My 500 Words

I was riding toward home on a level surface at a very comfortable pace when my bicycle seat suddenly fell from below me. Had I not been clipped in I suspect my feet would have slipped off the pedals and I would have experienced the harsh road scrape against my vulnerable flesh. With good fortune smiling upon me during this mishap, my legs immediately responded just as though I had stood on my pedals while climbing a hill. I quickly braked and stepped off of my bicycle, relieved that I had suffered absolutely no bodily harm. A quick gasp of nervous laughter escaped as I assessed my seatless bicycle and I imagined the numerous uncomfortable consequences that could have come my way. Instead, I gently lay the wounded bike and searched for the broken parts. I quickly located the saddle and inspected it; to my relief it remained in fine shape. I now needed the assembly that attached the seat to the post. As I searched the gravel strewn roadside, I was only able to locate the bottom part of...

Some plants and animals thrive in the heat and light of a blazing summer's sun while others need the relief offered by a more mild climate. The challenge of constant heat becomes unbearable in combination with the associated scarcity of water. But where there is water sufficient to sustain life, the presence of heat and persistent light we will discover a bounteous representation of life in both plant and animal life.  For heat alone fails to overcome the primal drive to survive, diversify and thrive. The powers of nature astound me as I observe simple plants, with stems that I can tear with no effort, break through rocks or cement that I would require a jack hammer to break. Yet somehow, these plants find the smallest of fissures to exploit. Fueled by groundwater, they germinate and sprout while they seek the heat of the sun. Little by little they take full advantage of every weakness. Perhaps several plants die before the one that I can see emerges as the conqueror of mountains...

Our family had fourteen children and our neighbors would end up having nine children. It didn't take much more to make a crowd if we were ever at the same place at the same time. When they first moved in it didn't take long to find out that the dad was a police officer. He was the first lawman that I had ever known. They lived but a few doors down and across the street so as kids we played and just hung out a lot. For a long time I wondered if I was every breaking the law or doing something that would turn out with me sitting in a jail cell. And as a young pre-teen I always wondered whether he carried his gun in some hidden holster when he'd come to church. I think the question helped my general comportment. He was a tall man and he had a really firm grip when he would shake your hand. He always looked me right in the eye and asked, "How are you?" He was one of the few adults who actually waited for an answer. If things were good he'd share in your happiness...

It was a little after noon on a Wednesday and I was getting ready to leave for the week. I double checked with the attorney covering my Thursday morning hearings and I had managed to clear my Friday calendar. It was a long weekend come early and I was looking forward to spending the time with my son on a Scouting camp out. It's worth it to have a job just to be able to relish in the joy of leaving the job behind. All the way home I was figuring out the final plan for the trip. The complication for our activity is that months ago we purchased tickets to the Paul McCartney concert here in Salt Lake City. The show is Thursday night and the camping runs from Wednesday to Saturday. There was never a decision to be made; we would be coming home for the concert. Adam lobbied to just stay home and go up Friday morning but his pleas never had a chance. We needed to go up with the group and get the connections forming. I never like to be the latecomer to the campsite because you miss the...

In the bottom of the ninth we needed three runs to win and advance to the next round of the playoffs. It wasn't going to be easy but the heart of the order was due up to bat and hope was appropriate. After Matt earned a lead-off walk, everyone put on their rally caps and the chatter in the dugout began in earnest. One run wasn't going to help so there was no small-ball calls coming from the coaches. We were going to have to hit our way to this win because their pitcher wasn't about to give up seven walks. After Leroy hit a double to the gap, Matt scored the first run and we felt like the game was there for us to win. Leroy was quick and he stole third without a throw after a pitch in the dirt. The count was 2-2 and from Joe's perspective it was so far inside that he fell back avoiding the pitch. He was shocked when he heard the call for strike three. Our mood went from jubilant to angry but determined in a moment. With one out Gary stepped to the plate and on a 1-2 co...

The other day one of my children referred to someone as a toady and I had no idea what they were talking about. My sons explained that a perfect example of a toady was Grover Dill in one of our favorite holiday movies, "A Christmas Story." We have watched this show at least dozens of times and probably more since we in no way limit its viewing to the Christmas season. None of us could actually remember his name off the top of our heads so we turned to Google, ran a search and quickly had our answer. As I was reading through the post highlights one particular fact jumped out at me; it turns out that the casting company had originally selected the actor who played Grover Dill to be the bully in the movie and Scut Farkus was supposed to be the toady. Apparently on the first day on set, the director took one look at the two boys and immediately switched their roles. Now, few bullies are as well known as Scut Farkus and our family, at least, couldn't come up with the name Gr...

When I returned from Spain I had no money to my name, no car to get around and I really needed a job. I had planned on returning to work with the title company where I was employed before my two year mission abroad. I optimistically assumed that there would be a place for me when I came home. That wasn't the case. I wasn't picky and began networking before I even knew what networking was. I told everybody that I could think of that I was looking for work and I personally contacted anyone who held a hiring position. I had an uncle and a cousin who each owned their own businesses and a neighborhood friend managed a branch of a large regional bank. My brother worked for a restaurant and he set up an interview for me with his boss. Good fortune was on my side. My cousin had a temporary job for a month and a half, through the Christmas season and I had a nearby friend who worked the same shift. That meant that even though I had no car, I had a ride. When I also got the job at the ...