Sad news - Peter Falk died on Thursday, age 83, after bringing us countless joys with his performances. Columbo is a timeless character, a kind of blind-seer, a wise-idiot, or a court jester who gets away with bringing down the powerful because he allows himself to seem so harmless to them for so long. He … Continue reading “Uh, sir? Just one more thing…”
When you are old, everything reminds you
I read this piece - written to a friend a couple of years ago - at another friend's 50th birthday party tonight. It was great fun to hear his laughter. The last time I bought a hair dryer, Bill Clinton was president. It was early enough in his presidency that we still thought he would … Continue reading When you are old, everything reminds you
Come on, Canucks – next year, eh?
The one thing you ask for from sports is to be taken away - to watch physically talented men and women compete fiercely and with deep respect for the game and each other - so for a while you can forget there's a whole complex and challenging world out there, and pretend there is nothing … Continue reading Come on, Canucks – next year, eh?
A Tale of Passion, Friendship, Love, and Music
In the last eighteen months I’ve seen some amazing shows put on by accomplished musicians. Three sparked a little meditation on passion, friendship, and love: Chris Rea; Eric Clapton; and the Panindias Brothers. Rea, the best blues/rock/jazz singer-songwriter and slide guitarist working today; Clapton, the guitar god, whose voice is perhaps a bit underrated by … Continue reading A Tale of Passion, Friendship, Love, and Music
Beginning of Days?
Whether you took the rumours of impending rapture and end of days seriously or not, the (apparent) fact that the world exists on May 22 pretty much the same as it did on May 21 could be a chance to take a fresh look at life. I mean, what if we all decided today to … Continue reading Beginning of Days?
The Book, Chapter Two: Disclosure
Believe it or not, The Book is nearly done...I'm about to send the manuscript to a professional editor to help make sure it's really truly ready. (Of course when I get my 'editorial letter' back in about a month, I could find out that it's not nearly done...but let's not think about that now, shall … Continue reading The Book, Chapter Two: Disclosure
Hell and god
Maybe we've all been thinking about hell a bit more this past week. Here's an excerpt from The Book that I read at Hugo House's Works in Progress last Monday night. Hell and god “Can you believe in hell if you don’t believe in God?” While she was working up her courage to call Jack, … Continue reading Hell and god
Miracles can happen, at least in baseball
If you ever find yourself doubting that miracles can happen, just remember this... after a dismal start to the season, the Seattle Mariners won their fifth in a row tonight, all five on the road, handing the Red Sox their first shut out at Fenway in a little more than a year. Doug Fister threw over … Continue reading Miracles can happen, at least in baseball
Really really short stories
Narrative Magazine now takes submissions for what they call 'iStories,' stories of 150 words or less meant for reading on an iPad, iPod, or iTouch. Here's one I'm planning to submit - tell me what you think of it! *************** Can you slow down time? he asked her. She did that thing, that tying-her-hair-into-a-knot-near-the-top-of-her-head thing. … Continue reading Really really short stories
Love your library
On April 9, 1883, the first publicly-funded library in the U.S. opened in Peterborough, New Hampshire. There may be no single institution more necessary to the free exchange of ideas than the public library - the place where those ideas are housed and made available to anyone with a library card. In the last ten … Continue reading Love your library
Elizabeth Fountain, Author 