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New to Five Minute Observations? Welcome. I’m Joe Class III, and I write stories and essays about what I notice, the encounters that reveal something true, and the moments that stick with you after they’re gone. If you’re just getting started, these three pieces will give you a sense of what this space is about:…
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“I don’t give rides to hitchers,” said Tommy Granier, an over-the-road driver for Pepsi-Co. A big guy, Tommy wasn’t prone to giving anyone a ride, let alone friends and family, even though he’d been a pushover to his two nieces who asked him to let them ride up to Saint Louis Lambert International Airport. Tommy…
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“It’s none of your business,” Emily hissed at Amy. “If you think I’m going to sit down and talk to the police, you are even crazier than Brian is!” Amy nodded, watching two officers climb the stairs. Brian breezed right by both young men, smiling as he went, making it to the Maserati before they…
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Forty years ago, Ford Motor Company developed a slogan, ‘Built Ford Tough,’ highlighting their quality, durability, and strength. GenXers like me were bombarded by the message. We didn’t have a way to stop its assault. Either you pressed the magical mute button, or you turned it off. But one thing was clear. Ford trucks were…
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A commotion outside the door of Vrbinski, Neil, and Kurt brought all the work inside the law firm office to a complete stop. No typing. No talking. Even Ms. Amy Kurt, starting to make her usual vanilla latte, stopped dead in the tracks from tamping her espresso. Voices on the other side of the heavy…
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When she stood on the other side of her desk, it intimidated everyone on staff. Mickey worked hard for her position at Graymer Incorporated. It took years of 80-plus hour weeks, countless hours in pointless meetings, and naive supervisors that she knew, without a doubt, that she was above them in intellect. Armed with only…
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1987. President Reagan said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” It was also the same year Mr. Martim Silva, an English teacher at California High School, started his first day of class poking fun at his culture and heritage. True to teachers’ style of the time, he wore tan-colored slacks, ironed with tight creases,…
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From age six, I watched the Star Wars films, anticipating every climax, all the plot twists, and the fantastic visual effects through my six-year-old eyes. Star Wars holds a special place in my heart, even as a teenager and adult. With many more years behind me and more characters and spin-off series created from the…
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“I don’t go out much anymore, Will. The Cheetos trucks I told you about? They are coming more frequently.” Jerry crushed his cigarette in the overfull ashtray after taking one more drag. “Bringing in more and more of those . . . I’m not sure what you call ‘em, Will.” Staring into space, he stopped…
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So, here’s the thing. My relationship with God is being renewed and reinvigorated as of late, thanks to discipline, running, and consistency in silence and stillness. That’s the reason for this blog post. It’s no surprise to anyone who knows me that I struggle with people’s inattentiveness and inconsiderate behavior. From the grocery store to…
Stories. Enjoy!
