Every so often, we find ourselves at moments of sudden clarity. Unfortunately, most of us dismiss them either out of being distracted by things of the moment, or as inconvenient truths we would prefer to ignore. For whatever reason, I find these moments come at almost regular intervals. I believe this is only because I…

Everything looks different in the dark, and because of that, you think differently, too. It’s why for many years night drives became my primary source of inspiration. Many night drives made up much of my time that I lived in the state of Colorado. Naturally, it’s a beautiful place; generally, the people aren’t that bad,…

Many of my memories are filtered by the bittersweet hues of “almost.”For many years, the word “finally” was elusive as the wisp of a cloud on a bright summer day. From the earlier moments I remember of my youth, I’ve embarked on a surreal adventure of nearly-there’s and not-quite’s. I’ve skimmed the surface of greatness,…

A symbol of sugar and sustenance, the Juice Box is the embodiment of childhood dreams and lunchtime ecstasy. It’s the unspoken hero of many of our childhoods. In the cafeteria and on the playground, the Juice Box watered parched throats and quenched weary souls. With its trusty straw-sword, it could pierce the hearts of thirst.…

As I write this, it’s nearly Thanksgiving. I find for all the evil that has befallen the world this year, I still have plenty for which to be thankful. Indeed, this year I found the love of my life, someone who finally gets me the way I get her. We found something special in our…

I’ve often pondered about past lives, wondering if my more fantastic dream states are based on some distant truth. Are they some sort of flashbacks from a life my soul lived millennia ago? We all live many lives through our dreams, whether they are merely constructs which our unconscious creates for dreamers to explore, or…

In one way or another, we’re all masters of disguise. We don the masks that suit the roles we’re expected to play. Sometimes we do so with such finesse that the lines between the character and actor blur into nonexistence. In the realm of education, I’ve often found myself in the midst of a grand…

When I was in high school, I was shackled by the fetters of preordained forms, what I’ve come to know as the tyranny of literary expectation. The realm of written expression is nebulous enough as it is. So, forcing my personal thoughts to fit within simplistic cookie-cutter molds seemed a major disservice to both myself…

The prospect of becoming a footnote in history grows more intriguing to me with each passing moment. Contemplating this leads me to better appreciate the sheer significance of having any sort of legacy, minimal as it may first seem. By expressing myself through these reflective, introspective essays, I can create a legacy for others to…

In our time together, Emily and I have embarked upon many journeys along U.S. state highways. What we end up seeing along these often-neglected byways leaves us feeling sorrowful and longing for the comfort and familiarity of home. These trips often unveil the remnants of bygone eras, countless abandoned houses standing as eerie witnesses to…