Author: Richard Watson
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Annie’s September: Chauncy gleaning the cornfield
September, when the corn harvest clears fields for running free, Chauncy wonders whether we want him to find corn to glean for the bird and squirrel feeders back home, or those find those fancy birds with the ring around their necks that hop up and fly away so fast. Patience, big dog. The season doesn’t…
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On Writers: Quinn’s One Sided Covers Stroke’s Impact
The documentation on the cover of the original Woodstock records included an apology for the quality of the album’s production. The live, outdoor setting at Max Yusgar’s dairy farm fell short of professional studio standards, so Woodstock’s producers cautioned listeners that the album contained flaws much like fine leather that shows the markings of the…
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Walk, Talk, Run, Fun…
It’s interesting to consider; I’ve been thinking longer than I’ve been talking. Certainly longer than I’ve been writing. Hmmm. I wonder which I am better at? Clearly dependent variables. Can’t imagine writing anything without mastering at least some semblance of organized thought. Unless you’re Tom Robbins, the master of thought that runs by a different…
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Pot Gift Bombs, All the More to Cherish
If you squint so hard your eyes water, you might see it: Our new tea pot looks like a bomb. Squint a little harder and Pot’s spout multiplies and her bomb-like shape evolves into one of those mines that floats around in oceans, bobbing up against vessels and blowing them to Davey Jones’ locker. Really,…
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The Making of an Electorate
The summer when I was 11, my Uncle Tom carefully encouraged me to watch both political conventions. I didn’t know his party or his political leanings. He simply sat with me, watched, and asked my thoughts about the speeches delivered by the politicians in Chicago and Los Angeles. He made me think and shape those…
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TKR Surgery Day
I reported to Mayo Clinic’s Methodist Hospital early the morning of May 7 for total knee replacement surgery. I was prepared, both physically and psychologically. Physically, all I had to do was shower using an iodine soap that I’d been given during my pre-op appointments. I had not eaten since the evening before. I really…
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Memory in Fiction Writing
Having a poor memory may facilitate fiction writing, if imagination takes hold. Imagination can be mustered, nurtured and cultivated. A healthy imagination can compensate for a lousy memory. It can build upon the shreds of forgotten recollections. Even if one’s memory remains crisp, relaxed loosely disciplined memory synergizes with imagination to create the near truths…
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Total Knee Replacement: Stepping over the threshold to commitment
On March 7, I consulted Dr. Robert Trousdale regarding my knee. Dr. Trousdale is a physician in the Mayo Clinic Department of Orthopedics Surgery. He read my x-rays, examined my knee, and offered a straightforward evaluation of my options. I was, in his perspective, a candidate for total knee replacement. Imaging of my knee coupled…
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Boundary Waters Boulder Hopping with a Brand New Knee
Blame it on the walleyes. They were all still out there, teasing and tempting. I hadn’t taken any out of Sea Gull in the past two days, so where else could they be? The lake beckoned, and a flash of fishing fever surged through my veins. The heat messed with my normal brain functions. An…
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BWCA in the Balance of Twilight
Day sets its sun A Barclays spokesman said yesterday: “We do not comment on viagra cheap prices analyst notes.” Mr Diamond will be asked about the size of Barclays’ legal liabilities when he appears before MPs on the Commons Treasury Select Committee on Wednesday for what is likely to be an uncomfortable…