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BITS & PIECES: EUPHEMISMS ABOUT DEATH
A euphemism is a Greek word which allows for substitution of an agreeable word or inoffensive expression for one that may offer something unpleasant. Death is almost always an unpleasant subject, so it is no surprise that euphemisms will be used, in fact, they abound. For the act of dying or being dead, we may…
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AN IRISH EYE MAY POSSIBLY SMILE AGAIN
Last April 25, an essay was produced here called, “Fading to Gray.” It had to do with the possibility of approaching blindness which is not an inspirational subject by any means. In the interest of full disclosure, there may be a development which accounts for the title of this little story. So far, so good.…
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ENDORSEMENT THOUGHTS
There was a time when your well worn essayist lived in Chicago. In former days when employment was accepted from AT&T, that company reserved the right to send its employees where it thought they could best serve the company. And so in the early 1950’s, this former AT&T employee was sent from St. Louis to…
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A SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT
In his 93rd year, former U. S. President Ronald Reagan, died on June 5, 2004. His death came at an inopportune moment, as the Allies from World War II were planning to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6th. Although Reagan had absolutely no involvement in the landings, his…
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A LAMENT FOR SHAMROCK’S DEATH
When an Irish person suffers a grievous loss, the response will most often come in the form of a lament. The dictionary says a lament may involve mourning aloud or a wail. It expresses sorrow and deep regret. The lament may take the form of a poem or of a song or of a sermon.…
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MORE BITS AND PIECES: THE MORMONS ARE AT IT AGAIN, etc.
There is a Mormon Church only two miles from this house. It escapes me why the Mormons elected to build a large church in Short Hills, New Jersey. As far as can be determined, their sect has a very limited appeal to residents of Summit, Livingston, Millburn and Short Hills. But the Church of Jesus…
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BITS AND PIECES – PART II – “Piling On”
When an essayist collects miscellaneous items for a Bits and Pieces essay, it is inevitable that some of the items have to do with thoughts we would all like to avoid. For nearly two years now, for example, the United States has been engaged in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This sort of adventure inevitably…
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HOW I BECAME A PROTESTANT
It would be a great source of regret it any reader were to conclude from the title of this essay, that this is a religious piece. Banish the thought. Quite to the contrary, this vignette is an Army story. When we reach the latter stages of this inquiry, there will be a denouement that will…
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BITS AND PIECES – PART I
From time to time, there are some shorter subjects that demand the attention of the essayist. To devote a whole essay to these transient items would probably be more than they deserve. On the other hand, to fail to comment on such items would be a significant injustice. And so what we have here is…