Paul A. Merkley
Bio
Mental traveller. Idealist. Try to be low-key but sometimes hothead. Curious George. "Ardent desire is the squire of the heart." Love Tolkien, Cinephile. Awards ASCAP, Royal Society. Music as Brain Fitness: www.musicandmemoryjunction.com
Achievements (1)
Stories (101)
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How I'll Pick your next Incarnation
Hello, I am an inter-life circumstance adjuster. The Souls at HQ asked me to write this piece so that you, humans, will be better informed. We don’t really expect you to make better choices, dear me no! That would be hoping for too much. We’re just tired of your making all of the wrong assumptions, so our Human Information Division decided it was time to do something about that. After all, we’ve been flooded with processing here for the past two years. Perhaps I should explain.
By Paul A. Merkley4 years ago in Fiction
Ironing, Piano, Nuns, a Psychic, and Coming of Age. Top Story - September 2021.
I’ve had lots of turning points, but the one that marked my coming of age, I’d place that one when I was 18 and in my last year of high school. We moved a lot when I was a kid. My father was an engineer. He designed cranes, conveyors, and overhead highway says, mostly for small to medium sized companies all over southern Ontario. I usually felt like an outsider, but I don’t blame that on moving, more on being a misfit, and not trying hard enough to make friends.
By Paul A. Merkley4 years ago in Confessions
The 'Idea Cat' of Seniors Junction
My name is Winnie. It’s short for Winchester. My human, Paul, said Winchester sounded too serious. Paul, my sister Daisy, and I all work in our home office for Seniors Junction. It’s very important work, and I do my best to keep the team productive every day. Seniors Junction is a startup, whatever that means. I know that we have recorded a lot of podcasts, and I have made sure that I appear in every one! Sometimes I tried typing a bit on the computer keyboard, but Paul shouted, “No Winnie, don’t walk on the keyboard.” I also make sure the webcam gets a good view of me as I walk on the desk.
By Paul A. Merkley4 years ago in Petlife
Working to give Purpose to Others
I never dreamt that, at age 65, having retired from a hardly known area of the university work, I would or could get a job enriching and saving lives and preventing dementia, but that’s what’s happened—here I am, and I love it! Let me explain.
By Paul A. Merkley4 years ago in Education
The Pear Mysteries and the Fairy Flag of Skye
I was despondent, and at the same time I was curious. To all of us in the school she was known simply as “The Anchoress.” No one had ever told me her name, and I had never seen her. She never left her cell. Cellach, her assistant, told me I had been summoned. There could be only one reason, I knew—I was being sent home. I failed the simple trial of following a path and two men saw me go the wrong way. All the other boys said that when you fail that, she sends you home. I felt I would be very sorry, but I would make the best of it. I missed my family, and I missed my cat, Pangor Ban.
By Paul A. Merkley4 years ago in Fiction
Mysterious Marigolds
My sister was impatient with my questions, but I needed her advice. I just had to know. "I don't see why you have to bring this up now. This is our weekly tennis game, and besides we're playing Paolo and his sister Francesca visiting from Italy. I want your head in the game. And can't you figure this out yourself?"
By Paul A. Merkley4 years ago in Feast
Listening Sharks
Call me Sam. That’s my name. Simple, straightforward, one-syllable. That’s best for men, I think. Those four-syllable names sound fancy, but it takes longer to talk to a guy like that, doesn’t it? With me you just say “Do you want to go to the beach, Sam?” Try saying that to a Jedediah. You’ll see what I mean. Women, now that’s different. You’re going to take your time talking with a woman, so a three, four, or even a five-syllable name, that’s delightful. I think British names are especially good in a woman. I can say, “Why Ermelinda Chalmsleigh-Smythe, you are a sight for sore eyes!” That gives her a chance to smile, be pleased, and say “Thank you, Sam!” See what I mean?
By Paul A. Merkley4 years ago in Fiction
Noah's Family
Noah was large for a nine-year old, and that was not always an advantage, he thought. Last year, when he had his tonsils taken out, the boy in the bed next to his weighed 48 pounds; Noah weighed 84. Since then, without his tonsils, he had grown at a terrific pace. The doctor had warned his parents that if he didn't slim down, he would soon have to be put on a diet, but not at age 9. He'd face that when he came to it, he reflected. He was tall, and his mother said maybe it would all even out in a year.
By Paul A. Merkley4 years ago in Families
