…the tribe, now a full hundred strong, trooped silently through the lower terrace of the jungle trees and dropped noiselessly upon the floor of the amphitheater. The rights of the Dum-Dum marked important events in the life of the tribe—a victory, the capture of a prisoner, the killing of some large fierce denizen of the […]

So many stories to tell. And where to start? The beginning? And where exactly is that? I think most beginnings start with a thought, an idea, a daydream, maybe even in fantasy. As I become reacquainted and reminisce with childhood friends, I’ve come to realize the child they were is still very much who they […]

It was big, and scary and I stood mesmerized and fascinated, staring up and trying to summon courage.  I didn’t really understand what I was looking at.  It was the late 60’s, so I was 4 or 5 years old.  It was my first time to Miracle Strip Amusement Park, my first amusement park; and […]

“The moment of arrival, and that of departing, are two of the greatest epochs of life, so sayeth the ancient book.” The musky scent of decaying vegetation permeated the humid air.  The dragonflies settled, bullfrogs croaked, crickets chirped, owls stirred, other night creatures awoke, and another vibrant sunset receded.   The atmosphere brought with it the […]

The first thing I remember wanting to be once I grew up was an archeologist.  It was really the only thing I ever really considered becoming as a child, besides Tarzan, or maybe Johnny Quest.  But as far as an actual job—archeologist was it. It all started with a fascination for dinosaurs.  I had the […]