Personal Blog Stories | Tommy’s Window to the World

Tommy’s Window on the World

Stories, Reflections, and Glimpses of Life

From one still paying attention to the world around him

Welcome to my corner of the web, where I share memories, observations, and the occasional voice from family and friends.

Most Loved WoWs

My Current WoWs

WoW is my Window on the World — a place where the world feels a little closer and a lot more wonderful.

Chance or Happenstance

07/05/2026

After over 31,000 days on this earth, I've found, to ...

Love After The Last Goodbye

07/04/2026

March 21, 1988, was a bright, bitterly wintry day. I ...

I Come From Somewhere

07/04/2026

Genealogy buffs chase their roots like treasure hunters with a ...

Where Time Gathers Light

07/03/2026

For many years, I have believed that lifestyle has more ...

Woman comforting child at vintage bus station

Scary Movies

04/21/2026

My first brush with what I would later call a ...

What Happens When I Die?

04/13/2026

I have lived on this earth for over 31,000 days—eighty-five ...

Guest Missives

My Close Call… by Jane Strebel

01/30/2026

I remember him still: massive, intimidating, and totally fulfilling the expectations of his ...

Snake in the Grass… by Jane Strebel

06/05/2025

From a child’s perspective, one of the greatest benefits of growing up on ...

Guilty as Charged… by Jane Strebel

01/03/2025

Grief and guilt are two little words that hold the misery of the ...

Sick Duck… by JoAnn

04/21/2024

A couple of weeks ago, I awoke just before dawn to an unsettling ...

Setting The Alarm… by JoAnn

04/06/2024

For years, from my teens to my 50s, I set an alarm clock ...

Shuckin’ Corn … by Larry

03/23/2024

Recently, my friend Larry attempted to pay the local newspaper (The Mountaineer) his ...

The Language of Waves ...by Stephanie Kay Sugioka

I sit with my morning coffee

and watch the little waves

break near the shore.

And each one seems to murmur your name

over and over and over

in a chorus of voices singing

my love for you back to me.

Look—there's another one—

there and there and there

But it's not enough

because I want you

here and here and here.

Author's Note:

You can purchase my book of Poems, "Leavings" on Amazon ($23).

My Favorite Quotes

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be."

Ancient Indian Proverb

"Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart."

George Addair

"Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear."

Washington Irving

"Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

Miguel de Cervantes

"Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn."

Alfred Korzybski

Designation

"There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe everything or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking."

Charles Dickens

Designation

"I have been bent and broken, but—I hope—into a better shape."

Antoine de Saint Exupery

Designation

."And the fox said to the little prince: men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."

Joy Morris, author

I loved your eight sentences, Tommy. You have an unusual knack for using descriptive language in all of your stories. I see a fantastic book in the near future. See you soon.
Chance or Happenstance

After over 31,000 days on this earth, I’ve found…
Joe Thomas

I enjoyed this article and would like to see more like it.
Hale Family Weekly Update (06/22-07/05/26)

Tommy’s Two-Week ChronicleJune 22 – July 5, 2026 If the past two weeks had a theme, it would be this: part road trip, part reunion, part heat wave… with a generous helping of good food, good people, and a few technological adventures along the way. Back in Business (and Online!) 6/22The week kicked off on…
Love After The Last Goodbye

March 21, 1988, was a bright, bitterly wintry day…
I Come From Somewhere

Genealogy buffs chase their roots like treasure hunters… but me?
Where Time Gathers Light

For many years, I have believed that lifestyle has…
The Hale Family Weekly Update (6/07/26)

It has been a very good week for the Hale family—one of those weeks where life keeps you busy in all the right ways. Between doctor visits, tinkering with my new website, and getting a much-needed haircut (because Lancaster deserves my best appearance), we’ve stayed on the move.
I’ve also been enjoying two books written by friends right here in our community: The Life and Legend of Turkey Pete by Joy Morris and Leavings, a thoughtful book of poetry by Stephanie Kay Sugioka. Both are excellent reads, and I highly recommend them—no, I’m not on commission, just a satisfied reader.
The Hale Family Weekly Update (06/14/26)

This has been a fine week for the Hale family—no major disasters, just a few mechanical mischiefs and plenty of good company.
I’ve been starting my mornings with coffee in one hand and a book in the other. Lately, I’m enjoying books by my friends Joy and Stephanie; reading the words of people you know feels like getting a little more of them each day. I also started “Shapely Fiction,” a gift from Dean, which is teaching me how to write fiction with more shape and less wandering. Before that, I was a kid in the woods without a compass. As long as I have a book beside me, I’m never lonely.
Now, on to this week’s adventures.
Hale Family Newsletter – June 15-21, 2026

This week featured trail walks, birthday celebrations, church and Bible study, website drama, grocery runs, guitar practice, and enough dinner conversation to qualify as an Olympic event.