And wants me to stick to carpentry — I love my mother, but sometimes she could be a real pain — Jesus this, Jesus that. She doesn’t want me to get crucified, kiss Mary Magdalene on the lips, or even save souls. Instead, she wants me to stick to being a carpenter. “Mom,” I keep telling her. “I…

From therapy to becoming a writer — I told my wife to make my obituary short and sweet. A haiku would suffice: A crow of mischief Born out of brotherly love Retires to the sea No one knows me completely, not even my mother; rest her soul. I'm too cryptic for words. …

Cookie poetics on a gloomy Sunday afternoon — In the privacy of our kitchen, on a gloomy Sunday afternoon, my wife is baking oatmeal cookies, and wearing a checkered apron with a spatula in her hand. She has a generous attitude, and an energy that fills the house with a warm, sweet fragrance. …

A sad quest for self-actualization — Marcel Hemp’s job as a clothing manikin made him depressed. It wasn’t that he didn’t like his boss or the customers. He was tired of having a frozen smile and wearing the same clothes. He wanted to be a human. But since he couldn’t, he considered lighting himself on fire…

And content with being a landlubber — It is tranquil by the harbor, watching the boats ease into the ocean during the early morning. As the sun peeks out, I hear the boat's quiet hum, slicing through the chilly water with the seabirds screeching overhead. I don't envy those who own boats. I wouldn't want the financial…

People in dire straits need benevolent givers — If someone asks for a handout, they need it, or they wouldn’t ask — it’s not like they’re trying to get over on you, faking a hardship. So, help out a desperate soul who’s falling between the cracks, destitute by no fault of their own, circumstances beyond their control, blindsided by an arrow of…

Living the reclusive life — Lonely Joe stares from the window, careful not to be seen, with two old beagles, Sam and Max by his side. He lives a reclusive life, cloistered in his small one-bedroom, fully aware of his secret obsession — keeps his door locked, along with life’s disappointments. He has always been…

A self-care narrative — As a former therapist, I transformed into a chameleon for each patient. I changed my tone of voice and adapted my mannerisms to fit the personalities I worked with. Adaptation was the keyword. But, unfortunately, it resulted in my losing a sense of self. Once I retired, however, I slowly…

Today’s episode — Martian Porn — Rod Pervling intro: There is a sexual dimension beyond that which is known to the human race. It is a dimension as vast as J-Lo’s butt, a johnson as long as Criss Strokes. In this story, we watch how Gladys and Charley Shambeckler, middle-aged and suburban, turn their marriage upside…