Welcome to Season 9 and “Introduction” to “Now or Never”
Personal Stories about courage and regret, danger and desire, …about choosing
Personal Story Publishing Project, Vol. 10, spring 2024
Volume 10 in the Personal Story Publishing Project series
Forty-one writers share their personal stories of experiences and decisions hinged on a moment in time. Now or never is a turning point, a hope, an admonition, an intersection of paths ahead to take, to avoid, or to create. Now and Never are also states of being—living in the present, accepting what is or dealing with the roadblock, the closed door, the helping hand no longer extended. With decisions made and consequences encountered, for better or worse, we each move ahead balancing out our nows and nevers.
Through 41 short stories, you share in the personal experiences of writers—both new voices and seasoned storytellers. They skillfully share and reflect on life episodes, offering lessons learned, cautions for consideration, and encouragements for the journeys of others. Through these stories we glean a glimpse into the experiences of these writers. We consider how time comes into play in their lives and in ours—stories about courage and regrets, about facing danger as well as desires, about choosing and continuing on.
Table of Contents for Now or Never
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Deadlines and Lifelines—My Healing Journey 1
by Raven Chiong, Hayesville, NC
– The medical words rain down, soaking me to the core.
Two Minutes and Eighteen Seconds 5
by Richard L. Davis, Elk Grove, CA
– We did not want such a choice. Who would?
Going on 3 9
by Annette L. Brown, Atwater, CA
– Will I be a good grandmother?
Vols. 1-9, Personal Story Publishing Project series
From Mudville to Joy Ville 13
by Mary Alice Dixon, Charlotte, NC
– “You’re not gonna get any last words from this one, Honey.”
Sitting Through Green 17
by Jamie Cheshire, Winston-Salem, NC
– Truth is, she’s sitting here beside me right now.
Buffalo Plaid 21
by Robin Russell Gaiser, Asheville, NC
– “You know one about grace or somethin’? My mama sang it.”
Shedding the Shoulds 25
by Catherine Parisio, Calama, Chile
– His hand reached over and settled on my thigh.
In Uncharted Territory 29
by Alison Rice Bruster, Fort Mill, SC
– I felt as if I had entered nature’s cathedral.
Another Door 33
by Lubrina Burton, Lexington, KY
– I took a deep breath.
Parallel Universe 37
by Lynne E Williams, Charlotte, NC
– 20/20 hindsight and all that platitudinal crap
Marsh Riches 41
by Ginny Foard, Sullivan’s Island, SC
– I am the sturdy jogger plodding along.
What We Do 45
by David Inserra, Hilton Head Island, SC
– “You guys are crazy.”
Getting a Head Start 49
by Arlene Mandell, Linville, NC
– My excitement was contagious; I was hired on the spot.
11th Call for Personal Stories open through June 30, 2024
A Father’s Dream 53
by Thomas Gery, Reading, PA
– I was not dropping out; I was going in.
Fit To Be Tied 57
by Sandy Benson, Warne, NC
– “You’re not gonna like this,” he said.
The Time Had Come 61
by Ellen Zaroff, New York, NY
– It suddenly felt like I was chasing my tail.
A Lost Curmudgeon 65
by Akira Odani, St. Augustine, FL
– Should I call him? Is he asking for help?
Perish the Thought 69
by Kenneth Chamlee, Mills River, NC
– Quiet, please. This is a sacred space.
Buck 73
by M.J. Norwood, East Bend, NC
– “Hey! Mister! Throw me a ball! Hey! Mister!”
Searching for Archibald 77
by Phyllis Castelli, Henderson, NC
– “Where are all the old people?”
Wild Things 81
by Mick Scott, Winston-Salem, NC
– We see each other as we are.
Horsehair in the Hummingbird Nest 85
by Janet K. Baxter, Kings Mountain, NC
– Breeding for a silver dapple is a bit of a gamble.
Modes and Memories 89
by Edith Gettes, Asheville, NC
– He wore torment like a red velvet cape.
Getting High on Second Chances 93
by Ginny Grulke, Lexington, KY
– Technicolor visions rapidly appeared out of the haze.
Green-eyed Lady, Not My Type 97
by Bob Amason, St. Augustine, FL
– Her incantations were rhythmic and hypnotic.
The News 101
by Barbara Reese Yager, Fort Mill, SC
– “I have your back.”
Where Angels Fear 105
by Cherie Cox, Charlotte, NC
– “I could have died happily in Florence.”
Then and Now 109
by Patricia Joslin, Charlotte, NC
– It’s time.
Precious Treasure 113
by Martha Rowe Vaughn, Mount Airy, NC
– Never was the real answer. I left disappointed and
broken-hearted.
A Drumbeat of Harp Strings 117
by Annie Jenkins, Winston-Salem, NC
– the kind of naïve bravery I summoned to dare this experience
Lifeguard 121
by Susan W. Harris, Hilton Head Island, SC
– I hesitated. I had never done a real rescue.
One by One: Defying the “Nevers” 125
by Emily Rosen, Boca Raton, FL
– Oh, the lagging path between words and actions!
The Storm Upstream 129
by Bill Donohue, Winston-Salem, NC
– to the palace and take the hill; Helen Keller on fire
Out of Sight, Out of Mind? 133
by Erika Hoffman, Chapel Hill, NC
– Want to bet on that?
Experiments in the Chemistry of Belonging 137
by Paula Teem Levi, Clover, SC
– Their excitement created more excitement.
Do I Dare? 141
by Suzanne Cottrell, Oxford, NC
– I’ve got to get around it.
Oh, My Son 145
by David Stern, Asheville, NC
– Everything is possible. Until it isn’t.
What If? 149
by Landis Wade, Charlotte, NC
– to risk failure as a writer
You Done Gone This Far 153
by Vicki Easterly, Frankfort, KY
– I even had dreams about it at night.
Philadelphia Duval: Taking the Plunge 157
by C. J. Munson, Winston-Salem, NC
– She chose freedom.
The Passing 161
by Randell Jones, Winston-Salem, NC
– “Goodbye, Horace.”
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