tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9340015338009520162024-03-19T00:00:31.595-05:00Denis J LaCombStoryteller.Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.comBlogger599125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-4517795901754242222024-03-19T00:00:00.045-05:002024-03-19T00:00:00.136-05:00LaTullippe It Almost Was
I’ve
never been a big fan of Genealogy or family trees. I tend to dismiss those
infamous tall tales handed down through the generations about the ‘good old
days.’ The past is the past and can’t be changed. Or so I thought.
Perhaps
this laissez-faire attitude came from my own upbringing. Being raised in a single
parent household, we never recognized the absence of my father. It was hardly
an Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-71967167160153655432024-03-12T00:00:00.022-05:002024-03-12T00:00:00.244-05:00My Obituary
How we got on the subject, I have absolutely no idea. Sharon was
talking about somebody’s obituary and said it wasn’t very good. “If you don’t
want someone else writing your obituary, “She said to me, “You need to write
your own.”
Not surprised or shocked, I thought it was a good idea. What the hell,
I know myself better than anyone else (even my wife who thinks she knows
everything about me) Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-36860353660484314912024-03-05T00:00:00.068-06:002024-03-05T00:00:00.343-06:00After the Howling Monkeys
I can still hear them, almost 40
years later, scrambling above us and howling at our presence down below. It’s like
a musical refrain cemented in my brain; haunting yet so familiar. The jungle
can do that to you. It can enlighten, threaten and even kill you in a heartbeat.
In our case, that could have come
in the form of six different varieties of poisonous snakes, anyone of which
could have Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-19165677740861487832024-02-27T00:00:00.045-06:002024-02-27T00:00:00.136-06:00I Have Seen the Elephant
The phrase:
‘I have seen the elephant; I have heard the owl’ is an American colloquial
phrase that refers to gaining experience of the world at a significant cost. It
was a popular expression in the mid-to-late 19th century throughout
the United States beginning with the Mexican-American war and beyond.
Pioneers
would speak about ‘seeing the elephant’ in their journeys west. James Michener
Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-89682064599697442372024-02-20T00:00:00.026-06:002024-02-20T00:00:00.344-06:00Let's Get Physical
If you want it, you can have it. Right now, anytime anyplace. Streaming
services are all the rage. It’s immediate but it’s not permanent. You get a
bite but no lasting satisfaction. If you want to go back and savor those
feelings again, it’s gonna cost you. Welcome to the real world of streaming.
There was a great article on the Minnpost web site a while back. It was
entitled: Protecting Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-49794438259242570392024-02-13T00:00:00.038-06:002024-02-13T00:00:00.299-06:00Deposits and Withdrawls
Eighty-One is uncharted territory for me. In a
couple of months, I’ll cross that threshold and enter even more foreign
terrain. Like ‘walking point’ in the Nam, it’s one cautious step after another
and may the best man live…for another day.
Micky and Me (photo credit: Jerry Hoffman)
It
doesn’t seem that long ago when we were all young and dumb and the world was a
rainbow landscape full of Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-66671025396163559952024-02-06T00:00:00.075-06:002024-02-20T13:19:42.598-06:00The Birth of Cool
As a young man
growing up, there was one status level I never achieved. That was to be cool.
