wmqcolby

This picture has been provided by the Dale-ectable Dale Rogerson.  She was pretty popular last week on someone’s blog (what’s so funny about that, I wonder?) and she just popped up again.

Must be those Youtubes are paying off finally.

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“So … Dale brought these to you, huh?”

“Yeah. Usually it’s a pasta dish of hers.”

“Food, now flowers.  She likes you, Bill, I can tell.”

“Either way, I’ll send her a nice note.  But, flowers?  I don’t get it.”

Bill promptly typed an e-mail.

“Dearest Dale,

Thanks for the lovely flowers.  Such a sweet gesture, as always.  I was expecting one of your delicious pasta dishes, but these were great.  Russell thought so, too.  We ate them fast!

Yours, WMQ.”

TWO DAYS LATER —-

“Nothing from Dale?”

“Only a bag of filberts and a note that says, ‘Nuts to you.’ “

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EXPLANATION OF PHOTO:  I took this picture in Bethlehem, Israel.  I was so excited to see a thirty year-old Kansas license plate in the window.  It is from Reno County and the “J” is the first letter of the last name of the owner.  I never found out whose car this was.

Anyway …

Let’s talk about trains and how a train ride made all the difference.

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Willie saw the impressive turnout for the memorial service.

An older gentleman turned to him and asked, “You had family on the train?”

“Yes, my grandfather.  You?”

“Yes, I actually was on the train.  Lived here in London since.”  He glanced through his program.  “I was all of seven when I met Nicky.  It feels quite odd to call him Sir Nicholas.”  He paused, then laughed.  “Can you imagine?  A man goes on two-week holiday and ends up years later with hundreds of children?”

A woman approached the dais.  “I’m Barbara Winton, and on behalf of the Winton family …”

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Sir Nicholas Winton, organizer of the Kinder Transport that saved the lives of many Jewish children during World War II.

It’s a two-for-one day!  Yes, two stories for the price of one.  An old one and its new concluding sequel.

On May 28, 2014, I wrote a story called Second Star On The Right with some explanation below.

Before we begin …

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a message intercepted one night by a HAM radio operator named Kevin who originally hailed from Flanders. The language spoken, he told me, sounded something like a sort of “High Flemish,” if there were such a thing. “I felt very sorry for the woman transmitting,” he later told me. “She sounded so sad.” He copied it down in English, went to the library and borrowed a first edition Caldecott book.

The message was as follows.

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My explanation of what happened to us afterward will solve the mystery our home world has wondered about.

After we arrived, we escaped detection by our language being similar to that of a tribe called Flemings and clearing our pallor by eating a vegetable called the green bean.  We had a benefactor and lived happy lives on Earth, not unhappy as some feared.

I’ve been alone since my brother’s untimely death and been chronicled many times in Earth legends. I’ve decided to die here on planet Earth.

A doleful story? No. I lived a life richer than I ever dreamed.

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Thanks, Janet Webb, for a really great picture that inspired the sequel.

Now, the conclusion.

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He heard the signal from star “Ni-Etrell’s” third planet, “Gna-Jala.”

Gna-Jala —- where his lovely Koo-Brindii and her brother were lost forever, centuries ago.

The message, barely readable, sounded almost like a lower version of his own language.

“… Kevin.  Our planet … called Earth.  I intercepted her signal … seems … toward Alpha Centauri … If by … you’re reading this …  how sorry I am for … loss.  She … on Earth, immortalized in …  book.  I … read it to you … her memory.

‘My dear, do you know,

How a long time ago,

Two poor little children,

Whose names I don’t know,

Were stolen away … ‘ “

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The legend of The Green Children of Woolpit served as the inspiration for this story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_children_of_Woolpit

Also, the full poem “The Babes In The Wood” is included

http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2008/05/31

Today’s photo is courtesy of Claire Sheldon.  Thanks, Claire.  It reminds me of homework and school days.

When this story first appeared in its original form on May 21, 2014, it became, and remains, my most commented-on posting.  Let’s see if lightning strikes twice.

First, read the story, then click on the link below it.  It is based on a news story my former station ran.  You’ll get to see American local TV and the two wonderful people I worked with.

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Laura put her arms around Mike’s neck and kissed it.

She cooed.“Whatcha thinkin’ about, baby?”

Mike struggled with the words. “You, me, those sensational nights together.  I think you can guess the rest.”

She stiffened.  “You’re in love with me?”

He nodded. “OK.  So, this wasn’t in our agreement, but …”

She pushed herself away. “No, Mike! I am graduating this semester.  Don’t screw up a good thing.”

Mike saw in her eyes that it was over.

He wrote a check with ones and many zeroes for her final college semester and handed it to her. “You could do worse.”

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Looking inside the dating world of Sugar Daddies and Sugar Babies

COMING SOON — My first long-form story in serialized editions will be presented in the coming year.  Please look for it on this blog.  I’ll let you know when.

Since this is “Rochelle Week” with the pic, and a good one at that, I, too, have some of my own memories of that great Land to the East.  So, now MY contribution.

The following first appeared November 13, 2013.  The story title’s meaning is at the bottom of the story itself.

It’s always a great thing to poke a little fun at culture.  To wit —

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I spoke my best Hebrew to the passerby.  “Chaim Glicksman.  Where is he?”

The passerby answered in English.  “Down that way.  Christian Quarter.”

Chaim saw me right in the street.  “Shalom, my friend!”

I shook his hand.  “Chaim, what’s a nice Orthodox boy like you doing in the Christian Quarter?”

“Not every Jew is an Israeli, not every Israeli a Jew.”

“How is Ayelet?”

“My wife is fine, although we suffered a loss recently.  My daughter lit a candle and accidentally set Ayelet’s hair on fire.”

“That’s terrible!  Is Ayelet all right?”

“Of COURSE.  She wasn’t home at the time.”

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*wig

Unfortunately in the news business, sometimes the reporters “become” the news with tragic results.  Reporter Kelly and Engineer Dan found this out on a live shot … almost.

This story first appeared in its original form June 26, 2013.  It has been re-written.

Photojournalist is Ted Strutz with his amazing picture.  Ted, you keep us going on slow days.

Stand by … in three … two … one …

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Sparks flew overhead.

“Kelly!  Don’t!!!”

“I gotta get OUT of here!”

“A live wire’s tangled in the mast.  Truck’s electrified!  Step out and you’re DEAD!”

“Dan, that pole’s gonna crash down any second!”

“Listen, Kelly.  Put both feet together, OK?  Jump out, LAND on them together.  Then, take TINY baby steps toward me.”

Kelly held her breath and jumped onto the pavement.  Ten baby steps later, she fell into Dan’s arms. The pole fell, the truck exploded in flames.

“You OK?”

Kelly puffed.  “Fine.”

Dan shrugged, nervously chuckling.  “Guess we thumb a ride and declare a slow news day, huh?”