35 Comments
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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Just browsing around your archive over a second cup of coffee this morning. I loved the way you got into the little-boy mind in the forest and in the thrill of building a tree house. That is quite an unexpected twist at the end. Yikes! BTW: The painting behind your head in your logo photo. Is that of Bruges, Belgium?

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Thanks, Sharron. I still have that little boy inside me somewhere.

That painting was my Grandmother's. I don't know what (or where) the subject is. I just looked close at it and it appears to be a signed print. Signed in pencil. It looks like #20 on the left side and the signature looks like Julian Coley.

I wish we could add photos to comments.

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J.S. Lender's avatar

Hey Mark! Looking forward to reading your stories here.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Hi J. I see you joined the Substack writer's club. Welcome!

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John K Adams's avatar

Beautiful!

Alas, once a cheetah, always one.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

A cheetah can't change its spots. 😉😂

Thanks, John.

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V. C. Ackerman's avatar

If I Had A Nickel - Nickel squared.

How To Ruin An Awesome Day In A Treehouse - Oh my God! “Ruin an awesome day” their bones are going to be ruined if they don’t get out of that treehouse!

The Animal Olympics - Cute! You should turn this one into a children’s picture book, I think it would do well.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Pretend they leaped to another tree before their's fell. 😉

A picture book is a fun idea. Unfortunately, it would require an artist and a book deal to be viable.

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Claire Walster's avatar

The twist in the treehouse story was superb and that was some A+ rhyming on the poem!

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Thank you Claire. I loved the Twilight Zone as a kid, so I like twist endings. And I enjoy rhyming probably more than I should. 😂

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Justin Deming's avatar

I can always count on you for a good laugh. Thanks, Mark! Great stories all around. 😄

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Mark Starlin's avatar

I appreciate your comments, Justin. As always. Thank you! 😀

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Jenise Cook's avatar

I think this is your best post ever, Mark. I loved every word of every piece. Well done!! 😁

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Aw. Thank you, Jenise. That is very kind. 😀

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Bill Adler's avatar

Once built, treehouses should remain monuments to childhood, and even more important, should be passed along to the next generations for as long as the trees last.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

I agree with that, Bill. Nothing quite like a tree house. Thanks.

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Jenise Cook's avatar

Agree, Bill.

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Debbie ( aka butterflykisses )'s avatar

I always love your stories, you never disappoint. The tree house brought back wonderful memories..thankfully no chainsaw was involved. 😂😂😂

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Thanks. It was based partly on my childhood. Except the chainsaw. 😂

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Debbie ( aka butterflykisses )'s avatar

Well that's good to hear, pretty scary to imagine! 😂

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Kerrie Noor's avatar

Luv your writing

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Thank you, Kerrie. I appreciate it. 😀

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Jack Herlocker's avatar

The nickel story made me chuckle more than it should have, while the tree story is a great example of how dumb items end up on safety checklists... like, "Check tree for treehouses and children before starting to saw."

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Mark Starlin's avatar

If I had a nickel for every time someone chuckled... Thanks, Jack.

I agree on the treehouse. The loggers should have looked up! Maybe it was so high and hidden, they couldn't see it. 😉

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Jack Herlocker's avatar

"Hey, Bill, did you see this? 'Check for treehouses before cutting.' That's stupid! Who could miss a treehouse?"

"Yeah, well, Jim, let me tell you about this one time..."

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Mark Starlin's avatar

🤣 Nothing like shop talk. Reminiscent of my airline days.

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Alexa Tuttle's avatar

Loved the nickel story 😆

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Thanks, Alexa. Sometimes, clichés don't work. 😂

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Scott Ocamb's avatar

Good Job, thanks. I especially enjoyed the treehouse story. I think all of us had friends like your showed us in your story.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Thanks, Scott. I agree. Kids like those are fairly common. At least they were when I was growing up. 🤓

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Thomas Bubb's avatar

Another home run, Mark thank you! I needed the chuckles today 👍

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Mark Starlin's avatar

My pleasure, Thomas. When I was a kid there was a candy called Chuckles. It was four different flavored licorice.

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Thomas Bubb's avatar

Nice! I wish I had the chance to eat that I’ll have to settle for the fun stories on a Monday!

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Marji Chimes's avatar

wonderful way to start the day

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Thank you, Marji. Have a good week!

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