Back in the
day, when appearances meant everything, there was a plethora of quirky and
colorful characters who defined their lives and occupied ours by their dress,
style, mannerisms and diction. It was a world of first images that held tight
behind a façade of individuality, which, of course, it Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-28236384986060107462024-01-30T00:00:00.055-06:002024-01-30T00:00:00.134-06:00True Collaboration
The definition of collaboration is simple enough. ‘Collaboration is the
action of working with someone to produce or create something.’ Sounds simple
enough and therein lies the gaping black hole of potential failure. What isn’t
mentioned is the willingness of both parties to forgo personal ego and goals
for a shared vision and outcome. Give and take must be part of that equation if
any Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-87959226415870782702024-01-23T00:00:00.082-06:002024-01-23T00:00:00.130-06:00Canyon Country ClubWhen Sharon and I went looking to buy a home in the desert, our intentions were simple enough. She wanted a place where we could entertain our families. I wanted a quiet place to write. We found both in a stretch of scrub brush south of downtown that happened to come with a storied history of ambition, prejudice, and glorious mountain views. It was to become part of the storied history of this Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-82177494976124587772024-01-16T00:00:00.033-06:002024-01-16T00:00:00.129-06:00The Engine UpsideI’ve always been fascinated by
the creative process, the hunger for more, a need to succeed, distrain for the
status quo and a willingness to rise above one’s raisin. What fueled that
drive? What causes two siblings, raised in the same household, to take such
different steps in life? Why did two people raised under the same set of
parents, education, upbringing, social, cultural ethnic Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-7683282609380244672024-01-09T00:00:00.075-06:002024-01-09T00:00:00.127-06:00Coyote Time and the Rising Sun
Few of us are lucky enough to watch the world (as we
know it) open up each morning and welcome in a brand-new day. A lot of folks
seem to be just happy seeing daylight and then pondering what the next
twenty-four hours might bring into their lives. I am very lucky. For me, life
begins anew here among the cactus, coyote, and early morning walkers.
Dawn
in the desert is a very special time of Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-16605580289034999022024-01-02T00:00:00.047-06:002024-01-02T00:00:00.138-06:00STEM vs. Liberal Arts
The LA Times recently had an interesting editorial about the value of a
STEM (science, tech, engineering and math) education verses liberal arts.
Normally, I wouldn’t have paid much attention to the subject matter but with
one grandchild graduating from high school next spring and more coming up fast
behind her, I thought it quite compelling and relevant to their and my own
education.
So, I’veAuthor Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-9853043550383997082023-12-26T00:00:00.054-06:002023-12-26T00:00:00.129-06:00Lost Then FoundOnce my buddy and I reached
Seven Corners in Downtown Saint Paul, a whole new world of treasure hunting
opened up. Worn-a-bit, Rag Shop, Salvation Army, Goodwill; they all
connotated a certain image in our minds. We knew that was where the poor people
shopped, those down on their luck found treasures, and those struggling to make
ends meet got things on the cheap. We were none of those; just two Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-24160654088637679462023-12-19T00:00:00.027-06:002023-12-19T00:00:00.129-06:00Losing Their Mojo
Being able to paint
any kind of image is one of those precious gifts I don’t have and probably
never will. How anyone can take a piece of paper, canvas, metal or other
material and dab paint on them to create something wonderful is a talent I
admire and envy. So, when I see an artist give up the ship, it bothers me…a
lot.
Over the course of last summer, I’ve had several painter friends tell
Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-38869620705892805212023-12-12T00:00:00.081-06:002023-12-12T00:00:00.160-06:00Art Around Every Corner
Unlike a lot of cities, Palm Springs and its
neighboring communities don’t have just one art district. Perhaps it’s the
continuing and encouraged diversity of its inhabitants or the friendly rivalry
between cities up and down the Coachella Valley. Whatever the reason, there are
artist enclaves scattered throughout the valley and each carries its own
special uniqueness.
Art
and Palm Springs Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-61617964457096388632023-12-05T00:00:00.031-06:002023-12-05T00:00:00.135-06:00Living Forever
Most of us are uncomfortable talking about dying. It’s one of those
unspoken topics that we rarely address until unforeseen circumstance force us
to do so. Death and dying are the proverbial ‘elephant in the room’ that
everyone knows is there but refuses to address. Until now.
