My dear friend Jeffrey Fortner passed away several months ago from kidney failure. His death came as a shock to me, and as death tends to do, his passing has triggered lots of memories. One stands out among countless others. Though, dear reader, this story means little if you don’t know a few things about … Read moreRemembering the Jazz Man
Grandpa is not doing well. My mom said this to me two days before I joined both my parents for a 900-mile road trip. A trip to say goodbye to my best friend. We drove from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Peru, Illinois, where my grandfather lay dying in a hospital. It was too late to … Read more15 years of 5 a.m.
I am an agent of Satan. At least this is what one of my oldest friends tells me. It was a bizarre comment, to say the least. I have known this friend for 30 years, and though he has become active in his church over the last few years, he’d never discussed religion with me … Read moreJesus Doesn’t Use Facebook
My decision (or need) to flee the town where I was raised for the refuge of the desert town of Albuquerque did not come impulsively. It was gradual and built slowly over several years. Colorado Springs is gorgeous and unique. With the impressive Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, the town is home to resplendent, natural … Read moreThe Losing Battle for My Hometown
Note: Originally published by Firebrand Progressives It was quitting time when someone noticed the fire in a scrap bin on Saturday, March 25, 1911. Inside the Triangle Waist Company factory, eight stories above New York’s Greenwich Village, hundreds were preparing to leave work for the day, but unbeknownst to most people in the factory, the … Read moreThe Triangle Factory Fire and Labor’s Legacy