Last year I published an original short story called An Encounter With Santa Claus. This isn’t the jolly Santa Claus we usually see.
The story has a touching ending.
If you are curious and would like to read a short work of fiction that concerns human compassion, click here.
Merry Christmas!
I’ve written another short story. It’s titled A Heart That Would Not End.
This new story was inspired by my friend Mitchell the didgeridoo player.
Mitchell’s smile can be seen all around San Diego. Perhaps you’ve seen him playing one of his didgeridoos at Seaport Village or Balboa Park, or entertaining visitors inside the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park.
Not only does his music surge like the beating heart of the cosmos, but Mitchell has a deep interest in astronomy and our particular corner of the galaxy. He has created a unique Stellarium: a large three dimensional transparent cube filled with shining stars that represents our sun’s neighborhood. He has shown me photographs.
One day I hope to look into the Stellarium with my own eyes.
To read my new story, click here.
I must be dreaming. This can’t be possible!
I have a website called Short Stories by Richard, where I publish my small works of fiction.
Like most bloggers I monitor my stats on a daily basis.
In the past year increasing numbers of students in at least three countries–Denmark, Sweden and the United States–have read short stories that flowed from my fingertips. Readers have arrived in spurts from a variety of curriculum and school websites, including regional sites, Google Classroom and Instructure.com.
Hundreds of students have been reading One Thousand Likes. In the past week, out of the blue, students have begun to read The Firefly.
I really don’t know what to say, except Hello to All Readers and Thank You!
I’ve mentioned in the past that I intend to spend more time writing, and that is now what I firmly resolve to do. If my blogging begins to lag, it’s because I’m sitting somewhere outside in the warm San Diego sunshine, my pen and notepad on my lap and my eyes lost in a dream.
Or is this a dream?
Richard
I’ve published a new Christmas story. It’s about our busy lives and the passage of time.
It’s titled A Wise Man.
Please forgive me if I make changes to this tiny work of fiction as I reread it in the days, weeks and months to come. A writer’s thoughts and feelings can evolve over time.
To read the story, click here.
This morning I published another short story. This one is titled The Station Sparrow.
The humorous little tale was inspired by my own life experience.
I often see birds inside the enormous passenger waiting room of Santa Fe Depot, the train station in downtown San Diego. Feathered infiltrators come through the wide open doors and walk about the floor pecking at crumbs.
That got me to thinking. And imagining. And laughing.
The Station Sparrow is mostly about life, and humor’s saving grace. Click the link to read it.
I hope it makes you laugh, too.
Almost October. Another year is flying by.
In the daily hustle and bustle, one can forget important things.
I’d like to thank you all, the readers of Cool San Diego Sights.
Thank you for following along during my walks around San Diego. We’ve peered into unexplored corners, lingered in the sunshine. We’ve had a laugh or two. We’ve experienced a good deal of wonder in a beautiful city.
Thank you for your comments and your sharing.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately–about the best way to spend my weekends and free time before and after work.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve become more inclined to sit in a tranquil place and simply write. Deep down that’s what I really love. So I’ve decided from this point forward I will concentrate more on writing fiction, less on photoblogging.
I’ll still walk, of course–and if I happen to spy something cool or interesting, I’ll post photos right here on Cool San Diego Sights, or my companion blog Beautiful Balboa Park. But once I find that perfect seat, my old camera will be set to one side as I pick up notebook and pen.
Some of those scribbled words will eventually make it to my website Short Stories by Richard. That’s where small philosophical works of fiction await curious readers.
My camera might be idle for hours as I brainstorm, dream and write, but my feet are still restless! I’m sure more photos will appear in the days ahead. Many corners await exploration!
Ahead into the future!
Richard
There are moments when this world seems suddenly, inexplicably transformed.
New light.
New perception.
New understanding.
A short story came to me yesterday while I sat in Balboa Park across from a splashing fountain. My eyes were resting on the broad scene.
So many people, engaged in every sort of activity. So much humanity. And at the center of it all, that everlasting fountain.
Shimmering and shining like magic.
I took out my pen and wrote down a few inspired words.
They might form a short story, or they might form a poem–I’ll let you decide. Read it here.
I wrote another short story. This one is titled The Firefly.
It’s about regret and redemption.
And hopelessness and release.
And hurt and freedom.
If you’d like to read this small work of fiction, click here.
There are many outstanding things about the Central Library in downtown San Diego. One great thing is their internet lab, where I can easily post to my blog when my home internet is temporarily down. Another is the used bookstore just inside the public library’s front entrance!
I can’t count all the awesome books, CD’s, graphic novels and other cool stuff I’ve stumbled across while browsing through the Friends of the Central Library Bookstore. Every time I go there seems to be a new crop on the shelves. My hungry eyes harvest the bounty. Fertile row after fertile row sprout with fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, science fiction, biographies, cookbooks, religion . . . you name it!
Are you looking for the coolest used bookstore in San Diego? Head downtown! The proceeds from every purchase help support the Central Library. In so many ways the library provides neighbors with opportunities, improving our community.
Yesterday for one measly dollar I purchased one of the best resources ever written for identifying local flora.
You can’t beat that!
Please forgive me. I’ve written another short story and now I’m going to tell you about it.
This brief work of fiction is titled Another Page. It’s all about life and memory. And those shining, magical things that fill one’s life and memory.
That ephemeral brightness.
You will probably recognize the central character. There’s a very good chance you know that person intimately.
To read the story, click here.
Cool San Diego Sights! 