Thomas Durbin
Bio
Raised in rural east-central Illinois, I appreciate nature and the environment. I'm a father, grandfather, professional engineer-scientist, leader, scouts leader, coach, stoic, minimalist, costumer, historian, traveler, and writer.
Stories (61/0)
Planting Mindfulness
The activity that takes me away from harsh realities is restoring a small piece of nature on my property back home. It doubles as a part of the solution to the core of the harsh realities out there including the effects of materialism and overpopulation on nature and society that continue to spread across the countryside. The problems people impose on the environment and each other weigh heavily on my mind. Serenity and tranquility are necessary for peace of mind and coping with life in these tumultuous times. Planting native plants on my little patch of ground is a rewarding and satisfying activity. It is a fundamental way to make a positive difference today and for future generations.
By Thomas Durbin3 years ago in Earth
Branwen's Treasure
“Branwen, be extremely cautious!” Burton warned. “Do not let the Pixies see you if you want to live to see another sunrise. They are the most territorial faction to emerge during the Aftermath and they are relentless. Pixies are obsessed with jewels and baubles, and they protect their hoard like a scorch of dragons.”
By Thomas Durbin3 years ago in Fiction
A Queen of Hearts
The diner was quaint and rustic. Relics still hung on the walls and the jukebox spun old discs from a top 40 list long forgotten. The waitress smiled and slapped down a place mat and a menu on the table in front of me. A glass of water followed, sweat dripping from the bottom onto the menu as she reached across and put it down. I noticed the locket hanging from a silver chain around her neck as she leaned over to put down the glass. It swung half-way around and disappeared as she turned to greet the folks waiting at the bar to place their orders.
By Thomas Durbin3 years ago in Fiction
Quest for Equity
Passion and fulfillment. Two key aspects of life. Each sought along varied paths among a myriad of possibilities. The answers are unique to each individual. Some serve the dual purpose of making a positive impact on society and others simply give the individual a sense of meaning and accomplishment.
By Thomas Durbin3 years ago in Earth
Launch from 14C
The basis for this story is this setting from the originators of an xprize contest. "THE ORIGIN STORY: At 4:58am on June 28th, 2017, the passengers on board ANA Flight 008, en route from Tokyo to San Francisco, are cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet, approximately 1,500 nautical miles off the West Coast of the United States. A small bump, otherwise noted as a barely perceptible bout of turbulence, passes Flight 008 through a temporary wrinkle in the local region of space-time. What these passengers will soon find out as they descend into SFO is that the wrinkle has transported them 20 years in the future, and the year is now 2037."
By Thomas Durbin3 years ago in Futurism
One Wish
I was walking along the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River one sunny afternoon and happened to see an old oil lamp half buried in a sand bar. I dug around the lamp and washed most of the river mud and sand off of it in the river. I mused about the possibilities of who had owned the lamp, whether or not it had lit the way for one of my ancestors who had lived in the area, where it had been, and how long it had been lost. It was tarnished and the river had partially sand-blasted it, but it was still a nice relic. I used the sleeve of my shirt to try to remove more of the sand and mud and shine it. The lamp shook and smoked in my hands and the strangest being I'd ever seen appeared before me. The old cuss looked like a cross between a coal miner and a rancher; a mix of the ancestors of us local folk. He wheezed a bit, said "Howdy", tipped his tattered hat, and smiled. He said many people had held that lamp along the river over the years, but only a certain person could release him from the lamp. I asked him what that meant, but he only said, "Though many are capable, truly great things are done by few, stay the course, you will be needed." He turned his eyes to follow a hawk searching the nearby lea for prey and then stooped and drank slowly from the river, as I had done many times. He cleared his throat and spoke again, "Try to think of all the things you want, what you truly feel in your heart and soul, tell me about them, but be brief, for I have not much time to spare here. I shall be free after granting you one wish, but it must be the right one. So, tell me what brings you here."
By Thomas Durbin3 years ago in Motivation