Author: Ron Stempkowski
I'm an award-winning writer living in Chicago. I have a passion for writing, storytelling, and my dog.
Exploring the 606
Living in a city like Chicago leaves a constant opportunity to explore new places and parts of the city–something I don’t do often enough. And something Ken was relentlessly good at remi... Read More
On Ken's 50th Birthday
I’ve felt the pull of this day for a couple of weeks. Uneasiness and my social impotence returned, leaving me tired and usually in the desire of no one’s company. For someone as far down ... Read More
A Hoosier Boy’s State of Mind
As my knees buckled, and my body careened to the hard cement at the top of the steps, I could hear the kid next to me saying, “Don’t lock your knees.” How do you stand for hours in ... Read More
The Camping Connection
In the quiet moments of the early morning while camping, I relish in the connection I feel with Ken. Usually the first one up, I take great pleasure in the ritual of making coffee and readying the sto... Read More
Pondering on What Comes Next
Friendships can begin in the unlikeliest of places, perhaps as a reminder that good things can happen even in the darkest of circumstances. I’ve written before about meeting author Claire Bidwe... Read More
A Case of the Birthdays
Yesterday was my birthday. And I woke up to—and enjoyed-all kinds of well wishes all morning. But like most milestones Ken was on my mind. Not in a sad way. Just in the way I carry him with me ... Read More