Curations from the Human Jungle
Photo by Daria Ivanenko on Pexels.com [This short, eloquent story reminds me of some rock 'n roll songs from the 1950s that distilled teenage emotions down to a universal essence. "I was all right, for a while. I could smile for a while ..." There's genuine anguish behind those pimples. No one captures fat as... Continue Reading →
[It will surprise no one in The Jungle that one of my favorite Easter Stories is one I wrote myself. What's not to like? It has sunshine, mud, a lovable dog, and redemption ... and even a slice of Easter ham. SB SM] by SB Stephen Morris Easter is the spring holiday, a time of... Continue Reading →
Stick Season may be the hit, but Mud Season Romance was the original ode to Vermont's most fickle season. [It's a ritual that you, as Silverback and Silverbelles, Silverbabes, Silverbucks, and Silverpups, up with which you must put. This trio consists of Stephen Morris (approximately age 42), Jacob Morris (age 11), and Patrick Morris (age... Continue Reading →
[This week is all about two things- maple syrup and mud. The two are irrevocably intertwined at this time of year in Vermont. SB SM] From my "Auto-biografitti:" That's when it all came together ... writing, woodstoves, and Vermont's crappy weather When I joined Vermont Castings in January, 1979 I had a customer service staff... Continue Reading →
[When I was a commercial book publisher, we published a book by Alan AtKisson titled Believing Cassandra. This references the Greek goddess who was given the gift of prophecy while being cursed by the fact that no one believed her truths. Paul Ehrlich was her polar opposite, i.e. one who spoke in falsehoods yet was... Continue Reading →
[My grandmother on my father's side was a Leary and likely came over during The Famine, making me an official member of the Irish Diaspora. These days my favorite actor (Cillian Murphy), writer (Claire Keegan), musicians (Dropkick Murphys), and podcaster (Blindboy Boathouse) are all Irish, so their contemporary culture is officially hot. Below is a... Continue Reading →
Before we get to today's post, let's share the video that Silverbelle Mary Bernadette sent after reading yesterday's piece on mechanical bulls. She notes: "I lasted a full minute. I would have been able to hang on longer if they didn’t put that slippery Mexican blanket on his back - very sneaky. Next time I... Continue Reading →
[I hope yesterday's post is fresh in your mind, because today's won't make as much sense otherwise. Storytelling seems to be on the front burner these days. By the way, I've deliberately left in the AI-generated typos on today's feature image. Struck me as appropriate. SB SM] Today's selection-- from A Hero's Delusion by Wendell Wellman. Techniques in... Continue Reading →
Couldn't resist:
[It's Saturday, so we're supposed to take a break from the real world of The Jungle to laugh at something. But it's also Valentine's Day, so we thought you'd enjoy a "bouquet" of renditions of the torch song "My Funny Valentine." If this is a song you like, I guarantee you won't after wading your... Continue Reading →