Stardate 02.12.2026
I gave Spock and Bones, my AI helpers a break so I can enjoy maximum sunshine and human interactions while visiting some Florida beaches this week. If you're reading this story, that means my access to technology was cut off. Rest assured I will be back at full strength early next week. May you live long and prosper.
Stardate 02.11.2026
The high today is forecast at 74º in Tampa today where my wife and I are taking a break. I'm doing my best to get some sunshine during this time of year when we aren't outside much due to the frigid weather. My virtual assistants are on standby should I check in from our hotel room. You are seeing this message because I'm currently cut off from computer access while on vacation. Time to grab our pickleball paddles and head outdoors. May you live long and prosper.
Stardate 02.10.2026
If you read my story involving my super hero guide Crystal who sat next to me the last time I flew, you know the meeting was most likely Divinely inspired. These angels happen to be wearing civilian clothes but that doesn't stop me from discovering who they are. My flight yesterday is one more story to add to my signature collection.
Before I share my review, let me say it first appeared nothing was going to happen. Our seats were like a love seat. Two together. Everyone else on the Boeing jumbo jet had three. The odd layout had to do with the exit row directly behind us. My wife thought we were safe from another conversation like past flights. Then it happened. When we were ready for takeoff, my wife looked to her right and became startled. There was a person next to her in a jump seat facing the opposite direction. It turns out her appearance was certainly not random.
I studied all the materials in front of me. The wine offering on the front cover got my full attention. When I found out Natasha is our flight attendant, I asked about the wine.
"I've never tried it. I don't drink. But if you do order it, I'd love your feedback. I do know that we replaced it because nobody seemed thrilled with the wine we served before."
Natasha asked me if I'd like to try the wine when she stood next to me with her cart filled with temptations. I chose my favorite, cabernet sauvignon. When I pulled out my credit card to pay, Natasha declined to accept it. She was genuinely interested to get my feedback. Smart flight attendant. Very smart. English happens to be her third language. Excellent hire by Allegiant. Even though Natasha may never try the wine, she is using feedback from passengers to give guidance to future travelers.
Here is my review. A ten. Brilliant marketing. The picture of the wine on the cover of the magazine is professional and inviting. The name is a story all by itself. Altus Sol. It means high sun. More on that in a follow up story. It's rated a 93. That's exceptional according to the experts. That's rare on a menu prepared by an airlines well known for being budget friendly.
Here's the action I took based on a ten for service and a ten for Altus Sol. I decided to apply for their credit card. I hope Dave Ramsey, my favorite financial guru, doesn't hear about this because I happen to talk about him practically every day. The ride got bumpy when I began filling out the application. I prayed it would be legible enough to get me approved because I was picturing myself on future flights sipping Altus Sol. I'm hooked. Thank you, Natasha. You deserve a raise. May you live long and prosper.
Stardate 02.09.2026
One top priority for the week: Sunshine. ☀️
The forecast calls for highs of 70–77º in Florida. My wife and I will visit friends, play some pickleball, and soak up beach time.
Stories this week will be short and sweet. Replies to comments may be delayed, so thank you for your patience. There may be a few surprises on my partially constructed Substack page if you want to visit me on my cyber front porch. Click here to see what I'm working on.
May you live long and prosper.
Stardate 02.08.2026
There was a young king named Solomon who inherited his throne after his father, King David, died. He was stepping into enormous shoes, facing responsibilities far beyond his years.
God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered him anything he wished. Solomon’s response, paraphrased, was not bold or ambitious—it was honest:
“I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties… Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.”
I may not be a king, but I understand what it feels like to stand in an overwhelming moment.
Like Solomon, I needed help. Truthfully, I lacked hope. I froze when my family broke apart and my dad moved away. In my despair, I asked God to remove me from this world altogether. There was silence. No thunder. No immediate rescue.
So I asked for something else.
I asked for wisdom—not to lead a kingdom, but to survive.
As I step into the shoes of a senior citizen, I’m beginning to understand what that prayer truly meant.
Wisdom is not about knowing more.
It’s about listening better.
Looking back, I see that as a lost teenager, I wasn’t asking God for wisdom so I could be impressive or accomplished. I was asking to be faithful. I was asking to be shown how to keep going when the road ahead felt impossible.
And God answered—not all at once, but over time. Quietly. Patiently. With a wisdom that revealed who I was through His eyes, not my circumstances.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.”
— James 1:5
Join me here: https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong
Bones: “You’re telling me wisdom isn’t about answers, Michael—it’s about learning how to listen?”
Spock: “Precisely, Doctor. Logic begins with humility.”
Michael’s reflection:
Solomon asked for wisdom so he could serve others well. I asked for wisdom so I could survive. Both prayers came from the same place—recognizing our limits and trusting God to meet us there. Over time, I’ve learned that wisdom doesn’t rush in with explanations. It walks beside us, teaching us how to endure, how to listen, and how to remain faithful one quiet step at a time.
