Author Archives: Gavin Stevens

About Gavin Stevens

Humptulips County is the wholly fictional on-line residence of Stephen Ellis, a would-be writer, an avid fan of William Faulkner and his Yoknapatawpha County, and a retired lawyer.

Monday Morning Quarterbacking

I am not a football junky and am probably about to demonstrate a profound lack of understanding of the the sport, but nonetheless…. I do watch my home team play since at my age and my state of retirement it … Continue reading

Posted in Humptulips County | Leave a comment

Everyday Heroism

I read today that in Jacksonville, Florida a black campus police officer at an HBCU was the first law enforcement officer to confront the Jacksonville shooter. He was alerted to the shooter’s presence on campus by a carload of students … Continue reading

Posted in Humptulips County | Comments Off on Everyday Heroism

My Top 100 Songs

For the pure joy of it, I decided to make a list of the top 100 songs that I could listen to every day (if I wanted) and not tire of them. I have messed with the list for over … Continue reading

Posted in Words and Music | Comments Off on My Top 100 Songs

Endings Or Beginnings

Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought: So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing. T S Eliot, Wait Without Hope      I am skimming above the tarmac. Weather, geography, and time … Continue reading

Posted in Humptulips County | Comments Off on Endings Or Beginnings

An Apology To Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

Your Honor: For the record, I am an elderly white man now retired from the active practice of law. As an older white man, I would like to apologize for all white men, young or old, who refuse to recognize … Continue reading

Posted in 'Tis a Puzzlement, Civics, Politicians and Other Lower Life Forms | Comments Off on An Apology To Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

The Moment Of Truth

If you hear music when she’s near you And Christmas comes ev’ry day of the year Then you must know why it’s the first clue That the moment of truth is near The Moment Of Truth, Tex Satterwhite, Frank Scott … Continue reading

Posted in Humptulips County, Our Place in the Firmament | Comments Off on The Moment Of Truth

Rearview Mirrors

“The things that matter are those that lie ahead – rocks, hurricanes, pirates. Behind there is only a wake which rapidly becomes indistinguishable from the rest of the limitless sea.” Mark Haddon, The Porpoise “He dislikes all reunions and is … Continue reading

Posted in 'Tis a Puzzlement, Friendship | Comments Off on Rearview Mirrors

A Beacon in the Mists of Time

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. F Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby “We all make stupid, critical mistakes – some of them real corkers.  But none of us ever thinks there’s an … Continue reading

Posted in Humptulips County, Ponderings on the Meaning of Things | Comments Off on A Beacon in the Mists of Time

The Immensity of Shrinking Horizons

When I was a boy growing up in an isolated valley in eastern Washington in the days before the Internet, I was restless despite the vastness of the sky I lived under. Even though the horizons were far away, I … Continue reading

Posted in 'Tis a Puzzlement, Our Place in the Firmament, Ponderings on the Meaning of Things | Comments Off on The Immensity of Shrinking Horizons

Legitimate Thoughts and Prayers

In light of the onslaught of thoughts and prayers from people who do nothing whatever to halt gun violence, it occurred to me to consider who, if anyone, has a legitimate right to send them to victims and families killed, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Legitimate Thoughts and Prayers