Magazine / Pacifico Reflections
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My Stop
He was new to the company, and she was assigned to help him learn his territory. They were sales reps for a national electrical supply manufacturer. Their region had been growing in recent years and the decision was made to split it in half. Th... -
Voices
Over the past five years, political frictions, social issues, and a lingering pandemic have taken a toll on their unity. You’re either with one or the other faction. Some have definitely aligned themselves, but most haven’t. Those who haven... -
Empathy & Opportunity
He started working for the company right out of high school. His childhood and youth were complicated by an alcoholic mother and a father he never knew. He was never arrested, but he was close more than once. He wanted to quit school during his... -
Cellphones And Personal Choice
Even though he’s had a cell phone for years, the technology continues to fascinate him. Being able to contact almost anyone, from almost anywhere, almost anytime is a marvel that isn’t lost on him. He’s old enough to remember telephone part... -
The Best Listener
His was one of the earliest units mustered into service during the Civil War. He answered the call to serve in mid-May of 1861, at a group enlistment in what would later be Central Park in Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. He enlisted with... -
Wearing A Smile
She was starting a four-year surgical residency. On that particular Monday morning, she was attending her first grand round. On this morning the group she was with included four other surgical residents, the hospital’s chief resident, a profes... -
Everybody
The Roaring Twenties was a grand time. The war to end all wars was over, flappers were flapping, the economy was booming, major motor companies couldn’t make cars fast enough, and speakeasies were selling contraband alcohol by the barrel. Then... -
Good Days
As a home inspector, he spent a good deal of time on the road and interacting with clients. He liked his work, and he was good at it. He appreciated a good day’s work. He learned early on in life that he couldn’t always control the encounte... -
Walk the Walk - Spaghetti
Her day started off well. The coffee was hot, the donuts were fresh, and she enjoyed the company of the four other drivers in the breakroom. The weather was clear, so she was looking forward to another pleasant day on the road. Over the past 31... -
Their Neighborhood
The nine houses in this cul-de-sac were the first nine built in what was planned to be a massive development. Shortly after these initial nine were completed, there were some long and protracted legal complications over zoning and some questions a... -
R U O K ?
Theirs was a small rural community. The church on the hill, was the largest building in town. It was also the social center of the town. There were no local industries. Aside from the folks who ran a local general merchandise store, a small r... -
Brother Friendly
The day started out warm. By mid-morning it was hot. By noon it was sweltering. The humidity was a sticky match. This was yet another in a stretch of similar days. A local pastor seized the moment. He offered a humorous yet poignant remin... -
Nails
It started in a trench in the Argonne Forest during the Great War in 1918. As each day passed, he drove a nail into a beam that supported the sides of the trench he was in. There was little he could do to end the fighting, nor could he ever set r... -
Work
As an OTR trucker, she spent a good deal of time on the road. From her vantage point behind the wheel, she had a unique view of the world. Because she covered a rather wide area that included five states, that view was pretty broad. She once sa... -
Fried Eggs
She lost her job in the economic crash of 2008. She had few options, but she knew the nursery business. She was good at it, so she decided to start a small operation of her own. The first year or two was slow, but by the third year, she had built u... -
Big Deals
For a multitude of reasons, we often miss the big things. By the time we realize how big they are, they have passed. We frequentlymiss them because they come dressed in common garb. Their arrival is not heralded by a brass band, and no one has ... -
Moving On
The year was 1954. Polio was a threat, a disabler, and a crippler. In some cases, it was a killer. The mere mention of the word struck fear into the hearts of parents. Annual outbreaks became common after World War II, and each year they seemed... -
It’s Not Binary
He pictured himself as a middle-aged man, but he knew he was old. He also believed that age was more a state of mind than a state of physical being. He was active and busy. He was fully engaged in his life. Being on time was not a strength fo... -
No I, Me, Or My
Several people wanted the position. He wasn’t well known beyond where he had lived, ran a small store, served as postmaster, and practiced law. His education was meager. He paid his bills and supported his family, but he was not a man of means,... -
Snickerdoodles
Kindness is always welcome, but sometimes it’s just so special that it makes you want to go out and do something kind in return. You’re immediately left with the feeling that you need to pay it forward. Kindnesses such as these generally com...