Author Archives: journeysofabentmind

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About journeysofabentmind

Gordon is a Nisei, a second generation American of Japanese descent born in 1938 whose family owned a farm outside of Atwater, California in the San Joaquin Valley. His world was abruptly changed when on December 7, 1941 Japan’s Imperial Navy launched an early morning attack on Pearl Harbor. Thus began a chain of events that resulted in his family’s forced evacuation and internment in a “relocation center” in Colorado during the war. After the war Gordon spent his teenage years in school and working on the family farm. He attended U.C. Berkeley and graduated in 1960 and went on to the Graduate School of Social Welfare at Berkeley earning a Masters in Social Welfare in 1963. He worked in a number of social service settings and last worked as a case manager for developmentally challenged clients in San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin Counties until he retired in 2000. When his wife Barbara retired in 2007 they moved to Eugene, Oregon following their children and grandchildren. Gordon lives with his wife of 55 years and close to the four grandchildren and life is just good.

The Committee to Clean up the Woods

Posted on October 22, 2018 by journeysofabentmind

Mole hurried along the path back to the wooden gate and his job as the gatekeeper near the south end of the woods. Owl, the woodland mayor, had asked him to pick up some poultice from Squirrel for his aching … Continue reading →

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The Little Big Top

Posted on September 15, 2018 by journeysofabentmind

She held tightly to his large hand, and together they struggled against the strong winds and slashing rain. With her other hand she cradled a tiny cricket cage against her slight body. Her tattered cloak barely covered her, and she … Continue reading →

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Thank you for your service…

Posted on August 20, 2018 by journeysofabentmind

This is a photograph of my father-in-law, Jack Knapp, Barbara’s dad. He was the navigator on a B-17 flying out of North Africa on reconnaissance flights I think over Italy – Once photographs were developed squadrons of B-17s took off … Continue reading →

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Anthology of the World’s 1,010 Worst Puns ~ Vol. XI

Posted on August 20, 2018 by journeysofabentmind

(Following is the Introduction to the projected Volume XI in the series I originally began as a project with my grandchildren. It began with a question from my eldest grandson, Casey, who wanted to hear “the world’s worst joke.” That … Continue reading →

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WHAT’S WITH ALL THIS STUFF WITH PUNS? July 10, 2018

Posted on July 13, 2018 by journeysofabentmind

I was recently asked during a Creative Writing class I’m taking how is it that I come up with these puns. Do I start out with a theme and go from there, or is there some other thing that happens? … Continue reading →

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The Dirty Baker’s Dozen

Posted on July 7, 2018 by journeysofabentmind

The weather had been mild and sunny over much of the spring and early summer, and prosperity had returned to the Villages nestled between the rolling plains and low lying hills of the Western Regions. The early spring rains gave … Continue reading →

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A Crystal Bowl In The Sand

Posted on June 25, 2018 by journeysofabentmind

Thuleman ob Mephisté, known as Thuleman the Terrible, sat with his back to the tent doorway. It was his incredible arrogance that enabled him to do this. His Chief at Arms, Jhampur ïbn Marnük, was frantic with rage, and paced … Continue reading →

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The Window on Midnight

Posted on May 28, 2018 by journeysofabentmind

The old wooden planks burned under her feet as she flew down the length of the rickety old pier, the sun blazing down, her ponytail trailing straight out behind her in the heavy sultry air. Her one thought was to … Continue reading →

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Lightning Strike #2

Posted on May 20, 2018 by journeysofabentmind

After my remarkable experience being “discovered” on the inter-net in a search by a couple in Washington, D.C. for a wedding photographer I am a believer. Anything can happen. However, I would not have thought lightning would strike the same … Continue reading →

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Lightning Strike #1

Posted on May 19, 2018 by journeysofabentmind

The inter-net is a vast arena where all manner of things happen. Much of this is surely of someone’s conscious intent. Amazing things take place, though more of it is also pretty mundane and of little consequence in the greater … Continue reading →

Posted in Intro to My Writings | 2 Comments