In the last year or so, the Business Insider web site has highlighted
several individuals who have started up Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-18708819937660619592023-11-28T00:00:00.038-06:002023-11-28T00:00:00.141-06:00Wabasha, My Old Town
I have a long and curious history with Wabasha, Minnesota. I don’t have
roots there but I saw what it did for my wife, Sharon, in terms of solid,
grounded values and a wholesome attitude toward life. Hers was and is an
intellectual curiosity that went far beyond the classroom and school yard
negotiations. It steeled her for life’s ups and down and a burning desire for
more. Not bad for a Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-49864700684172749962023-11-21T00:00:00.051-06:002023-11-21T00:00:00.167-06:00Passing Down the Dream
I’ve always been fascinated with the concept of ‘the American Dream.’ Not
unique to America, it’s the universal idea that anyone can pull themselves up
from their proverbial bootstraps and earn success and happiness if they just
work hard enough at it. In the past, I’ve written several blogs about the
gradual demise of this ideology as a part of the American lexicon. Nowadays, it
seems to Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-77454389839522329302023-11-14T00:00:00.048-06:002023-11-14T00:00:00.150-06:00Journeys Inside My Head
I guess I’ve always been a
dreamer; wondering what if and why not? It’s been a lifelong journey outside
the fringes of consciousness, usually spurred on by vapid aspirations and
free-flowing thoughts inside my head.
Transcendental meditation and chemical enhancements never appealed to
me. I’ve always abhorred drugs and the idea of putting strange substances into
my body was an absolute no-go. Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-68144176673390757812023-11-07T09:00:00.000-06:002023-11-07T09:01:45.790-06:00Facing Our Fears
In most cases today, normal childhood fears are
handled differently than when I was a kid. The generation that proceeded us;
our parents and their parents, grew up in a very different world. World War
One, the Great Depression, World War Two put all of them in a survival mode. In
turn, they wanted to pass on that toughness to their children.
Resiliency, self-preservation, and basic survivalAuthor Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-28839731656855091322023-10-31T00:00:00.026-05:002023-10-31T00:00:00.157-05:00The Next Plateau
As she got older, my mother used to speak despairingly about ‘old
people.’ At the time, she was in her mid-eighties and my step-father in his
mid-nineties. They were still dancing occasionally and playing cards at the
church at least three or four times a week. They did at least one or two cross
country road trips a year and made special trips to Vegas too. They had an
active and busy lifestyleAuthor Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-85638010986713667182023-10-24T00:00:00.044-05:002023-10-24T00:00:00.157-05:00Passing Through Pasadena
Song writing is hard. Lyric writing is even harder. It’s not just arranging
words to fit the mood, rhythm, sway, or beat of a bunch of notes crammed
together into a verse. It goes far beyond what the ear can hear and the heart
can feel. A good set of lyrics can capture the imagination like few things in
life can.
I grew up listening to great songs that connected with my immature,
naïve, and Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-81549222652173395342023-10-17T00:00:00.084-05:002023-10-17T00:00:00.145-05:00A Mystery UnraveledOnly now, years after her passing, am I finally getting a closer look
at the ambitious, liberated, free-spirited, adventurous woman gave birth to me
over eighty years ago. Then forgot about the role she was supposed to play in
my life after that.
Up until this point, with the rare exception of a couple of old black
and whites, all I had to go on to retrace my mother’s life story was a series
of Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-26305904263414910602023-10-10T00:00:00.050-05:002023-10-10T00:00:00.137-05:00Spot Bowling as a Metaphor for LifeBack in August, I published
a blog entitled: ‘The Ultimate Filter.’ It garnered a number of comments and
reactions from friends and some of my ‘coffee and chat’ salon compatriots. One
of those friends responding commented that he had written a book a while back
that seemed to encapsulate some of the same recognitions of life’s intricacies.
His book was on spot bowling,
I had never thought of Author Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934001533800952016.post-26976189985320651992023-10-03T00:00:00.061-05:002023-10-03T00:00:00.139-05:00Trail Running for the AgesI’ve been a
runner all my life, or more correctly; was a runner for about 47 plus years.
During that time, I ran a number of sanctioned races and covered many miles
chasing those elusive goals of staying healthy and feeding my soul.
My one goal or
obsession during those many years was always to run the Western States 100, the
premier one hundred mile run in Central California. I have no idea whyAuthor Denis J. LaCombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120183937629601434noreply@blogger.com0