I’m definitely a lucky guy. Not only I got to make an unexpected but more than welcome stop in Argentina on my way to Brazil, I even got to spend the weekend in my hometown, Necochea. And it just happened to be the weekend where my school happened to celebrate its 50th anniversary! I had received an invitation from Matías, one of my former schoolmates, a few months ago, but I replied to him saying: “ Matías… I live in Canada now. While I truly appreciate the invitation, I don’t think I have any chances of being there” . He was more than happy ...
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We held them in our hands, the smell of pulp and ink rising from their pages. Exciting adventures and the antics of little kids, friendly ghosts and funny animals. The wild west, World War II and the Korean War exploded right before our eyes. Caped crusaders flew through the sky, battling enemies with powers just as mighty as their own. There was horror, there was humor, and there was war. Our friends were teenagers and cowboys, super heroes and detectives, and we could have them all for a pocketful of change. The comic book was king when it came to reading. I would lose ...
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I don't care much for parades. I have never been fond of them. They seem so pointless unless you are fortunate enough to be where a band is playing and not just marching. One thing I will admit: a parade should be seen in person and not on a TV screen if you wish to get the "full effect" of it all. Yes, a parade should be experienced and not viewed. I've been in a few parades. It's more fun to be in the parade rather than standing on the curb watching it pass by, at least that's how I feel. It's always felt ...
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Beeches are the quintessential Hampshire tree, and, if I am honest, my favourite. Spring for me is epitomised by the sight of that first mild sunshine of April shining through the new tender leaves of beech, slightly indented at the edges and still with the fur of their birth upon them. I love the smoothness of their greeny silver trunks, and the way their roots buckle and rear out of the earth in a glorious, chaotic muddle of growth. These are the dryad trees, elegant formed and whispering secrets in the wind. If you put your nose to a beech tree it has a ...
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I was always fascinated by warfare. I learned a lot about war from life. Life Magazine to be exact. The American Civil War had become a passion of mine, and in January of 1961 Life Magazine began a six part series on that subject. Up until then my exposure to the conflict had been limited to what I could glean from Highlights For Children and My Weekly Reader, a few movies and the fanciful tales shown on Walt Disney. But here between the pages of our weekly Life Magazine was the Civil War shown in magnificent period paintings and the stark black and white ...
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