The Happy Narcissist

“Happy 42nd Anniversary,” Sweetie! When the young people this week have all told us ”Congratulations!” and then always also asked, ”How do you make it to forty-two years?” and I’ve honestly answered, ”Just don’t die and don’t get divorced,” you’ve more beautifully added, ”It’s Love and Forgiveness and Grace!” And my possibly imaginary Friend, Jesus…

“It’s not me, it’s us.” This might sound like a strange thing for The Happy Narcissist to say . . . but maybe that’s why he calls himself “Happy.” The two twin portraits above bookend forty years for me and my beautiful bride; from 1979, the year before we were wed, to 2019, the year…

A long time ago, I began to write a book about a man I once knew who killed some other men I once knew and the men I still know who tried to put the murderer on death row but failed to do so. I entitled my book “Beg Mercy.” I’m going to try and…

Therefore . . . though justice be thy plea, consider this, That, in the course of justice, none of us  Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render  The deeds of mercy.   -William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice,”  Act IV, Scene 1 My name…

“Please don’t shoot me again, Jack!” What Jim Ehrhart saw next would haunt his dreams.  Jack Hudson pointed his pistol at Mike Crowe’s head just as the wounded man slumped to the ground.  Mercilessly, Hudson pulled the trigger.  When Hudson did this, Ehrhart used that moment to escape the gated compound he’d been trapped inside,…