I KNOW HOW IT IS

In 2006, the people of this nation voted for change when the Democratic candidates overwhelmingly took over the house and the senate.  This was a clear message to the powers that be that the American people were fed up with what was going on; the war, the fear, and an ignorance of human decency that seemed to permeate the current administration.  This Tuesday, the American people has that opportunity again.  We can change this nation for the better. We will only need your hope for the future, and your vote.

This story was written and performed in November of 2006, right before the elections. It’s called, Worth The Fight

I Know How It Is...  An Online Community Magazine of Essays, Short Stories, and Social Commentary, to read more stories or to find out how you can contribute, please go to iknowhowitis.com

Every October, high schools, colleges, and universities celebrate a homecoming.  This gives their alumni a chance to come back, see a football game, and visit with their friends that they may not have seen since they graduated.  For me, this has always been a great opportunity to see how old, bald, and fat people gotten.  But most importantly, to relive, if only for a weekend, the carelessness, simplicity and stupidity of college life.

This story was written and performed in October of 2007. Its called, The Fainting Goat

I Know How It Is...  An Online Community Magazine of Essays, Short Stories, and Social Commentary, to read more stories or to find out how you can contribute, please go to iknowhowitis.com

Going to the dentist is something that people, young and old, fear alike. Between the sound of the drill, the sterile smell of the clinic, the scraping of teeth with sharp metal instruments or the panic that you feel when you realized that you probably having flossed as much as you should have, the anxiety of sitting in that chair is enough to make people put it off until it is absolutely necessary. The first time you go to the dentist as a child however, you know nothing of what’s to come.

This story was written and performed in 2005, it’s called Tooth Hurty.

I Know How It Is...  An Online Community Magazine of Essays, Short Stories, and Social Commentary, to read more stories or to find out how you can contribute, please go to iknowhowitis.com

One of the most important things in a fathers life is his legacy. The values and traditions that were instilled in them by their fathers hold special meaning and urgency to pass on to their children.  Unfortunately, sometimes their kids are resistant to bare the family crest. In my family, the tradition is fishing and I, a very unwilling fisherman.

This story was written and performed in 2001.  Its called Gone Fishin’.

I Know How It Is...  An Online Community Magazine of Essays, Short Stories, and Social Commentary, to read more stories or to find out how you can contribute, please go to iknowhowitis.com

If there is one thing that we, as a people, should never underestimate it is the imagination and creativity of youth.  This imagination can manifest into a refrigerator box that turns into a space ship, a fort made of a card table and blankets can be a castle, or a pink costume dress can ordain a princess. One of the more popular uses of my young creativity was playing House.
This story was written in 1998. Its the second part in my preschool series.  Its called, Eat This.
I Know How It Is...  An Online Community Magazine of Essays, Short Stories, and Social Commentary, to read more stories or to find out how you can contribute, please go to iknowhowitis.com

It’s back to school time. The summer of leisure for kids across the nation is now ending and it is time to back to the days of structure, homework, and social interaction.  I always remember the first day of school to be an exciting time.  My brand new backpack filled with brand new school supplies; my new trapper keeper, my new pencils, my new homework planner that I would use for about a week and then never touch again. I would get to see all the friends that I didn’t see all summer and life would start anew.  However, there was one first day, the very first day, which I was not so excited about.  It was my first day of preschool.     

This story was written in 1998 as one of two parts in my preschool series.  It’s called Emergency Pants.

This is I know How It Is, I’m J. Michael Haas

I Know How It Is...  An Online Community Magazine of Essays, Short Stories, and Social Commentary, to read more stories or to find out how you can contribute, please go to iknowhowitis.com

The subject of race has been put in the forefront of American politics as we get ready to elect the first African American man as the president of the United States.  While in a perfect world, the color of someone’s skin wouldn’t matter; they wouldn’t have to have polls that asked likely voters if the country is ready for a black president. In 1984, the subject of race entered my life when my mother bought me a black Cabagepatch Kid, who I named Timothy-John.

This story was written and performed in July of 2005.

I Know How It Is...  An Online Community Magazine of Essays, Short Stories, and Social Commentary, to read more stories or to find out how you can contribute, please go to iknowhowitis.com

One of the biggest transitions in life, if not the biggest, is the one that happens while you are in middle school.  Between the braces face, the oily skin, the changing voice, and a constant and annoying erection, you are some how supposed to get an education.  Tonight, my Middle School story, written and performed in 2004.  

I Know How It Is… a An Online Community Magazine of Essays, Short Stories, and Social Commentary, to read more stories or to find out how you can contribute, please go to iknowhowitis.com