Tag: life

July 21st, 1969…

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Non Fiction, Short Stories2 Comments

It was 9:56 AM as I sat in the living room with my eyes glued to the television, and heard Neal Armstrong proclaim to the universe, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

For a twelve year old’s imagination, hopes and dreams, this was not just a step onto the moon, but a step into the heavens. My heart pounded and mind raced at what promised to be the beginning of a new way of life.

My God, we’d just touched the surface of another world. Nothing would ever be the same again. If we could do this, there would be no problems that mankind could not overcome. Over population, famine and war would no longer haunt us. Star Trek had it right all along. We were now free to move among the stars. Surely, it would only be a matter of a few years and there would be a colony on the Moon, then Mars and then beyond our solar system. The expanse of the universe was now our playground. Nothing can hold humanity back.

By the end of the week, baseball, fishing and summer days had pushed the momentous occasion out of my mind. Once the ‘space race’ was over, we realized that we had nothing to win. Without a prize, it didn’t take long for humanity to lose interest as well.

I’m Bored…

On By Jerry BrothertonIn flash, Short Stories10 Comments

“Let me tell you when God created boredom he was thinking about this dinky ass podunk. It’s August the 15th and it must be a 100 degrees in the shade. There’s nothing to do but sweat, cuss and spit. I guess I can hope for a car to drive by, crash into the grain elevator and explode into flames. That might liven things up a bit. Maybe someone will make a wrong turn off the highway. Who am I kidding, there’s no reason for anybody to even drive by. “

Now – Boredom means something different in this new century. If there’s not a new PlayStation game, a blockbuster movie, high speed internet, 300 channels on cable, or whatever technological shit our kids covet, then they’ll just go cry to us mommies or daddies and we’ll run right out and buy something just to shut them up. 

Autumn

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Free Verse, Poetry13 Comments

Young lives sacrificed to winter’s survival

Fields of brown saddened by missing hooves

Empty schools fill with sighs of freedom lost

Empty hearts break as love moves on

Green seas turn gold and brown

Trees explode with kaleidoscope colors

Anticipated fruit fills empty jars

New found lovers fill empty hearts

Ludere magis laborare!

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Non Fiction, Short Stories4 Comments

 Work hard…Play harder!

Way back a long time ago, when I was just a young lad and just starting to get a handle on life, my brother-in-law Tommy told me something that has stayed with me throughout the decades.

“Always make sure you take the time to enjoy life. If there is a job to be done, work as hard as you can to do it right. Just make sure than when the task is over that you celebrate just as hard.

Can I Play…

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Non Fiction, Short StoriesLeave a comment

I moved down the stairs and through the kitchen where I saw my mother slicing potatoes into a pan of hot grease. I passed my brother, setting on the front step, gently strumming his guitar. My sister pranced about the yard in make believe games. I reached out to touch her shoulder. She shivered and quickly turned toward me.

“Can I play too”, I asked. But as she opened her mouth to speak, the only sound that came out was of a man I did not recognize.

“107 degrees,” it said. “I have no idea how he is still alive.