MARLENE CAROSELLI: What the Midwife Saw

Submissions, Touching, , ,

She held out her arms, beseeching me to give her the baby who had miraculously triumphed over death. I helped her cradle the tiny form in her arms. She cooed the whole time, “Renato. Renato.”

This is how he came by his name: he came to life a second time.

Dr. Marlene Caroselli is an author, keynoter, and corporate trainer whose clients include Lockheed Martin, Allied Signal, Department of the Interior, and Navy SEALS. She writes extensively about education, business, self-improvement, and careers and has adjuncted at UCLA and National University. Her first book, The Language of Leadership, was named a main selection by the Executive Book Club. Principled Persuasion, a more recent title, was designated a Director’s Choice by the Doubleday Book Club. Applying Mr. Albert: 365+ Einstein-Inspired Brain Boosts, her 62nd book, will be released by HRD Press in 2018.

BOB SILVA: A Million Stars

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, ,

You and me. A fantasy.

Love, pain — ecstasy, agony — life. That night, frigid, blankets, warm. Stars. The stars! Magic.

But we knew. We lay there, lying to ourselves, lying to the stars. The million ways it was right couldn’t overcome the handful of ways it was wrong.

Us. A fantasy.

Bob Silva wrote this story.

JO WITHERS: Occupant of Space Between Shop 16 and 16A, High Street

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

At first, she felt free. She’d bask in the summer evening radiance, watching the kaleidoscope of stars filling the night sky with their regular patterns. Like lights from faraway friends, watching over her.

But in winter, the pavement was cold. Clouds blocked out the stars. Friends seemed very far away.

Jo Withers hopes that everyone has friends nearby. You can follow Jo on Twitter.

HARRY DEMAREST: Downhill Bike Ride

Amusing, Submissions, Top Stories, , , ,

When I was young, I wished I could ride my bike around the block, coasting downhill all the way.

Since I got my degree in physics I know that’s impossible.

I now wish that the integral of the gradient of the gravitational potential around a closed loop could be negative.

Harry Demarest received a BA in physics from Reed College in 1969, and a PhD in planetary and space physics from UCLA in 1975.

ALICE LAM: Dear John

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , ,

I miss reading your gothic paranormal dinosaur erotica poetry.
I miss you playing B-side heavy metal on low volume whilst veganising carnivorous recipes.
I miss picking up a full jar of pickles and standing stupidly with only the lid in my hand.
I missed the meaning of your goodbye note.

Alice Lam moved to Australia from the UK with her partner and they share a house in Melbourne, along with a cheese-seeking, greying Boxer dog. See more at alicelambooks.com.

DEBBIE L MILLER: Dating Sandasiri

Amusing, Submissions, , ,

Just when Tabitha tired of dating, she met a Buddhist monk. He was perfect: sensual, serene, and cute as heck. And no ex-wives or step-kids to deal with.

But his constant cheerfulness finally got to her. She missed drama and the thrill of a good argument. The breakup was inevitable.

Debbie L. Miller writes from Brooklyn, New York where she writes in multiple genres. She won the 2017 Mona Schreiber Prize for Humorous Fiction and Nonfiction.

ROBERTA BEACH JACOBSON: 204 Maple Street

Amusing, Submissions, , , , , ,

Every morning, rain or shine, after his breakfast, Roland negotiates the overgrown sidewalk to his mailbox. Most days he finds it empty, but occasionally there’s a bill or political ad.

Neighbors sent him a pamphlet highlighting snail mail addiction. Roland reviewed it, painstakingly resealed it, then specified “Return to sender.”

Roberta Beach Jacobson is a humorist from Iowa.

PREETI SINGH: A Sweet Sabotage

Artistic, Poetry, Submissions, , ,

Being available
Is not always
A virtue
In many situations
It is a vice

You are sweet
Happily you greet
But they are there
To get your meat
It’s your peace
That they wish
To eat
Drain your brain
Till you allow
To entertain

Be bold
And learn to complain

Preeti Singh is an Indian French interpreter, writer-journalist, cinema artist.
You can learn more about her at: https://about.me/preeti-singh

CONNELL WAYNE REGNER: Never Too Late

Submissions, Touching, , ,

Before dying, she softly whispered, “I’ve never really loved you, and now I can’t make it up to you.”

He already knew, and consoled, “Don’t worry about that now. I’ve loved you enough for both of us.”

That’s when he saw in her eyes the love he’d always waited for.

Connell is always upbeat about putting something in his bio section and personally writes them all by himself as others couldn’t be bothered doing it for him.