Reaching for the freshly brewed coffee, the cup catches on the small grate that supports it. The cup turns sideways, and all the beautiful, brain-soothing liquid pours onto the floor.

“Great” is the only expletive that comes to mind. Now, the process must begin again. Sopping up the coffee as the machine goes about business, my brain turns to the clock. The cup is finished, and the spilled coffee is cleaned up. One sip and the clock is set. April 19th, 1924. The time is 9:00 o’clock in the evening, and the duration is two hours. The plunger is pulled, and my destination is the studios of WLS AM radio in Chicago, Illinois.

We arrive in time to witness the first broadcast of the National Barn Dance, a show thought up by Edgar L. Bill, the station’s director. As we listen, the tunes are definitely country-oriented. I pull Bill aside and ask, “Why country here in the city.” Bill explains that the station is able to broadcast over the entire Midwest and, at night, pretty much over the whole country. “We had so much highbrow music the first week that we thought it would be a good idea to get on some of the old-time music. After we had been going for about an hour, we received about 25 telegrams of enthusiastic approval. It was this response that pushed the Barn Dance!”

The alarm goes off, and as usual, a soft landing is on my couch. My text tone tells me I have a text from Linda Hill. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: ends with “grate/great.” Use one or bonus points if you use them both. Enjoy!

To see what other bloggers do with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/04/19/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-20-2024/

Grate/Great by John W.Howell © 2024

“That was fun.”

“I never knew the National Barn Dance had been going since 1924.”

“Yup. It kept broadcasting until 1968.”

“Wow, that’s great. A lot of stars appear?”

“Everyone appeared on the show. It was very popular.”

“I’ll bet a few copycats, huh?”

“The biggest was the Grand Ole Opry.”

“No kidding.”

“Started off as the  WSM Barn Dance in Nashville and later changed the name.”

“In its heyday, the National Barn Dance was broadcast across the US.”

“I can’t figure out how to fit the word grate into the conversation.”

“Yeah, it has been a hard day. Let’s hit the pub.”

“I ordered an Uber. It’s over there.”

“Oh, super. A 1924 truck.”

“I had to order that special.”

“It should be fun. I see one of us needs to ride in the back.”

“Yeah, but it’s not so bad; there is a grate to sit on.”

“A grate?”

“It’s a bench but has holes in it. More like a grate.”

“What about my bottom?”

“Might get sore.”

“You take the grate.”

The sound of coffee dribbling out of the machine’s exit tubes is music to the ears and the brain. Pound for pound, you can’t beat the restorative ability of even a sip of that beautiful elixir. After the first sip, looking around for the clock, the thought strikes: Why not go to Europe and see what is happening? The clock is set for Greece on April 13th, 1924. The duration is an hour. Pulling the plunger, and we are there.

We arrive in time for the announcement of the results of the election held on March 25th. The voters were to decide whether or not to retain the monarchy or endorse the Second Hellenic Republic proclaimed by parliament. Parliament stipulated that the public had to approve its decision.

Over a million votes were cast, and 758,000 opted for a republic with Pavlos Kountouriotis as president. Only 325,000 supported King George II’s return to the throne.

With the cheering crowds as a send-off, the alarm goes off, and a soft landing is managed on the couch. A text from Linda Hill comes in. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: ends with “ound.” Find a word (or words) that ends with “ound” and use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

If you want to see how other bloggers handle the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/04/12/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-13-2024/

Ound by John W. Howell © 2024

“By the sounds of things, the people of Greece were tired of their king.”

“Yeah, I think you could say that.”

“I guess they were happy with that decision.”

“It’s Hard to say. The Hellenic Republic lasted until 1935 when a single-party form of government was established.”

“Oh, so things kept changing.”

“King George came back in 1935, but then the monarchy rule was dissolved in 1973 for the second time.”

“Who had to cough up the money to fund these changes?”

“I guess taxes. Why do you ask?”

“It seems like it would be tough on the people to have all these changes.”

“I think they were okay although it would be a pain.”

“Speaking of pain. How about a pub visit?”

“You order Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“Now that looks like fun.”

“Yeah, just think of look on the faces when we pull up.”

“Is that legal?”

“Oh yeah. Surplus purchase.”

“Well okay then Let’s go.”

The morning joe is on the slow train when the heart and mind want it on the express. Drop by drop, the soothin’ syrup moves into the cup. Finally, it is full, and a sip awakens the brain. Reaching for the clock, it is set to April 6th, 1924. The location is Sand Point Navel Air Station in Seattle. The duration is two hours. The plunger is pulled.

We are at the Sand Point Navel Air Station in time to see eight American pilots depart Seattle’s Sand Point Naval Air Station in four modified Navy torpedo bombers. Their goal is to be the first to fly around the world. Several attempts have been made by other countries, but so far, none have been successful. Their planes are named Seattle, Boston, Chicago, and New Orleans. The route will take them West over Alaska and then over Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Paris, London, and Hull, England, and then return via the Atlantic Ocean across North America to Seattle. It is expected to take 175 days to complete the mission. (We know they did complete it and were the first to do so.)

The alarm goes off, and my trusty couch receives me. My text tone tells me Linda Hill has sent a message. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “express.” Use it as a noun, verb, adverb, or adjective. Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

If you want to see what other bloggers have done with the prompt, here is a link to Linda’s post. https://lindaghill.com/2024/04/05/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-6-2024/

Express by John W. Howell © 2024

“Wow, 175 days to fly around the world. Not exactly express, is it?”

“Don’t forget it is 1924. Things were a little slower then.”

