Author: Ron Stempkowski
Movies and Rentals and Bears, Oh My.
My ticket to living in Chicago was Blockbuster Video. I’d always dreamed of living here, and when I found myself working at a franchise in my college town after graduating (and having no real id... Read More
To All the Loud Girls
In the fourth grade our teacher, Mrs. Fisher–with her flaming orange hair and clown red lipstick applied liberally outside the lines of her lips would say things like “whatever rattles you... Read More
The Ebb and Flow
Examining my life–observing it–and writing about it have been a staple for me since starting this blog in 2010. I think it’s what writers do. We tell stories–whether fiction or... Read More
Living in the Birthday Present
Today is Ken’s birthday. Of all the annual milestones throughout the year, this one hurts the least because it’s said in the present tense. It is Ken’s birthday. Not was. I welcome ... Read More
Honoring a Hero of My Heart…Part 2
As I wrote last week, bad stuff happens. But just a couple of days later I was reminded of something quite the opposite. I received an email about an essay I’d written for the “Extraordina... Read More
Fast and Slow…at the same time
I was minding my own business, singing my lungs out along with Pandora on the way home from dropping off my friend Mindy at O’Hare when I saw the oncoming Nissan SUV swerve into my lane, clippin... Read More
Easy Like Sunday Morning
There is part of me that has great appreciation for easy, quiet days–particularly bright, early summer mornings. It’s these kinds of mornings when it’s never clearer to me how lucky ... Read More
Coins Only, Please
I forgot to mention in my previous entry something else that struck a “Ken chord” with me that contributed to my “ken-do-it-iveness” last weekend. In the alley where I found my... Read More