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Bob Merckel
Bob Merckel

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Published in

Redemption

·Aug 3

Three Strikes, You’re Not Out

Your bully’s at bat, and all eyes are on you — I’m terrified to look at him, so I stare down at the pitcher’s mound, an island of red clay engulfed by sea of brownish-green grass. “Come on, Tigger!” Mom shouts from the bleachers. “One more strike and we win the league!” I want to die. She treats me like such…

Fiction

3 min read

Three Strikes, You’re Not Out
Three Strikes, You’re Not Out
Fiction

3 min read


Published in

bobzyeruncle

·Jul 30

Home is Where the [Insert Noun Here] Is

It’s an age-old conundrum, but maybe today I’ve figured it out — I’ve been back in Provincetown just over 24 hours. Once again I’m overwhelmed by the idea that I can get in a tin can (or two, and then a hotel bed, and then a ferry) and end up in a place that feels every bit as home—but different—as where I…

This Happened To Me

3 min read

Home is Where the [Insert Noun Here] Is
Home is Where the [Insert Noun Here] Is
This Happened To Me

3 min read


Published in

Dead or Alive

·Jul 16

A Bloody Good Life Lesson after Bloody Marys with Grandma

Sometimes you just have to sit a hand out — “Take my picture,” Grandma said, holding up a bloody mary. “I’ve never had a drink this early in my life.” It was 11:30ish am. We were in Harlem at Sylvia’s for a gospel brunch, 1998-ish. My cousin Scott and his wife Katie had come to Manhattan for a long weekend…

This Happened To Me

4 min read

A Bloody Good Life Lesson after Bloody Marys with Grandma
A Bloody Good Life Lesson after Bloody Marys with Grandma
This Happened To Me

4 min read


Published in

The Shortform

·Jul 16

I’m Not Saying I Got Taylor Swift Tickets

But I just might end up seeing her, even if it costs me my reputation — I am saying my personal trainer’s girlfriend did. He couldn’t give 2 mierdas about it, nor did he want to go to Lisbon for the concert, not even in his wildest dreams. Being the anti-hero I am, and not wanting any bad blood between them, I said I would be…

Satire

1 min read

I’m Not Saying I Got Taylor Swift Tickets
I’m Not Saying I Got Taylor Swift Tickets
Satire

1 min read


Published in

Plethora Of Pop

·Jul 15

Cover Me, Babe

These covers hold just as much sway as the originals, in some cases (maybe) more — I was in the mood for some catchy, punky power pop vibes the other day, so I dialed up Bowling for Soup on Señor Spotify and discovered they’d covered “Flowers.” After bopping out to that for a few listens, I thought back on other surprise covers I’ve come across lately…

Pop Music

3 min read

Cover Me, Babe
Cover Me, Babe
Pop Music

3 min read


Published in

bobzyeruncle

·Jul 14

My Personal Trainer Really Wants to Get Me (and My Algorithm) Swole

He’s so helpful and always goes the extra mile, even if that means starting with an extra inch. — Many years ago, I had a knot surgically implanted under my left shoulder blade. I did this to make sure all my future massage therapists would actually have to earn their money. At least that’s what I tell them. Earlier this week, it flared up. “What did you do?” my…

This Happened To Me

3 min read

My Personal Trainer Really Wants to Get Me (and My Algorithm) Swole
My Personal Trainer Really Wants to Get Me (and My Algorithm) Swole
This Happened To Me

3 min read


Published in

Dead or Alive

·Jul 8

Follow These Five Simple Steps To Not Be a Horrible Human

Why are you asking for bad karma? — I was about a block and half from my flat the other day and, by force of habit, reached into my pocket to pull out my keys. I still had a major thoroughfare to cross. I probably wouldn’t have made the light, and there were a good 30ish meters to…

Creative Writing

6 min read

Follow These Five Simple Steps To Not Be a Horrible Human
Follow These Five Simple Steps To Not Be a Horrible Human
Creative Writing

6 min read


Published in

bobzyeruncle

·Jul 5

I Can’t Do This. I Just Cannot. It’s Going to Kill Me.

And then, hmm, whaddya know—it was over and done. — This next superset is going to be six tap-and-go squats (on a rack I’d never used before), then 12 lunges on each leg, then 20 bodyweight squats. So said Gym Albert, after 3 sets of kettlebell squats for a warmup. I had hired a personal trainer a few months ago…

Fitness

6 min read

I Can’t Do This. I Just Cannot. It’s Going to Kill Me.
I Can’t Do This. I Just Cannot. It’s Going to Kill Me.
Fitness

6 min read


Published in

bobzyeruncle

·Jul 4

My, My, Our American Pie

How many slices would you like? — “When did you stop auditioning?” I’m having dinner with Whitney, a friend of a friend who’s fresh in from New York. It’s her first Spanish paella, her 2nd night in town, and we’re well into our third hour of conversation. We’ve only met once before, in London several years ago…

Creative Writing

5 min read

My, My, Our American Pie
My, My, Our American Pie
Creative Writing

5 min read


Published in

bobzyeruncle

·Jul 1

Everything Old Is New Again

Or, How I’m Spending the First Month of My Summer Vacation — Rabbit Rabbit, y’all Not long after I met Larry, he introduced me to rabbit rabbit. It’s a superstition / habit / ritual where, for good luck, a spoken double bunny must be the first thing out of your mouth every Day 1, 12 times a year. It’s also a fine way to ruin…

Creative Writing

5 min read

Everything Old Is New Again
Everything Old Is New Again
Creative Writing

5 min read

Bob Merckel

Bob Merckel

1.9K Followers

Editor: Age of Empathy, The Memoirist | English teacher/language consultant in Barcelona and Provincetown.

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