363 articles
Seldom do I ever do book reviews. There is a cogent reason for that, being I don’t (seldom if ever) read books, and especially not fiction. Why the exception you ask? Simple: I was approached by valiant members of our SF community with the prospect of reading a recent novel by a respectful peer of […]
(You can read part IV here) Featured photo: author’s incision as of this writing. Dedication for this essay goes to SOFREP sister Ms. Rita Malone Paul. I surmised, with not too much effort, that the number of times I attempted to unhook from my life support systems to venture off on a more meaningful existence […]
(you can read part I here) At once I was startled as I nearly plowed into the back of the halted mortar ring. Halted?? Excitement was crawling into my gut. I was then alarmed by the realization that I was standing on the port side (left) of the ring… the flat side that it would […]
All drawings feature in this essay are by Small Daughter, Ms. Regan Christine Hand (You can read part III here) (Dedication for this essay goes to SOFREP brother Tim E. ) I got a shot of heparin every day in the gut, next to my heinous incision. Day after day, right in the gut. “What […]
All drawings courtesy of Small Daughter, Ms. Regan Christine Hand (you can read part II here) (Dedication of this essay goes to SOFREP brother Mr. Thomas Gomez) Preface: my recent 36-day stay in the hospital began with an emergency surgery that left my entire abdomen open for a period of three days before surgeons were […]
(you can read part I here) (dedication for this essay goes to Mr. Alex Hollings) Preface: my recent 36-day stay in the hospital began with an emergency surgery that left my entire abdomen open for a period of three days before surgeons were satisfied with the disposition of my sepsis to close my abdomen. My dreamscape […]
(Dedication for this write goes to our SOFREP family sister Ms. Charlotte) Preface: my recent 36-day stay in the hospital began with an emergency surgery that left my entire abdomen open for a period of 3 days before surgeons were satisfied with the disposition of my sepsis to close my abdomen. Following surgery, I remained […]
I read very few books, probably to the tune of one every three years or so. I was asked to read and review this particular book by my friend, Steven Trujillo, or as he more personally identifies by his fine Spanish heritage: Estéban Trujillo de Gutiérrez. Steve and I spent a short time, too short, […]
(Dedication for this essay goes to the anonymous soul who sent me the amazing gift of relaxation) Give words of gratitude? A gesture that knows no bounds; it coaxes the eager patron and gifts him immeasurable joy. I, being sound of mind and mending body, do revel in the juggernaut of compassion and support from […]
(with dedication to brother J.D. Stevens) Yes, I remember it well; like it was yesterday. A day largely devoid of any and all self-esteem. Yeah, self-esteem was not meant to prevail on this day of days; it was written in the stars that night. “You need to yet have a bowel movement, Mr. Hand. It […]
(You can read part 13 here) Dedicated to SOFREP’s own sister Suzanne D. for her extraordinary personal generosity in my family’s time of desperation. Our jump master stood and banged his hands together several times and called out sharply: “ATTENTION EVERYONE, HEY, ATTENTION!!” He stood in the center of our aircraft with his arms outstretched, […]
You can read part 12 here. Dedication of this chapter goes out to the SOFREP family’s favorite, Mr. Yankee Papa! I was intentionally up early the next morning to set out and do a bit of clothes shopping before I caught my train to Mechan. I stepped out onto the damp cobblestone alley into the […]