I’m not sure how it happened. But somehow, somewhere I became reacquainted with an old Garth Brooks’ song. Sometimes when I connect with a song I play it. A lot. I wouldn’t say in an obsessive way. Just a lot, a lot. That’s what happened with this song. It spoke to me and so I had to listen over and over. I think everyone should know about this song so I’m going to share my thoughts here. Because that’s how I roll. It’s a good song though so I’m sure you won’t mind reading my take on “When You Come Back to Me Again” (Yates & Brooks, 2000).
Continue readingThe Sacrifice
In a war I read about in history books
an ancestor’s name falls between the lines.
The war is history to me
but life for him.
Continue readingFalling from the sky with style
I am not a bold person. It’s true. For most of my life I have followed the path of least resistance like water. It’s funny though, it only took one decision to step outside my comfort zone to help me choose something some people call daring or brave or stupid. I’ve heard them all. Whatever you want to call it, this is how one trip outside the country eventually led to me parachuting out of a plane four years later.
Continue readingOpen Heart
The Samson Pill: Culmination Chapter 20
XX. November
Ant leaned on his cane for support. It irritated him that he even had to use a cane but he also recognized as much as he fussed about using one he still needed it. He had been out of commission for far too long and was anxious to get back to work. The general didn’t clear him for active duty so he decided this was a perfect time to initiate his plan. He had painstakingly assembled his team for one specific mission. Now it was time to implement it.
He walked into the room where his team patiently waited for him.
Cooper stood in the corner and nodded at him. While he was in the hospital, they had worked out this presentation. The time had come to lay the cards out on the table and get everyone on the same page.
Continue readingBuried Testimony
The Samson Pill: Culmination Chapter 19
XIX. Still September
The next few minutes passed as a blur for Cooper. Al called for assistance to help with Ant. A bomb squad was dispatched to the hotel room to inspect the bomb. Another team arrived to apprehend the suspect. Through it all, Cooper stayed with Ant. He even insisted on riding in the ambulance with him. The connection he felt with the man couldn’t be explained and it even surprised him. All he knew is Ant had to be okay. He just had to be.
And so, when he overheard a couple of agents talking about how the suspect had gotten away and was no where to be found, he didn’t register his disappointment in losing the opportunity to look for the notebook. For the first time since he knew its name, the Samson Pill was far from his thoughts.
Continue readingOnce a Week
The Samson Pill: Culmination Chapter 18
XVIII. Still September
Cooper stood very still. “Okay, what’s the plan?” he asked.
“I’d very much like to not die here,” Al sized him up and refrained from adding with present company. Since those might be her last words she thought she should at least die with the pretense of being nice.
“Yeah, it would be a bummer if we were the last people we each saw,” Cooper said finishing her thought. He scanned the room. “Are you sure about this?”
She rolled her eyes. “Pretty sure, yeah.”
“Okay, I’ll just call for help,” he took his phone out of his pocket and dialed Ant’s number. “Ant’s not answering.” He dialed another number. “Actually, my phone doesn’t seem to be working.” He shook it to see if that would fix it.
“I’m sure they jammed all communication,” she said. “Look what they did to the hotel’s phone.” The phone was ripped out from the wall.
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ck's days 