Writing from the Heart with Brian
Think, Laugh, & Cry Each Day
I had some news that went against me recently. It was important in the short term, but small potatoes in the grand scheme of things. I'm still standing. I'm still alive. My health is good. It was just a disappointment that hit close to home. We all have disappointments. We didn't get the news we... Continue Reading →
(I first ran this story in August 2017. I've made a few updates.) The optometrist clicked on the lens and asked: “Which is better, line 1 or line 2?” We had been at this game for ten minutes, but to me it felt like an hour. I squinted my eyes together hoping it would help... Continue Reading →
In one hand, the father carried a crying toddler. In the other, he pulled a wagon through the thick sand. The wagon was loaded with beach chairs, a large umbrella, and an ice chest. The back of his gray tank top, with the sun beating down on him, was soaked in sweat. He looked as... Continue Reading →
The teacher stands in front of the class and writes down the word "Photosynthesis" on the blackboard. She sounds it out slowly. She explains that it's the process where plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create their own food. In the process, the plant releases oxygen back into the environment. She keeps the... Continue Reading →
We all have little annoyances that bug us. Here's nine that bug me. Rude uncaring people. A know-it-all. A show-off. In the U.S., people who only see Republican red or Democrat blue and put political party over country. My instinct to fret and worry over things that I don't control. (Yea, I get annoyed with... Continue Reading →
I see it clearly in my head. "Yes, your honor, forgive me. I plead guilty as charged." I'm standing in front of an angry looking judge in a black robe. He looks over his glasses at me. I'm in the center of his line of fire. His face gets redder and angrier anytime I make... Continue Reading →
(I originally ran this story on May 1, 2018. I've made a few updates.) I met Sam eight or nine years ago. He wore a flashy jacket and tie and was shaking hands like a local politician running for office. He was gripping and grinning, trying to make contact with as many people as possible.... Continue Reading →
A poignant scene in the movie Saving Private Ryan happens when General George C. Marshall reads a letter that President Abraham Lincoln wrote to Mrs. Lydia Bixby, a widow believed to have lost five sons during the Civil War. The movie is make-believe, but Lincoln's letter is most definitely real. In the letter, Lincoln writes:... Continue Reading →
(I ran version of this story in July 2016. I've updated and made a few changes to the piece.) When I was young kid, I loved to watch my dad carve an old sea captain or a duck from a block of wood. Or maybe a hound dog or grizzly bear. He carved anything that... Continue Reading →
Writing from the Heart with Brian 
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