Archive For April 30, 2018
“I’ve learned that you simply can’t control those bad vibes,” said Kenny G. He not only plays elevator music, he speaks elevator music. Like I was called to write. In support of a club I couldn’t afford to join. From July 28, 1991. – JDW A ten-year-old watches TV. Pioneer jocks want better uniforms. Athletic…
Pencil frozen, page blank as the bottom of an empty bowl, I stare out barren windows. Waiting for word. “Stop me if you’ve heard this before,” The Dog says. Apropos of nothing. “How many editors does it take to screw a writer?,” he asks, with a demonic smile. All canine teeth. “Don’t know,” I tell…
As the original running boom gained heat, Runner’s World produced a sister publication, in newspaper format. I managed to write a book review for the premiere edition of On The Run which appeared April 20, 1978. – JDW RUNNING THE LYDIARD WAY by Arthur Lydiard with Garth Gilmour, World Publications If Arthur Lydiard had no…
Talked the Venice (FL) Gondolier into publishing the occasional business column. From January 30, 1999. – JDW LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE COMPLETES YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN I will never forget my first home visit as an insurance agent. A couple in a prestigious gated community, Lincoln Continentals in every other driveway, wanted to upgrade a policy they…
From December 28, 1988. Had a birthday just a few days earlier. Didn’t know shit about getting old. Much more knowledgeable today. I hope I die before I get old. I don’t want to change who I am really. And to live until I was forty, I’d have to change the person I am. I’d…
Originally written for Track & Field News (1981). I added this introduction from Chapter Three: And Some of the Women in When Running Was Young and So Were We. – JDW Same story, different gender. Newsmakers? Back in the day, the ladies were nothing less than great explorers, seeking the outer limits of, well, their limits. Who knew…
Last week I managed to study the 2018 Boston marathon. Also, the Boston marathons for 2014 and 2017. Then the 2018 London marathon. I would’ve written this article myself but Toni Reavis is smarter and faster and better informed. And he said it was okay if I adopted his work. Then I asked him to explain…
From July 1990. – JDW A Native American grandfather talking to his young grandson tells the boy he has two wolves inside of him struggling with each other. The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The other wolf is fear, greed and hatred. Which wolf will win, grandfather? asks the young boy. Whichever…
Didn’t write much for the Portland Downtowner because the editor hated me. Like we’d had a terrible marriage in a past life and she still wasn’t over it. From February 26, 1990. – JDW ‘There’s got to be an empty, heated warehouse somewhere in Portland.’ He had been looking forward to his turn to serve…
Originally titled by some editorial-type, “Small Plane and Bad Weather Mean Long Day.” From September 12, 1990. – JDW Have you ever flown in a small plane? I thought I had once. There was no stewardess and no tray table to put back in its upright position. The pilot – who seemed to be impersonating…