NO JUNK MAIL: Recent Episodes
James R. von Feldt
Grampa Jim tells about what's going on in town this week. It's small-town drama with a bit of humor here and there. Sometimes re-telling the stories of when he was a boy in Washington state during World War 2. Check out Books on AMAZON: THE TRADING POST and KIDNAPPED, by James R. von Feldt.
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Conspiracy, conspiracy, conspiracy, they're all around us. And, they're driving us to distraction at the Gas&Grill. Listen in as the discussion jumps from one to another.
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In our town, there is always something to do. Fall is no exception. It's the little things that add up to a lot if you don't do it now before the snow flies.
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Decisions, decisions, decisions; life is full of them - some good, some bad. When someone from our town makes a big one you can count on comments.
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Not much going on this week till the Department of Transportation showed up to do a project on Main street. We were on TV waving and shouting encouragement. We're OK. The firemen have left.
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MAGGIE THE CATMaggie the cat: what can I say? Cats are a particular thing in our town, especially Maggie, who was never domesticated but decided to become part of our family anyway. Her adventure -- going to the vets, is one of the stories of our town narrated in NO JUNK MAIL.
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One of the many essays and poems written by Bob Neumann a member of the Half Moon Bay Author's Group. His book is titled PEACE WARRIORS.
Study in frustration we all have experienced. This story was written by Tom Kilpatrick a member of the Half Moon Bay Author's Group.
We have to get to the Trading Post but which way to go, East or West, and how will we get there, the boys can't go far.
The injured boys go back to camp but there is urgent work to be done; the injured cougar has to be killed.
Saturday was exciting and exhausting. Daryl's injury kept him from sleeping soundly but as the boys start their second day in the woods their energy will be high. It hasn't occurred to them that they are lost.
See through the eyes of the young and innocent: faced with challenges they had not imagined, hardship and adventure in which they triumphed and failed, pain they suffered and evil they were to confront. An American tale of young boys during World War II living in Vancouver, Washington.
The war was raging, and everyone was busy attending to their jobs. We were left on our own a lot - all the kids were. It was exciting and sometimes scary. We were growing up quick.
Homeless for a while in Portland. Wartime activities everywhere. Hustle here, hustle there, ships, airplanes, adrenaline all around. Trips around the area to see what it's all about stretched imagination to the limits. A whole town built in 110 days. Three shipyards turning out ships as if they were cars on an assembly line. The world had never seen anything like it. I was there.
World War II was raging. Workers were streaming west to take jobs in the shipyards along the Columbia River. The whole world had gone mad, and yet a child's world was just forming. It leads to a fictional story that isn't all that fictional.
A Winter Visit To TEXAS in February; what a great idea. So, what could possibly go wrong?
It's New Year's Eve at the Gas & Grill. A terrible snowstorm is bearing down on the area. The lights go out all over town. A desperate man stumbles in the door ...
Our town is decorated and everyone is getting ready for Christmas.
What happens when the kids have a great idea and want to surprise the whole town?
It's going to take hard work but they can do it.
In our town, news travels fast. There is a newspaper in the nearby town of Bloomfield, but it only comes out once a week and most times is way behind the news. Besides that, it hardly ever tells the whole story. This week's letter to Brett fills in some of the gaps; the wreck, the fire, the Pavillion, and more.
Summer Doldrums is a short time between planting and harvest. What time would be better than for a Country Dog Show? Who's dog would get the first prize? Everyone got involved - even Sid.
Life goes on with everyday events, special events getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas and then there was the bank robbery.
Decisions, decisions, decisions; life is full of them - some good, some bad. When someone from our town makes a big one you can count on comments.
Back in The Day learning to drive horses was a challenge, still is for Amish today. The challenge we reached for were mechanical marvels; an old Oliver tractor, a 32 Ford truck. The story of how I learned to drive the truck is part of family history.
Not much going on this week till the Department of Transportation showed up to do a project on Main street. We were on TV waving and shouting encouragement. We're OK. The firemen have left.
Story Time at the park is a regular event. We read stories, the children make up plays based on the story, then present them on the stage. Today's story was interrupted by Alafair, a visitor in town. He has a story to tell.
Change comes hard in our town. We cling to the customs and practices handed down to us from years past; they mean a lot to us. They give us identity. It's who we are. And yet, change has a way of sneaking in.
The County Fair. We go every year - never miss. This year we asked Ol Ed which Fair was the best in his experience.
MAGGIE the CAT. If you missed this story - it's back again. It is the most popular of all the short stories on the NO JUNK MAIL podcast.
Maggie the cat; what can I say. Cats are a special thing in our town, especially Maggie who was never domesticated but decided to become part of our family anyway. Her adventure -- going to the vets, is one of the stories of our town narrated in NO JUNK MAIL.
The 4th of July. Summer is peaking out. Commerce is blooming and the kids are making the most of every minute. It's also a time of serious thought. A time to contemplate, to remember, to reflect on what our nation stands for.
