Our Town
Our Town – September 23, 2010
“There it is!” the Soupster cried when he saw the watch he had lost last Christmas, fallen between the washing machine and the dryer. He should have thought of looking between the appliances – from there he had at other times retrieved single socks, misplaced mail and some multi-legged critters with segmented exoskeletons.
Read MoreOur 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.
Read MoreOur Town – August 26, 2010
The Soupster woke up in a foul mood. Not only was it a drizzly day but he was spending it with his next-door neighbor’s computerized grandson, Johnny, a 4th grader who walked around with wires coming out of his ears.
The first sign of danger was finding Johnny going through the garbage can with little piles here and there.
Read MoreOur Town – August 12, 2010
As the Soupster walked past the base of the O’Connell Bridge, he heard the low rumble of a cruise ship’s small boat, lightering passengers ashore. The first off the boat – a tall, raven-haired young woman — was so striking the Soupster couldn’t help but notice her. Her attire was as striking as her looks…
Read MoreOur Town – July 29, 2010
While waiting to cross the street by the Roundabout, I turned to the woman next to me and said, “I really like that sweater. What is that color – Dried Kelp?” She gave me a surprised look but said nothing and took a few steps to the side, putting some space between us. After crossing,…
Read MoreOur Town – July 15, 2010
A strong sun shone on the well-named Clement Climes, who was sitting on a folding chair scarfing a Hellfire Halibut Spicy Skewer at Santa’s Seafood Truck downtown. The Soupster noticed the pepper-induced sweat dripping off Clem’s brow. “I prefer the Sweetly Rubbed Salmon,” the Soupster said to his co-diner, simultaneously ordering the Rub. “Paradise today,”…
Read MoreOur 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…
Read MoreOur Town – June 17, 2010
Originally Published June 13, 2002 The cruise ship throngs were only recently gone when the Soupster stepped in to the art gallery to see if Gwendoline has survived the latest human deluge. “I’ll be with you in a minute,” said a voice from the back room. Although the voice sounded like Gwen’s, its timber contained…
Read MoreOur Town – June 3, 2010
Neighbor Tom and I strolled down Main Street in one of those constant sunbeams that sometimes envelops Our Town. “What a day, Soupster!” “Yes, indeed, Tom, it is special.” “Soupster, have you noticed Our Town seems to be in a growing epidemic?” “What, Tom? Epidemic? Are you saying we are diseased?” “No, Soupster, not that…
Read MoreOur 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…
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