mallet.”
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Every day since forever, I have seen you, and we are identical twins. I look into your eyes, and I see the mirror image of me. I have seen pictures of you, and you look like me. Your cheekbones, lips, eyebrows, and chin are all like mine. We are identical twins? As far back as I can remember, I dreamed of a brother or sister. … Continue reading “Identical.”
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Our parents, families, and friends say we are too young to know love. We both wish and desire a love we neither know of or have ever experienced, yet, we have said “I love you” to one another unknown of loves potential and power. I believe we share a love for one another that feels like the wind blowing over out bodies from atop … Continue reading “Defining our love.”
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The twins and Johnathan are in the rear seat of the car with their father at the wheel, as they travel along their driveway from their home to the main road. Johnathan is pitifully staring out the window wondering where they are going when his mother turns around in her front passenger seat to tell Johnathan about this particular task. You will babysit the twins … Continue reading “Wedding anniversaries and a birthday: part #3” (Final)
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At 4:45 pm, their father, Jefferson Wheeler, was a third-generation farmer, who stood six-foot, seven-inches tall, with muscular arms, and a matching barrel chest. He was a hardworking, strict disciplinarian, and his deep baritone bass voice commanded the attention of everyone when he spoke. When he drove his tractor into the barn, he saw the twins digging a hole in the ground behind Johnathan’s tractor. … Continue reading “Wedding anniversaries and a birthday: part #2”
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It was 4:30 pm on a western Nebraska farm, in the summer of 1969 with the humid July winds blowing as usual while the Wheeler twins Jason and Jacob who were age six and digging a hole in the backyard of their parent’s farm. Their 15-year old brother Johnathan was driving one of the families tractors into the barn next to their home. As usual, … Continue reading “Wedding anniversaries and a birthday: part #1.”
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I am a part of what some people call the greatest generation. When I consider how my parents who lived with nothing close to the conveniences I enjoyed as a child, progressing through my teenage years into becoming an adult, I’m proud to have survived based on today’s standards. I survive childhood without car seats, seat belts, helmets for baseball, football or an athletic cup … Continue reading “The next dominant generation.”
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When a child is born, they are an unwritten computer program learning from parents teachers and society.
M. J. Leake Continue reading “Winsome Characters.”
Kevin and Katelynn Crawford age 38 and 39 are a couple with seven children. They have twin four year- olds, a 6, 8, 10, 12, & a 13-year-old teenager. They are a very active family with all of their children participating in some form of after-school athletic activities. The couple amazes their family, friends, and neighbors as they float through a work week, with … Continue reading Grandparents & Parents Revelations: A love story
I stood in the doorway of the kitchen watching my mother cooking and preparing the Thanksgiving dinner as I drooled with excitement wanting to sneak a lick of the bowls she recently mixed the german chocolate cake and its accompanying frosting. Although the aromas of faintly simmering pots filled with potatoes, assorted greens, and the infamous gravy sit on the stove. The crown jewel smell … Continue reading “Faintly simmering and being beckoned.”
There was a time in the 60’s, and 70’s when the mystery of keeping your home secure during the Halloween season was something you passed on to new neighbors. I had new neighbors who moved in two weeks before Halloween. They were a young couple without any children and the wife thought she would bake several dozen caramel popcorn balls to pass out. On Halloween … Continue reading “Halloween Neighborhood-Lessons.”
I have never really liked Halloween since the horrible calamity of 1975, for which my father tells the story with the smiling gleefulness of a teenager like it was yesterday. The events of that night have left me traumatically scared for which I have endured nightmares until this day. I was a child only 5-years of age when my mother dressed me as Casper the … Continue reading “Ghoulish.”
With their annual Halloween party two days away, Erica stood in the mirror admiring her Cleopatra costume. She adjusted the black wig with a gold beaded headpiece while marveling at the matching earrings and choker necklace. She began studying the costumes sleeveless top with brightly colored gold pyramid sequined edgings, and she moved closer towards the mirror she noticed that with no bra on she … Continue reading “Mirrored Gratitude.”