Joe and Ellen are leaving for better jobs. It leaves a hole in the family and community that we all feel.
Out in the country and in the farmland, good-paying jobs are scarce. We've had our ups and downs with the economy like everybody else but we want to do something about it. This is America, the land of opportunity, and with that comes BIG IDEAS. A letter to Brett reveals some hometown news and the latest Big Idea.
Conspiracy, conspiracy, conspiracy, they're all around us. And, they're driving us to distraction at the Gas&Grill. Listen in as the discussion jumps from one to another.
Going to war is serious business. The line between youngster and man is sometimes not clear and then there are surprising circumstances to deal with. In a different era, a different time, Max lays it on the line.
Where do young men get the courage required to stand up to adversity? Fred Meeks, our barber in Bloomfield tells us his story.
Panic, light sabers, Messiah Concert. Kansas City is a great place to visit. At least it is normally. It can be a place you'll never forget.
It's springtime once again in our town. We make an effort to keep things as nice as possible. We clean up all the debris that has been accumulating on the roads through the winter and even have a "Cleanup Day" where volunteers help dispose of old appliances or anything else people want to get rid of. We kick off the process with a meeting at the Gas & Grill. You're invited to listen in.
Gangs, shoot-outs, Ray in jail: it's all too outlandish to believe, or is it? Vickie told us the story at the Gas & Grill after Ray went home to rest.
...Like Chaff driven by the wind...
The remark struck Gene as if he had been smashed by a ball bat. His stomach churned, his head spun, and he staggered to the wall just barely keeping himself from falling.
There are treasures everywhere you look. Today I'm visiting with a treasure. A brief dialogue and pure gold.
Every year the men of our county have a get-together at Southfork. This year's no different. The snow was deep, the temperature below zero, and the stories were flying. JB Efferin, the storyteller from Harry Nation was there. Don't miss it!
The New Year.
Everyone has a new year's resolution. Our town though just keeps grinding on. Life is like a river. You can have high tide or low but it keeps going. And the quality of life; it is amazing when you look around and see what's happening.
It's New Year's Eve at the Gas & Grill. A terrible snowstorm is bearing down on the area. The lights go out all over town. A desperate man stumbles in the door ...
Our town is decorated and everyone is getting ready for Christmas.
What happens when the kids have a great idea and want to surprise the whole town?
It's going to take hard work but they can do it.
After Thanksgiving blues.....NO WAY! There's lots going on in our town. In fact, it's one of the busiest times of the year: fights at the town hall, construction rush before the snow falls, Christmas lists to make, etc., etc., etc. Oh, and some shady goings on too.
In our town, there is always something to do. Fall is no exception. It's the little things that add up to a lot if you don't do it now before the snow flies.
The weather is changing. Harvest is in the air. Our expectations are high and energy is flowing. Brett gets a letter from home.
Slave State/Free State fights right and left. A band from Harry Nation caught stealing honey. Missouri Sheriff arrested in Iowa. Boom! War is declared. Iowa's history is as exciting as any other nation-state carved out of the wilderness, and sheer determination.
The Corn Show is over. There's nothing left to see but the clean-up crew doing their job, however, there is some news, especially about the visitor from Chicago.
Summer Doldrums is a short time between planting and harvest. What time would be better than for a Country Dog Show? Who's dog would get the first prize? Everyone got involved - even Sid.
Cats brutally killed. People screaming. National news and TV go wild. Others scratching their heads -- what's the big deal? The GREAT CAT TRIAL.
The 4th of July is a special time in our town. Grampa Jim's letter to Brett in Afghanistan brings back memories from generations ago to describe our lives lived in peace because of the selfless dedication of those who serve in the services. God Bless our soldiers.
Outrage of outrages: McCallisters picked a fine time to get even with Frenchie but they may have underestimated Emmie-Loy.
The big news is about the election in GoSprings. It doesn't look good for Garfield so in desperation he heads into Harry Nation looking for votes. He finds a lot more than he bargained for.
Harry Nation. What is that? People around here know. Bloomfield is getting ready to celebrate Harry Nation Days next month. There's a personal story that goes along with knowing about Harry Nation. You will find that sad tale in Part 2.
What on heavens earth would cause grown-ups in our town to fight? Well, the 55 Dispute can chill many a conversation. In this episode, Grampa Jim tells the story as he found it.
A Winter Visit To TEXAS in February; what a great idea. So, what could possibly go wrong?
Decisions, decisions, decisions; life is full of them - some good, some bad. When someone from our town makes a big one you can count on comments.
Not much going on this week till the Department of Transportation showed up to do a project on Main street. We were on TV waving and shouting encouragement. We're OK. The firemen have left.
Maggie the cat; what can I say. Cats are a special thing in our town, especially Maggie who was never domesticated but decided to become part of our family anyway. Her adventure -- going to the vets, is one of the stories of our town narrated in NO JUNK MAIL.