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HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS FROM WWII

I’m full of historical reflections because I read sources from history, also called history books. Those were the main readings for graduating with a history degree. It also helps to have spent two decades in historical agency work. The lasting lesson for me was seeing both sides of a story and how close things came […]

DRAWING A LINE IN WATER

Drawing a line in the sand is different than drawing a line in the dirt. Sand is related to the beach, dirt is everywhere. One line lasts until the next tide, the other until the next rain. As you can see both are affected by water. But why draw a line in the first place?

FAMILY HISTORY: DIVE IN THE WATER’S FINE

Family history has it that my wife’s Grandfather was in Dunkirk in 1940 and her Dad sailed with the Arctic convoys bringing supplies to Russia. One was in the English Army, the other the Royal Navy. Who knew? What happened to Grandpa after Dunkirk? We know Dad found his true love in Bath, England and […]

IMPORTANT PEOPLE NEVER TELL YOU, THEY SHOW YOU

Important people need one thing: Someone who knows how important they are. If it’s someone they like, even better. But what if no one feels important enough?

DREAM DAY, D-DAY TOMORROW

My dream day is pretty simple. I had one recently. Did I live every moment to the max and soak up the vibes? Or did I just feel lucky as hell to be a part of such a day? Well let me tell you my idea of a dream day at my house:

GUN VIOLENCE PRIMER: TEAM PICTURES OF THE FUTURE

Gun violence changes the future of team pictures and school pictures. What will they look like to survivors of school shootings when they’re older? The kids in this picture are at the beginning of the their run through public school. The adults are coaches and team parents supporting their kids. What’s wrong in this picture? […]

ENGLISH GIRLS ON D-DAY

English girls and young women got engaged during WWII, some more than once. My English mother in law had been engaged several times. I asked her about it.

SECOND OPINIONS SAVED THE D-DAY

When the truth feels a little sketchy? Get a second opinion. A real estate agent listed my English mother in law’s house in Culver City, CA. They talked about the market, then the price. The real estate lady gave her best number. My mother in law disagreed, too low, and gave her number. It sold […]

PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, pt2: FAMILY TRAUMA

Illness defines family trauma over time and it’s exhausting. Remember the movie Ordinary People? The family dynamic wasn’t defined by illness, but death of a child. It didn’t go well for the emotional state of all. There’s was a sudden adjustment with a lifetime effect. Living with a pre-existing condition, or around others with pre-existing […]

D-DAY PRACTICE: DIEPPE, SLAPTON SANDS

History of D-Day practice neither grand or glorious. The real D-Day turned the tide in World War Two, but the two D-Day practice events left more dead than the real D-Day. Through those deaths communications improved. Coordination improved. And suppressing news improved. No one wanted it out that commanders had screwed up a D-Day practice […]