Sea Urchins

In 1999 I was watching old Little Rascals episodes trying to see the humor in kids since I was gonna be a dad and plenty scared. — With good reason, it turns out, Ava! — I had become an uncle to dozens from marrying into a family full of onions (Unruns?). Scott Eckelaert sent a copy of Hogan’s Alley magazine, the one with the ‘Lady Bountiful’ reprints. He did it, I think, because I was working at a newspaper. Then Scott went on his annual vacation to Italy, where I’ve spent some time, too.

So I had the Hogan’s Alley magazine to read, a job at the Myrtle Beach newspaper and a squirrely brain. Oh yeah, and a disastrous shell of a house… no windows, plumbing or electricity, empty and vandalized for eleven years. My dad still has a couple of sailboats in his driveway on Paris Mountain that won’t see water anytime soon.

Combine all these things, a little personal history including some stories from my grandfather and I had a pitch for the paper and for Scott by the time Scott got back from Italy. Add Scott’s squirrely brain and you have Sea Urchins.