The Interpreted Rock

By Stephen C. Schultz The large Douglas fir trees stood as black silhouettes against the cotton-like sky, which glowed as the city lights reflected off the low, billowing clouds. A January mist hung in the air—more than fog but not quite rain. The moisture wrapped around you, cool and subtle, until you stepped into a home or building and suddenly realized you were wet. I was at the home of a friend of mine who happened to be a girl. We attended the same high school, had dated a few times, and enjoyed each other's company. While it wasn’t a serious relationship, it was a relationship nonetheless. Looking back, that evening started with a phone call. You know, the kind where I was sitting on the couch in the family room, talking on the phone connected to the kitchen by a thirty-foot phone cord. We discussed what we wanted to do that night. She mentioned that she had heard about a party taking place not far from where she lived and asked if I wanted to go. Although I wasn’t mu...

Guest Blog By Stephanie Lauren Schultz “La, la, la, la, la.” Pam was humming to herself quietly as she pedaled her tricycle around the neighborhood. She weaved back and forth across the sidewalk, sped up and down driveways and steered her way down the street.  Being four years old, Pam’s tricycle was among her top five favorite possessions. When she got bored with her parents and other adults in her life, she could always hop on her tricycle and ride around the neighborhood. One particular day when Pam was riding her tricycle, she decided to try something new. The road that led into her driveway was a hill. She decided the best way to get the most speed would be to start at the top of the hill and peddle as fast as she could into her driveway. “Ready, set, GO!” Pam said to herself and she started down the hill on her tricycle at slowly at first, but gaining speed. After a few yards, Pam felt like she was flying. The wind was ripping through her hair and she ...

Guest Blogger Jared C Schultz, PhD (Editors note: This is a piece written by my brother. It is an actual occurrence that happened when we were kids. I have posted this because it is a fun memory of our childhood. I would encourage others to write their memories and share them with family. Please enjoy!) The boy, a young man really, stepped from the shower. Wrapped in an ill smelling towel grabbed off the floor, he begins his daily hygiene routine of deodorant, brushing teeth, and a small dab of anti-fungal cream in places he refuses to talk about. It is a unique time in this young man’s life as he has just returned from an outing with friends. Not an outing of ordinary happenstance, but one of significant, life altering proportions. He has broken the law. It is probably not the first time in his short, fairly trouble less life growing up in Eugene Oregon, and certainly will not be the last. A whimsical smile creases the corners of his mouth as he examines hi...

By Stephen C. Schultz Many may look at the title of this post and say, “Yeah…right! Like that will ever happen!” Yes it is true, bullying in some form or another has affected people since the time of “Cane & Able”. For those who don’t ascribe to any particular religious world view, I will simply say that bullying has manifested itself throughout the ages. As a small child of five or six, I had a bully approach me a few times as I would ride my bike to school. One time he took my bike and rode away. Another time he pushed me into the gutter and started punching me. While it was somewhat traumatic at the time, I had a loving and supportive family that helped me realize it was the bully that had some problems and I was a courageous, kind and likeable boy. Bullying may include kids at school , teens on the internet or thugs playing the “ knock out game ”.   It takes place in the classroom, playground, sports arena and workplace.  The purpose o...