Our Town – October 18, 2012

“Emery!” the Soupster called, glancing up from the outboard he was hunched over. The cyclist screeched to a halt. “Hey, Soupster! How’s it going?” she asked cheerfully. “Havin’ trouble with my starter,” the Soupster said, standing up with one hand on the engine and the other supporting his lower back. ”And this drizzle ain’t helping my…

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Our Town – November 17, 2011

“Ugh,” said Jeanne, a schoolteacher friend, as she plopped into the passenger seat of the Soupster’s car. “You hear the weather report?” she asked, as the Soupster pulled out and made for the airport. “I’ve got plenty of time,” Jeanne continued. “Oh, ugh, my keys and my tickets,” she said, rifling through her purse. “No,…

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Our Town – March 10, 2011

“Great Caesar’s debit card!” said the Original Soupster, pushing away the computer keyboard, frustrated. “Fireweed scramble!” “Uncle,” said the Soupster. “Calm down. Just tell me what it is you’re trying to access.” “Access? What do you mean access?” said the Original Soupster. “Don’t give me that Greek plaster! Speak English!” The Soupster took a deep…

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Our Town – February 24, 2011

“’This weather – ‘taint fit for man nor beast,” the Soupster said, sitting down with his friend Abigail in a cozy corner of the café. Outside, where it was 30 degrees, hail rained down at 75 degrees, bouncing a few inches off the parking lot asphalt and car roofs. “I went through at least four…

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Our Town – October 7, 2010

“Hi, neighbor Joan. How is life treating you?” “Soupster, I am fine but it is that time of year again.” “What time is that?” “Haven’t you ever noticed; when the rain gets serious and the light begins to fade many of the folks in Our Town start speaking gibberish.” “What are you talking about? A…

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Our Town – September 9, 2010

The Soupster remembered his conversation with his neighbor’s grandson with some regret. He felt he was a little harsh with the boy when the youngster tried to lecture him about recycling. The Soupster searched his mind for the just right word to describe his own behavior – which was gruff and hostile out of reflex.

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Our Town – July 1, 2010

“That sounds brutal,” the Soupster commiserated over the phone with his friend Tilly from Oklahoma. “Eighty-four degrees Fahrenheit at midnight last night,” said Tilly. “It may hit 105 today.” “Incredible,” said the Soupster from Our Town. (duh!) “It’s supposed to be 55 here – 50 degrees cooler.” “Sounds wonderful,” said Tilly. “But I’m sure you pay…

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Our 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…

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Our 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…

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Our 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…

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Our Town – July 30, 2009

The Soupster hoped the drizzling rain would keep the tourists downtown in the stores of Our Town and not out walking in the Park. The Soupster likes the Park better when it’s quiet. But understands that, for many tourists, this is the one day in their life they can visit The Park of Our Town.…

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Our Town – June 18, 2009

For two weeks, the sun shone from early, early morn to long past when it had any right to still be up at all. Two solid weeks of sun. Our Town melted and oozed toward Solstice. Throughout the spate of sun, general sprucing had ensued: wall colors brightened with paint, unruly lawns subdued by blades,…

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