Wreckage and Wonder

<p>Brace yourself for a veritable smorgasbord of history and trivia. There's absurdity galore of course-those moments when history just refuses to behave. But it's not all lighthearted and goofy. Between the delightful oddities you'll find tales that run the full spectrum of human experience: fascination wonder and yes more than a few heavy doses of sadness. Some stories wade into that melancholy territory and while they might leave a lump in your throat they don't linger in misery. The twist? They often leave behind a strange bittersweet joy the kind that stirs your soul just enough to remind you how odd it is that tragedy and triumph are sometimes just two sides of the same coin. You might even find as I did that some of these stories made me laugh-and cry-without really knowing where the tears came from.</p><p>But that's the beauty of these tales: they're unpredictable. It's the <em>weirdness</em> of life that gives them their power. The unanticipated A-ha! moments that turn simple anecdotes into something more-something raw and real. And yes you'll certainly find moments of levity. When absurdity strikes I'll be less than serious always looking for a laugh even if that laugh comes at our own expense. Perhaps a dash of Groucho Marx or the sharp often scornful wit of Jon Stewart. Yet for the moments of grief and loss I've tried to offer a modicum of respect. The world isn't always a place for jokes and sometimes-just sometimes-the right tone demands a little solemnity. There are no easy answers in tragedy no tidy little morals to be taken home but we try to be human about it.</p><p>So as you plow through these pages I hope you'll find yourself occasionally laughing out loud or shaking your head in disbelief muttering I didn't know that! or better yet exclaiming That's wild! Life isn't <em>always</em> about the happy ending-sometimes it's just about the strangeness of it all. And whatever the emotional toll these stories take on you-whether it's tears of joy or tears of sorrow-don't worry. You're in good company. Just make sure to laugh at the bizarre. We could all use a little more of that.</p><p></p><p></p>