My Muse by L. A. McMurray
Connection, catch a spark, a myriad of possibilities.
L. A. Story
My Muse by L. A. McMurray

By Lori Shutrump
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October 6, 2025
Unexpected Connection Working on my next writing project, I had the honor of interviewing an authentic cowboy. He is my husband’s cousin’s brother-in-law who lives in Montana. I reached out to this cousin to schedule a time to talk with her and her husband about my project. Afterward, she suggested that I speak with her brother-in-law Brian who restores motorcycles and has horses. In between completing my lengthy to do list on a busy weekend, I seized a moment to call him to schedule a visit or zoom meeting for some time in the future. I planned to leave a message if he didn’t answer. To my surprise, he answered and said that I caught him at a good time, which after talking with him, I realized how truly rare the moment was. He explained it was a fluke that I called at that moment as he had just returned from a long trip. He works most days from five in the morning until ten at night and was scheduled to leave for a month-long adventure early the next morning.

By Lori Shutrump
•
October 6, 2025
It’s a wild ride watching unplanned connections unfold into perfect alignment. A dear friend recently started creating pieces of artwork inspired by his love of music. He’s always been an artist, specifically a sculptor, but with his recent diagnosis of ALS, it’s not possible for him to create as he once did. Seeing his struggle, someone suggested that he express his artistic talent on paper rather than through the larger, more physically aggressive sculpting media. Thank you to the smart soul who recommended this therapy and to his beautiful wife and sister who nudged him along. His initial sketch was of his son as a child - a full-faced, wild-curly haired, little boy. The work was raw and captured the sweetness and energy of his child. This was his first pencil drawing since his days in school, and in the making of this piece, at a time of