As a child growing up, I always had Labrador Retrievers as pets, and one of my chores was picking up after the dog. When I became an adult, I swore never to get another dog to avoid picking up poo. My kids grew up with cats a lot easier to pick-up after. Several weeks ago I went to visit my father when his 15-year old … Continue reading “”Penchant for poo.”
Children who become teenagers and eventually adults are a wonderment of untold measurement. (M.J.Leake) As the days, months, years, and decades pass, with mothers day, fathers day, birthdays, and holidays gatherings the opportunity for love to be expressed is important. However, do not wait until the opportunity to say “I love you,” Make it happen during a face time call, a text message, voice mail message, … Continue reading “Rhyme or Reason?”
A retiree who accepts their status will become a happier person going forward into the second chapter of their lives. While many retirees remain in their past, never reflecting on their future. (M.J.Leake) As a child did I dreamed of flying or traveling around the world after reading about Amelia Earheart’s adventures and reading the Jules Vern’s novel “Around the world in 80 days?” My … Continue reading “My Homage to Travel Dreams.”
Our eldest son Geoferry organized and paid for a private dining room in the exclusive up scale restaurant “Alain Ducasse,” inside the Dorchester hotel in downtown London to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Initially, I was against the event believing Geoffery should save his money, as I would be content with dinner at home with our Geoffery and ten or so family members hoping everyone … Continue reading “Humorous moxie.”
Six months ago, I was with twenty-one of my family members to watch my youngest great-granddaughter tandem parachute from a plane 12000 feet above the airport to celebrate her 21st birthday and entry into the US Army. My son and his wife Corinna were not happy, to say the least about their daughter taking such a risk. However only because she was entering the US … Continue reading “Dare-Devil Great Grandmother.”
Julius and Doretha Jefferson drove seven hours from Pittsburgh PA to West Point NY, to attend parents day at the US Army’s Military Academy. After a night in the local hotel, they awoke early for breakfast and took the short drive to the campus. They walk into the stadium, to climb the stairs into the stands with several hundred parents to witness their children enter … Continue reading “Crisp proud parents.”
Many years ago during my childhood, I was always my mother’s accompanier. If she went to a funeral, of a friend, I went. Evening events at the church, I went, and to pick up parts for my father’s gas station before auto parts stores delivered, I always went. I was 9 or 10 – years of age, on this one trip, traveling four-tenths of a … Continue reading “Radiating calm and coolness.”
When I was asked to speak here today, I was reticent because for the past three years I have looked upon you all seated here as my family and we all have shared many hours of conversation debating every topic imaginable. I believe I received the nickname “Notorious,” for my frank and direct conversations with many of the students. I’m keenly aware that many of … Continue reading “Notorious Farce.”
After fourteen months of treatments for my illness, the doctor advised me that my fate was final and hospice would be my last destination. For several days I was filled with dreaded fear and depressed from the doom and gloom news, but decided not allow bad news to stop me from seeing Paris one last time. So with my health aid nurse in tow, we … Continue reading “A chateau’s final party and goodbye.”
Temporarily I will become a better person. The person I was yesterday was temporary. Temporarily, I exercise to feel better. The person in my mirror is temporary. Temporarily, I drink until drunk. The person I awoke to is hungover temporarily. My life, family, friends job, are for a lifetime until death. WordPress daily word prompt Continue reading “Temporary.”
When I was newly assigned, my heart was filled with pride and honor, but, quickly I recognized it was I who was the apprentice and intern who learned to appreciated the honor it was to represent, you all. I have reflected upon my times here in the field with a company of men and women whom I have shared traumatic emotional moments of tragedy and … Continue reading “Apprentice.”
Experiments in Nomadism, Minimalism and Ecocentrism
A publication by Northern Arizona University's MFA Program
Across the ocean and back with Nicki Chen
MY TALES TO TELL :)
"Those who do not move, do not notice their chains."
Where to go, how to get there, and what to see...follow me for a lifelong adventure
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Leave Only Footprints
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