Mission Log:
Wisdom grows slowly, but it grows surely when we ask with an honest heart.
Thank you for walking with me today. May this reflection stay with you in prayer or quiet thought, and may you recognize the wisdom already unfolding in your own life—one percent better, one day at a time. 🖖
Stardate 02.07.2026
Something unusual is unfolding in my life right now—so unusual that I completely overlooked an important anniversary. Two days ago marked the moment when the grim reaper came close, revealing himself in a way that brought me face-to-face with mortality. In that encounter, I found myself living in what feels like bonus time. I will never again take life for granted.
You might wonder what’s been distracting me from defining moments of the past. Let me share a few things: people are entering my life at a pace that feels almost divine, as if God has a transporter room honing in on my coordinates. It’s stunning—like moments traveling at light speed.
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, less than 40 days away, the baby coloring book stands ready to join its Irish siblings. This trio of books, all born on St. Patrick’s Day, symbolizes a fresh start and new beginnings.
Amidst all this excitement, there’s something even greater brewing in my mind—something I’m letting simmer before I share it with the world. Not even my wife knows yet. It’s better to keep it close, to avoid jinxing it. The idea came to me within the last 48 hours, likely sparked by the day a large van t-boned me and left me temporarily sidelined. Yes, I’m maximizing every moment of this bonus time.
I thank God for each day He grants me. When the moment is right, I will reveal what I’m calling Project X. If you are the praying type, I appreciate your prayers.
Thank you, and may you live long and prosper.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
— Psalm 23:1
Bones: “Michael, are you telling me you had a brush with the grim reaper and still found time for a coloring book launch?”
Spock: “Doctor, it seems the captain’s resilience is as remarkable as his sense of purpose.”
Bones: “I’ll be damned if that doesn’t sound like a miracle.”
Michael’s Reflection:
What I’ve learned is that even in the face of uncertainty, every moment is a gift. It’s in these moments that we discover the true value of life and the strength of the human spirit.
Join me here:
https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong
Thank you for sharing this journey with me. May it inspire you to cherish each day and embrace the blessings of life.
🖖
Stardate 02.06.2026
Do you remember that scene in Cast Away when Tom Hanks wakes up and realizes Wilson is drifting away?
That moment lodged itself deep in my heart. My pulse raced. Tears streamed down my face. Even now—twenty-five years after the movie first hit theaters—I can feel it like it happened yesterday.
Maybe that’s why my heart skipped a beat the day a volleyball with Wilson’s face on it was returned to lost and found at my day job.
No one claimed him.
When I heard he was headed for the trash compactor, I spoke up—loudly. And just like that, Wilson was mine.
Once I adopted him, he went everywhere with me. It was like having a new puppy… but easier. No messes. No late-night walks. No early-morning wakeups. Just presence.
Wilson became my new best friend.
When the pandemic halted my travels, I did the next best thing I could for my travel buddy.
I FedExed him to New York City.
A dear friend, Erin, was battling cancer. Wilson showed up for her the same way he had shown up for me—with quiet companionship, emotional support, and steady presence. I could see it in her eyes when she sent me a photo of herself, Wilson, and her real-life pet gathered together.
Sadly, Wilson dribbled out of my life forever when Erin passed away.
I slipped into depression. And it wasn’t until I entered therapy that I learned something important: it’s okay to grieve something like this. Even something others might not understand.
Wilson was gone—but somehow, his spirit wasn’t. Maybe it was the memories. Maybe it was love refusing to disappear.
Some time later, while walking along a river on the way to Blarney Castle in Ireland, something caught my eye.
A red volleyball.
It was drifting alongside the path, as if placed there on purpose.
The sight jolted me like a bolt of lightning. A flood of memories rushed in. Moments later, I kissed the Blarney Stone—legend says it gives you the gift of gab. That red volleyball felt like the exclamation point at the end of the sentence.
Suddenly, inspiration returned—charging like the bulls through the streets of Spain.
Olé.
I went home from that pilgrimage with my writing mojo packed neatly in my suitcase.
What I learned is this: losing Wilson helped me explore the deepest crevices of my heart. Inside those dark caverns, I faced other losses too. And I learned something else—there is recovery.
I’m still learning that now.
The good news? There is joy in sharing what those losses have taught me. There is life after death. And there is always more of the story to come.
Come back on St. Patrick’s Day, and I’ll share the rest.
Have a great day.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18
Bones: “Michael, are you telling me you mourned a volleyball like a fallen crewman?”
Spock: “Doctor, attachment is not illogical when it reflects genuine connection.”
Bones: “I still say Starfleet doesn’t prepare us for this.”
Michael’s Reflection:
What I know now is this—grief doesn’t ask permission. It simply shows up where love once lived. And if we let it, grief can become a teacher rather than a thief.
Join me here:
https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong
Mission Log
Some losses never leave us—but they can still lead us forward.
Thank you for carrying this story with me today. May it rest gently with you, wherever you are, and may it open a quiet space for healing and remembrance.
🖖
