The Last Time

by Derek Alger

Originally published on March 1, 2014

My grandparents on both sides had names from a distant past, names more likely to be found in history books than at contemporary social gatherings.

A Birthday Competition

by Derek Alger

Originally published on February 1, 2014

While in the military service, my father was stationed at Army Letterman Hospital in San Francisco, where both my younger sister and I were born, a year apart.

To Be or Not to Be: Acting’s not for Me

by Derek Alger

Originally published on January 1, 2014

The video experience was unexpected, the actors who were supposed to play the children in the family in the group therapy session were on strike and my father was in a panic.

Magician Dad

by Derek Alger

Originally published on December 1, 2013

So, my father went to medical school, and worked as a magician on the side, which I’m sure he’d had an interest in since childhood, and to top off the act, he became a psychiatrist.

Connecting through an essay

by Derek Alger

Originally published on October 1, 2013

I have never been a great proponent, nor participant, of doing things for the sake of doing things under the guise that such activity is something other than it really is, and for me, at least, usually means killing time while convincing oneself whatever one happens to be doing is beneficial.

A High School Football Career Good Enough For Me

by Derek Alger

Originally published on September 1, 2013

Lying sprawled on the floor between a bench and the lockers, I felt more embarrassed than anything, but instantly could see I wasn’t going to ever receive any useful information from Coach Peck.

A late night boat ride

by Derek Alger

Originally published on August 1, 2013

Events were out of my control. All I could do was keep swimming, and eventually, I would come up to the rocks on the shore by the cabin at Rocky Point.

Surprising twists in family dynamics as the years pass along

by Derek Alger

Originally published on July 1, 2013

A few days before my mother died, she said to me in a hoarse whisper, with sad resignation, “I don’t trust, Dad,” and unfortunately, she was right.

A race to keep uninterrupted cable service

by Derek Alger

Originally published on June 1, 2013

I told customer service guy there shouldn’t be a problem, to which, he replied, “I’m sorry, sir, payment is being denied on your card.”

Accidental happenings along the way

by Derek Alger

Originally published on May 1, 2013

I could see my side of the car was going to smash right into a telephone pole.