"Commercial" for book..."Preposterous Scenarios: Gathered Stories, Poems, and Memoirs"

 I would like to invite you to purchase and enjoy my book “Preposterous Scenarios: Gathered Stories, Poems, and Memoirs”

It is available on Amazon as a digital download.

The price is $2.99. As this publication is not about money to me, I have priced it so as to be irresistible!

 This publication is about sharing my humor with you.

The memoirs are from childhood. Perhaps they will cause you to reflect upon your first kiss. Or maybe the concluding memoir will remind you of how you overcame fear of public speaking.

 The poems are of such simple rhyme and rhythm dipped in humor surely they must cause a chuckle to emerge.

 But the main focus is the stories, fictional for sure, and indeed preposterous.

 “The Unexpected Roommate”   is a story based upon the Barbee Hotel in Kosciusko County Indiana. Legend has it that Al Capone often stayed there.

The story gives a fictionalized hint at what happened to the money supposed to be hidden in a hotel vault. But, I don’t want to give too much away!

 Then there is “Stunned and Bewildered”

What would you do if you accidentally became President of the United States? Set in Indiana, in the election cycle of 2024, stage comedian Bobby Beer has as his comedy act that he is a candidate for President. If this reminds you of Pat Paulsen and his comedy act of 1968, yes, that was the inspiration.

 “The Blue Sequined Party Dress” is romantic comedy inspired by a true report of an experience posted on Facebook (and the next morning removed). In the story I moved the scene to a golf course. The story is as much about friendship as it is about romance.

 “The Meek” refers to the “meek” of the Beatitudes in the New Testament. Imagine, as the story asks of you, that you have an opportunity to visit hell for one week as an extreme adventure. Would you?

 “The St. Petersburg Syndrome” If you are a Rolling Stones fan, you surely will enjoy this.  It is an imagining of a supernatural moment. And, of course, I remind you it is quite very fictional. Reference to anyone living is purely intentional. What if the devil was not the ultimate bad guy? What if he had a boss…a boss that had become playful and good-natured over time?

 

All of these stories are short and easy to read. I offer them for your amusement.

But also, I wrote them so as to have application for movie or film.

If you are a film director or producer, check out these stories. If you would like to do a film based upon one, get in touch with me. Let’s make an arrangement.

 Again… “Preposterous Scenarios” available on Amazon as a digital download for $2.99.

 The following video was filmed at beautiful Wellfield Botanic Gardens in Elkhart Indiana. It pretty much describes what I have already done in text here. But also, we have the added features of birds chirping, the sound of moving water, and a quacking duck. Such features contribute a sense of “live presence”. Thanks to my wife, Sherry Borglum, for her recording skills.

Give it watch!

Hey brother, how's your mind? Alisha Merrick and 3 John 1:2

Peace medallions created by artist Alisha Merrick

During the years of 1969-1971 my wanna-be hippie friends and I would greet each other with “Hey, brother, how’s your mind?” Back in those days there was a focus on mind-expansion, creativity, and release from the burdensome expectations of the Establishment. And so, we valued the state of the mind.

    A healthy mind was at peace from anxiety or stress caused by the evils of greed, hatred, and pursuit of status.

    A healthy mind was open to all persons regardless of religion, language, or nationality.

    A healthy mind was eager to hear the latest declarations from the vinyl prophets like the Youngbloods with “Get Together” or Jackie Deshannon with “Put a Little Love in Your Heart”.

   Ah, the days of youthful naivety.

   John Wesley, accidental founder of the Methodist movement, would open meetings with “How is it with your soul?” I think he was inspired by 3 John: 1: 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

While the vinyl prophets of the 1960s have moved on from their “peace and love” movement, The Methodist Movement continues. And so, it is a relevant question “How is it with your soul?”

   I pray that you enjoy health. I pray that all goes your way today. I pray that you are affirmed to the core of your soul.

   Also, I can’t help it…all of those sentiments are carried in my decades old sentiment “Hey brother, or sister, how’s your mind?

ps. you can find out more about Alisha Merrick's art here:

https://alishamerrickart.com/

Wellfield Botanic Garden Elkhart Indiana

   Wellfield Botanic Garden in Elkhart Indiana is my favorite place to walk and clear my thoughts. Today, Friday, May 15, 2020 is the first day of the year that it is open for members. As a member, I was there at noon, when the doors opened.

   The Garden will be open to the public on May 22, 2020. Please see their website for more information:

https://wellfieldgardens.org/

   Bearing in mind that I am an amateur at photography, I offer a couple of videos that give a sense of the beauty of the garden. These videos do not bring out the fullness of life and color present in the garden. Nor do they give the correct sense of acreage covered.  So, to experience the fullness of life and color, you are invited to visit and see for yourself.

The Garden is full of the sounds of birds as well.

Also, you may hear the sound of a nearby train in the background!

Enjoy!

A Brief Memorial for Dwight Grieser

For those that remember Dwight Grieser as a teacher at Concord during the early 1970s I offer a brief memorial.

   At the site of the College Mennonite Church on the campus of Goshen College there is a memorial circular walk way. On a wall of the building there are plaques named after deceased folk. One such is for Dwight Grieser.

   I have two distinct memories of Mr. Grieser.

1. I had first come from Detroit in 1969. During those days at Concord we had clubs at the end of the day. I had registered for “Leisure Club”. This was a club where folk played chess, cards, board games and such. Being new to Concord, I had not yet developed friends. Mr. Grieser came by and asked why I was not playing. I responded “I don’t know who to join.”

Mr. Grieser said “Well, you better figure something out or you will have to leave.”

I would have been content watching others play while I observed the social interactions of those involved in playful competition. But, since I did not want to try to find another club, I thrust myself into a card game. I remember Deb Pinkerton being helpful explaining the rules of the game.

   2.The other memory I have of Mr. Grieser was his advice of choosing a wife. While in Social Studies class, Central building, he offered…”Boys, if you want to know what your girlfriend will look like in twenty to thirty years, take a good look at her mother. That will be a good indication.”

   Why he felt it useful to offer such advice during Social Studies I don’t know. But I always received his advice with a twist of humor.

I wonder what advice he would have given the girls.

My wife, Sherry Borglum, stands by the memorial wall

In Defense of Unassuming Colloquialism

 I would encourage anyone to be sufficiently in command of proper language, grammar, spelling, and pronunciation so as to be effective when composing an academic paper, an application for work, or other professional contexts.

   Not any the less, I affirm and defend in casual conversation, whether in person or on social media, the use of unassuming colloquial communication.

    While I value and try to be diligent with my grammar and such, I acknowledge that I too have become embarrassingly relaxed by auto-correct functions of social media and Word document such that my precision, once admirable, has waned.

   But my real issue of advocacy is this: I am amused by the way people speak and write differently. I embrace the variations.

Again, so long as you adhere to acceptable conventions in academic and professional settings, I affirm your relaxed speech in common contexts.

If I say realtor while you say realitor, I know what you mean.

If I say jewelry while you say jewlery, we mean the same thing.

If I say “I couldn’t care less.” as you say “I could care less.” I get it.

If I say regardless as you say irregardless, I am not confused.

You just be you.

If you think highly enough of me to have friendly conversation, you’ll hear nary a word of criticism from me!