It’s said that a funeral will bring out the best and the worst in people. I was amazed at some of the folks who came to pay their respects to my dad when he passed. There were people I hadn’t seen in years, and folks who I know it was physically painful for them to Read More
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Dial 911 and Die
Over 40 years ago, Jeff Cooper coined the word “hoplophobe,” meaning a “mental disturbance characterized by irrational aversion to weapons.” I’d like to coin a new word, pertaining to the irrational dependence on protection orders, restraining orders, and the 911 emergency system. There needs to be such a word for people who think that a Read More
Sagavanirktok
That’s a river in the North Slope region of Alaska. It’s an Eskimo word meaning “strong current.” I love strange place names. One of my favorite books is Passing Gas, a book about strangely names places in the US. This AP article touches on some of the strangely named places in Alaska, like Eek, Chicken, Read More
It Is Time
Here’s an email I sent out today to many folks I’ve worked with over the last seven years. Almost seven years ago, I answered an ad in the Dispatch looking for people to escort funeral processions. I knew the history of the situation, but applied anyway. What a ride it’s been. I’ve run almost 3,500 Read More