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Letters Of Hope ... To Freedom, Maine

By barefooted on Tue, 08/21/2018 - 3:10pm |

I've rather come to like putting links here, in Creative Corner, to articles highlighting people, places and things that are too easily overlooked.  Not particularly political, not openly opinionated ... just stories that don't have a place In The News here at Dag but might fill in a vacant spot or two with its' readers. 

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Want A Smoky Drink?

By barefooted on Mon, 08/13/2018 - 9:21pm |

Hi there, come on in.  No, for heaven’s sake, don’t worry about that, just get in here … what difference does that make?  Too funny – whoever told you that was either projecting or just being an ass, you pick!  Yeah, I’m with ya on that one.  Anyway, get in here and have a seat somewhere while there’s still space.  What?  Oh, you’ll know if I kick you off … just kidding, you should know by now I’m always on the floor with a pillow.  Very funny, everybody.  Yeah, laugh it up at my expense.  See if you get anything to eat!  Oh, crap, that reminds me …. no, I have an extinguisher ….

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Can You Say Hero?

By barefooted on Wed, 06/06/2018 - 2:56pm |

I'm putting this article here simply because it's not "news", at least not in the way we know it.  It's also not current since it was published in 1998.  This is about love, and joy, and what it means to be a person ... it's about Fred Rogers.  I got to this Esquire piece via a review of "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" (a new documentary) in the NYT and the mention of an upcoming movie loosely based on it starring Tom Hanks to be released next year.

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The Scent Of Time

By barefooted on Sun, 04/08/2018 - 4:19pm |

My mom’s birthday was March 25th, and I didn’t notice … she died in 2012, so while I’m sure she didn’t notice either it’s an odd feeling  that the day passed for me as nothing more than another ordinary Sunday.  I thought about it, and her, today when I read a wonderful piece in the New York Times titled, “Smells Like Home”.  Maybe more impactful than the article itself were the multiple comments from folks who contributed their little bits of themselves and what they remembered; what prompted their emotional reactions and why.  Really wonderful stuff overall, and more than worth a Sunday read.

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Who Could Argue?

By barefooted on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 10:16pm |

I was a child in the sixties, and grew up with Billy Graham on our little black and white TV.  We weren't an overtly Christian family (far too admittedly dysfunctional), but he was my parental attempt at being mainstream, I suppose.  My Mom loved him, so I did. 

In a past life I was very close to someone who worked for  Samaritan's Purse as first a missionary and then, eventually, a numbers cruncher.  As the former, his family suffered due to his long absences and meager pay.  The latter came to pass because four kids and a wife finally said no more to both.  Even as true believers, the family complaints (and questions) were eventually enough to make the difference.  He was able to stay closer to home, though his pay was still minimal.

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Good Bread

By barefooted on Sun, 12/31/2017 - 10:16pm |

It’s the evening of December 31, 2017.  ‘Round these parts it’s currently nine degrees below zero outside, but it’s toasty warm in the kitchen now that the bread’s done.  Smells heavenly … a good loaf.  Must admit to the addition of pineapple juice, butter, ginger and brown sugar to the proofed yeast and flour that gives it an official Hawaiian bent, but it’s a loaf just the same.  The man in the house says dinner is around the bend now that I’ve told him the kitchen is his; he makes a mean cast-iron steak and mushroom gravy.

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Are We Still Here?

By barefooted on Wed, 02/15/2017 - 10:22pm |

I wrote a comment earlier in response to someone with whom I didn’t disagree; a comment that mostly wrote itself:

People are generally kind and helpful by nature, and it's not just about tribe.  It's about being human at our core - the place that makes us love puppies, kittens, babies and cheese.  The place that makes the country stand still over a child trapped in a well or a bunch of miners slowly dying on the job.  The place in our gut that cries when someone dies and celebrates amazing achievements by those who seem like less yet feel like more somehow.  The place that makes us all worth fighting for.

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Here's To Us!

By barefooted on Tue, 01/31/2017 - 9:12pm |

Hi there, come on in.  No, it’s okay, there aren’t too many of us yet so you’re good.  Thanks!  That looks fabulous!  I’ll take it to the kitchen while you find a place to settle in … yeah, I know, my thoughts exactly.  But there’s plenty of time for that.  Oh!  You snuck in on me!  I’m so glad you’re here, I was really hoping you’d stop by tonight but I wasn’t sure.  You brought who?  Wonderful!  It’s been so long … give me a hug.  Okay!  You all know where to plant yourselves so head on in while I get everything together.  It’s food, drink and conversation tonight, folks … but if anyone touches the TV it’s gonna get ugly, just as a warning.

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Enough

By barefooted on Fri, 01/27/2017 - 9:15pm |

Enough.

Our president calls those who oppose his policies, executive orders and general theatrics his enemies while his spokespeople who hold positions of unwarranted power declare the media corrupt.

That one sentence scared me as I wrote it – and it’s extremely benign compared to what has been and will be written … or not.  Where even the internet and our freedom to use it goes from here is under attack; at this point opening our mouths to speak may be.

How long do we wait?  How long do we laugh at the joke that hurts?

 

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Don't Ya Think?

By barefooted on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 9:33pm |

Hi there, come on in.  A bit blustery tonight, isn’t it?  Well, at least it’s not pouring down rain … what?  Yeah, it’s weird when that happens.  Anyway, come inside and get comfortable while there’s still plenty of room on the couch.  Hey!  Look at you trying to sneak in with that yummy looking stuff … I promise it’ll make it to the kitchen in one piece … really!  Very funny, just give it to me and grab a seat.  Somebody save me a spot on the floor and put some music on!

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Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have.

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