A View from the Ridge

Miles of Millions……

9th April 2012 by admin No Comments

The boat glided along at only five miles an hour, the mandated speed limit inside the harbor.
The channel rested quietly, only 75 feet wide and a light yet cool breeze gave the air a slight edge, a reminder that winter had barely bid farewell and that at anytime it might reappear for an encore.
I crossed [...]

Running for Love?

3rd March 2012 by admin 1 Comment

“I’m a runner, too,” he blurted out with a sly grin. “Maybe we should
knock out a few miles sometime,” he added.
“Sure,” she answered. “I’d like that.”
Over the weeks that followed the banter grew, from friendly back and
forth to playful trash talk, amusing commentary about trails of dust
and the back of his disappearing head.
If only he [...]

Mexican Musings…

15th January 2012 by admin No Comments

Ahhh, the brown, brown smog of home, Mexico City, mi casa away from mi casa.
I turn my wedding band around so as not to show the diamonds, make sure to
look scruffy enough not to attract attention and scoot through the airport
to the waiting taxis, another student/tourist/visiting non-descript.
If only they could see my red suede shoes [...]

Melting Snow

9th December 2011 by admin 2 Comments

I love the sounds of melting snow—plink, plink, ting, ting, ting, a staccato drip on sloped metal roofs, the occasional loud crack of a giant icicle, the bubble and gurgle of the mountain brook as it swells and tumbles over polished rocks on its way to the valley below.
I love to gaze at the majestic [...]

Manifest Away

1st November 2011 by admin 2 Comments

The sun crept over the horizon and lodged itself above the coastline,
bathing the beach in a comfortable, morning glow.
Solitary clouds dotted the backdrop, lazy lollygaggers moseying across the
sky, unhurried, white-haired philosophers gazing down at the busy-ness
below.
I raced a pair of dragonflies down the road, glanced at the workers
finishing the roof of another million-dollar home, noticed [...]

Make Mistakes Count!

1st October 2011 by admin No Comments

A while back, one of my brothers made an error at work, which cost a client a bunch of money.
They leveled accusations, pointed fingers, ranted and raved, filed a lawsuit and after a failed attempt to settle the dispute, ended up in court—a typical insurance company battle.
Oh well, stuff happens.
On the one hand, I take [...]

Learn Respect

1st September 2011 by admin 2 Comments

The crowd cheered as the young man walked across the stage to claim his
award as the company’s top producer.
He accepted the microphone, looked over the audience and faltered, an
obvious, pregnant pause that brought a hush to the room.
I watched him confront his fear, wrestle with the doubt that invariably
creeps in.
It took him a moment to [...]

Little Mouse

1st August 2011 by admin 1 Comment

Where are you going, little mouse?
I step into the bathroom and spy a tiny friend.
His eyes perched on the side of his head told me that he or she feels afraid, caught in an unfamiliar element.
Briefly startled, I sense a smile growing—a kindred spirit to the energy behind the spooked eyes.
I freeze, unwilling to let [...]

Lend a Hand…

1st July 2011 by admin 1 Comment

Captain Linus took the first and only wave in stride.
It crashed over the bow and drenched him to the bone as we cut through the
break.
He held fast to the black handle that we use to carry the kayak and said
nothing.

Beyond the surf, the sea squatted on the sand below, rhythmically rocking
back and forth, still [...]

Killer Openings….

1st June 2011 by admin 2 Comments

As I travel around the country, I invariably get into conversations about speaking.
“I’d like to talk to you about how to become a speaker,” begins the conversation.
Most of these dialogues come from sincere, well-intentioned folk with wonderful dreams.
“What do I have to do to be a great speaker?” they ask.
I have a standard answer.
“About 500 [...]