Posts by soupster
Our Town – May 20, 2010
“We always meet in the middle,” Jan-Erik told the Soupster, as the two waited at the soda fountain for milk shakes. “That’s the secret to my marriage. Me and Dolly, always in the middle.” “You two do seem happy,” the Soupster conceded. “Well, don’t say that like it is a foul thing,” laughed Jan-Erik. A…
Read MoreOur Town – May 6, 2010
The Soupster awoke to the sound of birds – early birds. He heard a number of cars pull into the neighborhood and park in the street. The engines stopped and car doors creaked open. Next came the cawing of excited squawks and warbling calls, as the early birds recognized each other and descended on their destination.…
Read MoreOur Town – April 22, 2010
“De Spring has sprung,” the Soupster sang, as he strolled downtown in the sunshine. “De grass is Riz.” “I wonder where dem boidies is?” he continued to warble. “De little boid is on de wing.Ain’t dat upsoid? De little wing is on de boid!” The Soupster chuckled to himself, but heard ahead of him in the…
Read MoreOur Town – April 8, 2010
The totem pole-lined paths through the woods of Sitka National Historical Park were silent, dark and deep. The Soupster strolled through an evening mist, alone. This is the park’s 100th birthday, the Soupster remembered. While reaching 100 years old is the ultimate achievement for any human, 100 years for a mountain is a blink of…
Read MoreOur Town – March 25, 2010
(Originally published March 22, 2007) “Two hundred and forty-seven eggs, wreck `em,’” the waitress called to the short-order cook in the Soupster’s dream about Spring. In his dream about Spring, the Soupster sat at a breakfast counter that hadn’t existed in Our Town for years. Two large dark-haired men sat on either side of him.…
Read MoreOur Town – March 11, 2010
The Soupster watched a small TV and read the daily paper. “I’m multi-tasking,” he said aloud, although he sat at his kitchen table alone. On the TV screen, a sporting event was taking place that seemed to involve pushing a large smooth stone down an ice-covered lane to land at a certain spot on a…
Read MoreOur Town – February 25, 2010
Munching cookies and waiting in line at one of his favorite downtown banks, the Soupster saw his old neighbor Kurt. “Kurt, are those new duds you are wearing?” inquired the Soupster, eyeing his friend’s bright pink-and-green flowered shirt and yellow cotton slacks. “Well, yes, Soupster, they are new, but how could you tell?” “They don’t…
Read MoreOur Town – February 11, 2010
“I like living in Our Town,” said the Knik Canuck — who previously hailed from Vancouver and Anchorage. “I like it plenty – A to Zed.” He and the Soupster had met up on Lincoln Street earlier and strolled together, heading east. “Zed?” said an incredulous Soupster. “Don’t you mean zee? A to Zee?” “You say toe-may-toe and…
Read MoreOur Town – December 17, 2009
Let It Rain (Sung to the Tune of “Let It Snow”) Oh, the weather is very snotty. It belongs right in the potty. We’ve no need to complain. Let it rain, Let it rain, Let it rain. Oh, the Yule is oft pictured frigid, But we mustn’, get too rigid. It’s not so much of…
Read MoreOur Town – December 3, 2009
On the road as he drove toward downtown, not one single motorist pulled out in front of the Soupster and made him slow sharply, only to have the car turn off the road a block or two later. That’s odd, thought the Soupster, as he pulled into the supermarket lot to buy Cheerios and milk.…
Read MoreOur Town – November 19, 2009
Crouching from the driving wind and rain, the Soupster had to peer between a nearly solid wall of advertising flyers (for fairs, concerts and meetings) covering the door and window to see if the shop was still open. Good, the light was on and the Soupster could see another customer in the aisle. Father Time…
Read MoreOur Town – November 5, 2009
Through his kitchen window, the Soupster saw Madeline coming his way and stiffened. He wasn’t sure how he stood these days with his cross-the-street neighbor, but he knew Madeline didn’t usually steer his way for anything but business. He went out the door to meet her. Madeline was one tough cookie. Madeline had a Rottweiler,…
Read MoreOur Town – October 22, 2009
Originally published October 16, 2003 “Ouch,” said the Soupster, as Dr. Gwen pulled on his arm to examine the skin above his elbow. “Don’t yank it off, Doc!” “You’re a baby,” chided Dr. Gwen, hiking up the Soupster’s sleeve to get a better look. “But I’m glad you came to see me. Moles can signal…
Read MoreOur Town – October 8, 2009
The Soupster plopped onto the bench outside Harrigan Centennial Hall Building to rest his aching dogs (feet), swelling inside his normally spacious clogs. Combating Global Warming by walking more helped his heart and reduced his carbon footprint, the Soupster thought, but it seemed to be increasing his regular footprint. A man and two women spilled…
Read MoreOur Town – September 24, 2009
My old dog, Grizzly, and I round the corner in the park and I spy the Soupster sitting on a bench. I sit beside him as Grizzly sniffs some Cow Parsnip. “Hey, Soupster, you like old dogs or young dogs better?” He reaches over to scratch Grizzly on the head, causing both of them to…
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