It had been at least 30 years since my Army buddy, Harley Cawthorne and I parted. I’m not really sure what his first name was; he answered to Harley because that’s what he rode and loved. During the time of…
Sailing Around Samoa, Episode 43, Odysseys in Paradise
Rich heard Oaks knock on the side of the cabin at 6:59 AM. Rich darted up the companionway. “Ahoy,” Oaks said. “Ahoy, and welcome aboard,” Rich said. Rich invited Oaks below. They ate breakfast and Rich told him of his…
Oaks Gets An Ear Full, Episode 42, Odysseys in Paradise
They climbed into the jeep and Oaks drove toward the dock. “I owned a jeep,” Rich said. Oaks chuckled. “You own a military vehicle, you can field strip an AK-47, you’ve been a target of assassins, kidnapped by Marxists, and…
Read About The Summer of ‘62
The novel, The Summer of ‘62 has a lot of me in it. Its setting is where I lived, northwest Ohio. Many of the feelings and events happened just as they are remembered. On the other hand, there are some…
Field Stripping, Episode 41, Odysseys in Paradise
The next morning Rich ate breakfast at the Marine company’s mess along with two lieutenants. By 8:00 the mess was transformed into a classroom of 102 Marines. Rich explained what he had learned about the background of the weapon and…
The Families Who Text Together…
I have one foot firmly in my 70s. Technology has slowly pulled away from me but I can still see the tail lights and smell its exhaust. The internet is not so hard to get around and cell phones have…
The Major’s Surprise, Episode 40, Odysseys in Paradise
The next morning Rich awoke to the patter of rain on the cabin’s roof. Melodic thunder echoed from atop the hills surrounding the harbor. The rain fell steady and gentle, nearly casting a spell of euphoria over Rich. “I’m not…
A Friendly Drink, Episode 39, Odysseys in Paradise
Rich’s first night in Pago Pago he visited the bar where Ham bounced. The place was called The Tiki Bar. It had a Polynesian motif with palms and bamboo decorations. Local young ladies waited tables. A four-piece band featuring a…
The 1962 New York Sewer Rats; Baseball’s Greatest Story
The particulars of a story escape me. A young man became a CEO of a company. His experience was scant. He contacted men who recently retired from successful careers in other corporations. Most, forced retirements. He offered them short-term jobs;…
A Beer With Ham, Episode 38, Odysseys in Paradise
Rich walked down the dock to The Odyssey. The big Polynesian with his arms folded leaned against a piling, waiting. Rich stopped about twenty yards from him. “You know,” Rich said. “I can’t beat you in a fight, but I…
Pitch and Catch
Baseball deserves a special place in the American experience. Great cathedrals or stadiums have been built for the sole purpose of playing the game there and for spectators to watch. It is often the thread binding generations. My father and…
Meeting Major Oaks, Episode 37, Odysseys in Paradise
The Odyssey entered the harbor of Pago Pago early morning. Lush green tropical mountains protected the harbor and kept the waters calm. Using the radio, Rich contacted the harbormaster to locate a dock. He directed him to one having a…