You don’t need to be a wordsmith to love word play. The Washington Post asks its readers to redefine words to comic effect. The newspaper’s word-re-purposing contest generates some doozies. Let your funny bone decide your favorite from the Post’s winning entries from a few years back: Abdicate (v.) to give up all hope of … Continue reading
Author Archives: roncooper
Coronavirus: When will we mourn?
Just when will my bubble burst? My heart aches for all of the families suffering losses due to the coronavirus. How painful it must feel to be barred from seeing their loved ones in the hospital? How excruciating it must be to be limited to brief FaceTime visits — especially at the doorstep of death? … Continue reading
Coronavirus times: The brass chandelier
I saw two young men rummaging through a dumpster in my apartment complex. Everything in there is fair game. It’s not unusual to see a pickup truck pull up and the occupants carry away some treasure. A yard sale bargain. Gotta make a few bucks, you know. But these are the coronavirus times and there … Continue reading
Coronavirus — No better time to write your book!
You’re stuck at home. The four walls are closing in. Cabin fever. But sheltering at home is in some ways a gift. A gift of time. Time to write and self-publish your book. You have a story to tell. When you think of your legacy, you may be concentrating on finances and property. But legacy … Continue reading
Coronavirus — My money’s on Germany, New Zealand & South Korea
As the administration waffled on the seriousness of the coronavirus outbreak, other countries acted swiftly and decisively to protect the health and well-being of their citizens and have managed to keep the death rate down dramatically. Widespread testing, business closings and restrictions on everyday interactions were put into place, and these leaders never backtracked or … Continue reading
Aging / Coronavirus / Humor / Pandemic / Quirky / Social distancing
Coronavirus — The sneeze heard ‘round my world
I entered the small post office branch on a lazy Sunday afternoon in late March. It looked deserted. Lucky me, I thought, since I’m freaking out over the coronavirus. Maybe I could get in and out without getting infected. I wore gloves but no mask. (CDC advisory had not yet changed.) But I wasn’t alone … Continue reading
Coronavirus / Family / Friendship / Happiness / Joy / Pandemic / Turning point
Coronovirus times: At last, no training wheels!
An extended family I befriended in my neighborhood includes a 5-year-old girl just learning to ride her bicycle. I have become acquainted with her parents, grandparents and uncle, but have had no success striking up a conversation with her – until yesterday. Yesterday came the horrific news that 100,000 to 200,000 Americans could die of … Continue reading
Coronavirus / Family / Humor / Satire / Social distancing
How I came to spray my wife with Lysol (Sorry, honey!)
Okay, okay, before you start judging me, let me explain. We are husband and wife, sure, but we live in entirely different worlds. It’s riskier for me. I’m in self-isolation, 71, a cancer survivor with radiation and hormone therapy in my treatment history. Immune system? Compromised, naturally. So, I spend my days searching the web … Continue reading
I remember ‘Shorty’ Martinez
I’ve always rooted for the underdog. My Catholic parents raised me to practice compassion toward those in need. This was the 1960s and the birth of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty and our nation rose up to the challenge. I was an 18-year-old eager to lend a hand and was thrilled to be … Continue reading
Building Harmony / Coronavirus / Equality / Family / Kindness / Unity
Dear Hoarders,
You know who you are and you need to do the right thing. Some parents reported shortages in baby formula on store shelves, and they got a little frantic. Manufacturers say there’s a plentiful supply now, but here’s the problem: You. Please, stop hoarding! In fact, you could step up to the plate and return … Continue reading
Ron Cooper 