“I’ll bet that was a tough trip.”

“One plane crashed in Alaska, and the pilot and navigator spent 10 days in the wilderness.”

“Goodness. Did they survive?”

“Yes. They were rescued.”

“Anything else?”

“The plane named Boston landed between the Faroe Islands and Iceland and sank.”

“Anyone hurt?”

“Nope. Both were okay, and they got a replacement plane for the trip across North America. They flew a total of 27,000 miles.”

“No, VooDoo Ranger, I’ll bet.”

“You order Uber?”

“He’s right over there.”

“What is that?”

“I wanted you to experience a modern-day trip like in 1924.”

“I can see from here that one of us has to ride in the back.”

“That’s okay. We both will. It will be like flying around the world.”

“I’ll have to trust you on that. I hope it doesn’t take 175 days to get to the pub.”

“Naw, this is an express. We’ll be there in no time.”

“After you.”

If there was ever a need for coffee, it is now. Fingers drumming on the counter fail to rush the dreaded AI in charge of brewing the life-restoring beverage. Finally, a wheeze indicates that the aromatic liquid will begin its journey from the bowels of the fickle machine to my very welcoming cup. Yes, the trickle has started, and soon, the crema layer will form. Time for a sip and new awareness of the need for the clock.

Clock in hand set for March 30, 1924 for a duration of two hours. The plunger is pulled and we are tansported to Toledo Ohio. The US has enacted the eighteenth constitutional amendment that bans the sale and consumption of alcohol.

We have arrived in Toledo to witness the tradegy of 12 people poisened to death consuming denatured alcohol at a party. Denatured alcohol is used as a solvent and has additives that when injested are fatel. The police shief says it is a shame these folks didn’t know that they were drinking poisen. “It’s plain to see that whoever organized this party is responsible for these deaths.”

The alarm goes off and like a flying plane my carcuss is lofted to the couch for a soft landing. My text signal goes off and I see it is from Linda Hill. It reads:Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “plain/plane.” Use one, use ’em both, bonus points if you get ’em both in your post. Have fun! If you would like to see what other bloggers do with the prompt visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/03/29/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-30-2024/

Plain/Plane by John W. Howell © 2024

“Well you got the bonus points.”

“Yes I did.”

“You sure hauled out of there though.”

“I made a slight miscalulation on the time.”

“Well, that explains it.”

“Sad about those people.”

“Yeah. There was a lot of that.”

“It was plain stupid to drink that stuff.”

“Thos people ended up on a different plane.”

“Not like good old Voo Doo Ranger.”

“Speaking of which.”

“Ordered the Uber. It’s right over there.”

“Goodness what is that?”

“A 1906 Stanley Gentlemans Speedy Runabout.”

“How in the heck did you find that one.”

“The Stanley company went out of business in1924. I thought it would be a good tie-in to your post.”

“Okay then. Let’s go.”

“I call the running board.”

“Well if that’s what you want, you got it.”

Come on, Columbian soothin’ syrup. Flow out those two spigots and give me the help I need to enable the thinking process. Oh, look, the liquid happiness is flowing. All I need is a sip, and the memories of this glorious room will return. Here is the sip. AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

Here are the memories: The ceilings and windows give the feeling of the out of doors. When we moved in, the only piece of furniture we had was a futon. We sold our other place at the coast, which was fully furnished, so we had nothing. We bought the futon, knowing it would soon be gifted to the Salvation Army. Two people and two dogs were very cozy on that futon until the new furniture arrived.

We have been here for five years, and the room has changed slightly. The couches have been lowered twice: once for Twiggy’s rehabilitation from surgery and lately to keep Tempeste the puppy from running under them and doing things that should be done outside. The rug has been changed, and new art has been installed.

The room is the center of the home and is where we spend most of our time. The time clock is going to wait for next week since the word count is getting close to the limit. My text alert tells me Linda Hill has sent the prompt. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “Memories of the room you’re in.” Write about a memory of the room (or park, or gym, or where ever you are) you’re in when you write your post. Enjoy!

To see what other bloggers have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/03/22/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-23-2024/

Memories of the Room You’re In by John W. Howell © 2024

“How did you guys get along without furniture?”

“As weird as it sounds, we did quite well.”

“Where did you sit to eat?”

“We have a large kitchen counter that has room for seats. Our daughter loaned us bar stools.”

“Dishes?”

“Yeah, we brought a set from the coast.”

“Where did you sleep?”

“We bought a mattress and put it on the bedroom floor.”

“Why did you need a futon?”

“We didn’t have a place to sit, and it worked like a couch.”

“Was it long before the furniture arrived?”

“It was all special order, so it took some time. We found a couple of pieces by going to stores.”

“Sounds ghastly.”

“It was a good memory. Of course, being in my late 70s, getting up from the mattress was a challenge.”

“I can imagine.”

“Speaking of challenge, you haven’t mentioned VooDoo Ranger.”

“I guess I’ve been busy thinking of this old guy getting out of bed and trying to stand up.”

“Yeah, it was fun. I could have used a crane.”

“Speaking of.”

“Oh no.”

“Look at our Uber lift.”

“When you say ‘lift,’ that’s an understatement.”

“You like it then?”

“Dan Antion would love it. Yes, I like it. Looks like we both can ride in the cabin.”

“Can you imagine the looks when we get to the pub?”

“For fun, I think we should tell them we are here to raise the roof.”

“You know, for you, that was pretty good. Are you taking pills or something?”

“Just high on life, my friend. Let’s go.”