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.

Navigating The Shallow Facebook Seas

Posted on July 17, 2017 by Gavin Stevens

I first met Danny at my friend Bob’s funeral last year. Danny is Bob’s nephew and bears more than a passing resemblance to him both in appearance and demeanor. We talked a bit, but funerals do not promote an atmosphere … Continue reading →

Posted in Friendship, Ponderings on the Meaning of Things | 1 Comment

The Momentary Stewardship Of Gods And Daisies

Posted on July 9, 2017 by Gavin Stevens

Take your place on The Great Mandala As it moves through your brief moment of time. Win or lose now you must choose now And if you lose you’re only losing your life. Peter Yarrow, The Great Mandala Each May … Continue reading →

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Old Friends

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Gavin Stevens

Old friends, memory brushes the same years, Silently sharing the same fears Paul Simon, Old Friends We talk a lot about illness now – ours, theirs, and others’. But while the subject has become a conversational staple, we refuse to … Continue reading →

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Summer is Here

Posted on June 24, 2017 by Gavin Stevens

My walk to our mailbox yesterday was under a cloudless sky down an asphalt ribbon of driveway stencilled with a frieze of silhouettes cast by pines, alders, blackberry vines, and long-stemmed daisies and grasses. The heat shimmered from the paving … Continue reading →

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Dear Mr. Bezos

Posted on June 18, 2017 by Gavin Stevens

Jeff Bezos, Twitter Post Dear Mr. Bezos: I read your Twitter post regarding the establishment of a philanthropy strategy with interest. I believe you established a false dichotomy between a long term strategy and giving immediate assistance to those in … Continue reading →

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They Also Serve Who Sit And Read

Posted on June 14, 2017 by Gavin Stevens

“They also serve who only stand and wait.” John Milton, When I consider how my light is spent Yesterday (a Tuesday in mid-June). Helen sat for two hours in the heart of the day and read a book. It was raining yesterday, … Continue reading →

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Thoughts On The Nation’s Official Memorial Day

Posted on May 29, 2017 by Gavin Stevens

It being Memorial Day, I wondered who among the Vietnam War dead I might know. Using my home town as a filter turned up four names I did not know; using the state of Washington as a filter turned up … Continue reading →

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The Importance Of Inchworms To The Long Haul

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Gavin Stevens

Inchworm, inchworm, measuring the marigolds You and your arithmetic, you’ll probably go far. Inchworm, inchworm, measuring the marigolds Seems to me you’d stop and see how beautiful they are. Frank Loesser, Inchworm When roadblocks are monumental, little victories assume a … Continue reading →

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Different Strokes

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Gavin Stevens

Life is full of unexpected surprises. Some surprises are good and some are bad, with both sides of the coin ranging from a one (mild, whichever kind of surprise) to a ten (either a wonderful or woeful surprise). On December … Continue reading →

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Waiting For The First Snowfall

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Gavin Stevens

Snow falls: years of anger following hours that float idly down — the blizzard drifts its weight deeper and deeper for three days or sixty years, eh? Then the sun! a clutter of yellow and blue flakes — Hairy looking … Continue reading →

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