Last Rights

Omar Aleman
7 Mar 2023
no comments

Commonly known as the Chairman of the Board, Ol’ Blue Eyes and the Big Guy, among others, Frank Sinatra and his melodic voice enthralled millions. His reputation among the ladies was unquestioned given his penchant for romantic songs. Yet, a mostly unnoticed theme weaved his way through the lyrics, that of a man coming to grips with his mortality.  Last Words His friend, “The Summer Wind,” is replaced by the autumn and winter winds. At the end of “That’s Life,” he rolls himself in a big ball and dies. Only vintage wine and short days remain as his romantic exploits, […]

-Read More

Home Run

Omar Aleman
12 Jan 2023
no comments

We are told that in order to have a successful and orderly existence it would be best to “touch all bases.” And now, as I am rounding third, my mind keeps insisting on taking periodic trips down memory lane, permitting one final glance at the disasters and triumphs of an interesting life. One undisputed fact is that I have garnered a substantial number of “followers” despite a rather sketchy background and a disturbing lack of tact. Conversely, through it all, I can count on one hand those individuals that have left an indelible mark in my life and without whom […]

-Read More

home run

Father Knows Best

Omar Aleman
7 Nov 2022
no comments

“Kids rarely listen to their parents but seldom fail to imitate them.” Those words were on my mind shortly after the completion of our Tuesday night Bible study. That, in turn, shifted my attention to a very talented songwriter, singer and storyteller who left us during his prime. As talented as Harry was, it was difficult for his songs to be played on AM rock stations, since they were mostly stories that expanded beyond the usual 3 to 4-minute recording. They included such hits as “Taxi,” “A Better Place to Be” and “Mr. Tanner.” His most popular recording, released in […]

-Read More

father

Special Delivery

Omar Aleman
20 Sep 2022
no comments
deliver

Yes, I played cowboys and Indians as a child; yes, I always wanted to play the first because, reasonably enough, a gun is preferred to a bow. Yes, I shot the Indian many times, who was played by my best friend Raúl. And yes, he always went unscathed during my search and destroy missions, which meant the battle continued for many months until we matured into flipping baseball cards. Yes, I am guilty. But if the truth be told, a cowboy was not my first preference. What I really wanted to be was a pony express rider, but there was […]

-Read More

Trials and Tribulations

Omar Aleman
10 Aug 2022
no comments

As someone who today enjoys the limelight, it is interesting how anonymity was my greatest ally during my formative years. Sitting in the middle of the classroom and utilizing the student in front of me as a shield allowed some protection from total disaster…the teacher calling on me!! The mere thought of being singled out and asked to speak was more than I could bear. It made no difference if the correct answer was available; fear took over. The Trial Begins That all came to an abrupt end when I became a federal agent. There were so many exciting aspects […]

-Read More

trial

The Final Exam

Omar Aleman
4 Jun 2022
no comments

A few days ago, as I loitered at the gym in an impossible attempt to acquire muscles at this advanced stage of life, an adolescent girl of Asian descent interrupted my pretense to join me in conversation. She had learned that I had taught classes at a local university where she planned to attend and wanted “my take” on the institution. Always amenable to take a break from exercise, we proceeded to converse about the value of education and how it impacts the work ethic and performance of the individual upon graduation.   The chalkboard Jesus used parables to teach […]

-Read More

Intentionality and Participation

Omar Aleman
11 May 2022
no comments

For a 16-year-old boy nuzzled in such a confined location as Key West, Fla., it was indeed an adventure to travel “all the way” north to Jacksonville during the summer of 1964. Particularly if it involved the “Pony League” Baseball State Tournament where our team was considered one of the favorites. After winning the first game, we were pitted against Fort Myers, a squad we were supposed to handle easily, yet despite my offensive contribution, we were defeated in extra innings. As we awaited in the locker room the next game of the loser’s bracket in a double elimination affair, […]

-Read More

intentionality

Here Comes The Sun

Omar Aleman
15 Mar 2022
no comments
sun

Darkness before the sun My mother was born in 1924, which makes her 98. The year she took her first breath coincided with the formation of the Mercedes-Benz Corporation, the naming of J. Edgar Hoover to head the FBI, the fascists winning the election in Italy by 2/3 majority and the end of construction of the Wrigley Building. As one of 11 children, she has witnessed the passing of eight of her siblings; only two “young” sisters are living, one 86, the other 92. She has attended dozens of funeral and memorial services during the past 30 or so years […]

-Read More

Mission Accomplished

Omar Aleman
9 Feb 2022
no comments

(What mission is God calling you to do? Scroll down to leave a comment.) What could these disparate folks possibly have in common: John the Baptist, Mahatma Gandhi, Isaac Newton, Leonardo da Vinci, John Lennon and Betty White? They were all reared as only children… as I was. Although this is not the time nor place to do a “deep dive” on this cast of characters, most experts agree on the basic characteristics of “unaccompanied souls” like me. “We” tend to be independent to a fault, are overachievers, appear wise beyond our years, can keep ourselves amused, don’t care much […]

-Read More

mission