Time Bomb – Michael Morse

A firefighter standing in the window of an old house.

by Michael Morse, contributing writer Photo: Lieutenant Ralph “Time Bomb” DeAngelis, USAF, Providence Fire Department (ret.) courtesy of Eric Norberg  There were some tough guys back then, back in ’91 when I was a new guy and didn’t say much. Guys in their mid-forties, guys who also didn’t say much but for far different reasons, guys…

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Halloween memories. No time to lose. – Michael Morse

RINewsToday

by Michael Morse, contributing writer I’m four or five, ready to go. My first real costume is on – and has been for hours. It’s a monkey suit, complete with a nice long tail. We got it from Sears, and I can still smell the newness of it, the faint plastic, the elastic that got caught…

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Moment of Grace – Michael Morse

RINewsToday

by Michael Morse, contributing writer It’s early April or late March, I can’t remember which. I do remember it was miserable out, cold rain, not quite freezing but cold enough to reach tired old bones the second you stepped outside. I’m in line, about twenty five people ahead of me, six feet apart, all of…

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The Big One, a small moment in time – Michael Morse

RINewsToday

by Michael Morse, contributing writer This week marks the 83rd anniversary of The Big One, The Hurricane of ’38. I don’t think it had a name, but it didn’t need one; the stories told by people who survived it are precious. There’s something about a big storm that brings people together and creates an air…

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9-11 – Michael Morse

RINewsToday

by Michael Morse, contributing writer The plan was to go to the beach and enjoy one of the last brilliant days of summer. Instead, we sat in front of the TV, shaking our heads when we could move them, calling friends and family and just feeling numb. An eerie silence smothered my neighborhood as the…

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Doom and gloom – Michael Morse

RINewsToday

by Michael Morse, contributing writer I feared it was a fool’s mission and I think most of us thought so too. But we listened to our government and sat back as we invaded Afghanistan. Osama was there, we were told, and we had to get him. Sending the armed forces to capture a criminal seemed…

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Treasure in the shadows – Michael Morse

RINewsToday

by Michael Morse, contributing writer We went treasure hunting, we did, a party of five, searching the coast for the Long Lost Riches of Flagazonia. The Queen of Flagazonia lives in exile across the street from Papa’s house you see; she appeared yesterday, dressed in a black velvet robe, and walked out of her front…

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“Thank you, America” – Michael Morse

RINewsToday

by Michael Morse, contributing writer I am free to do as I please, whenever I please, with whomever I please. The rules of a civilized society are written in law, which I would follow even if they were not; the people who choose to break them are the reason those laws exist. I am free…

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Fathers – Michael Morse

RINewsToday

By Michael Morse, contributing writer The Enterprise, as my cousin Rik Allen sees it now, sits in Rod Roddenberry’s home. Rod commissioned the piece, it belongs with him, he owns it, as well it should be. His father, Gene Roddenberry’s vision, started the whole thing, and those of us who have boldly gone where no…

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