George Epley

  A picture of an abstract rock can symbolize many ideas, depending on the context, artistic style, and viewer interpretation. Here are several meaningful representations it could hold for humanity: Endurance and Timelessness Rocks endure for millennia. An abstract rock might represent humanity's search for permanence in a world of change. The Foundation of Civilization Rocks are literally foundational—used in tools, buildings, and monuments. Abstracted, they can evoke the deep connection between human progress and the natural world. Inner Strength or Resilience The roughness, mass, and unyielding nature of a rock can symbolize personal strength, emotional resilience, or collective fortitude in the face of adversity. Mystery and Interpretation An abstract form leaves room for imagination. A rock, shaped beyond realism, might suggest the unknowable aspects of nature or the subconscious. Transformation Rocks evolve—eroded, shaped by time and elements. The abstract ver...

  "The Morning Haul" Old Jeb had been on the road longer than most truck stops had been in business. His face was leathered from years of sunrises seen through windshields, and his smile—when it came—was gummy, his last tooth surrendered to a chunk of beef jerky somewhere outside Amarillo five years back. Didn’t bother him none. He always said, “Teeth don’t steer a rig.” That morning, he eased open the heavy sleeper door of his maroon cab, the hinges squealing just like his knees. The scent of diesel mixed with prairie air, and he grunted with approval. He shuffled down to the pavement, steel thermos in one hand, chipped enamel mug in the other, and filled it with jet-black coffee that had been steeping since 4 AM. He looked up. The tanker beside him gleamed like liquid silver in the morning sun, proudly stamped with “LBT Transport, Buffalo Center, Iowa.” The sky was a masterpiece—big cotton clouds chasing each other across a bright blue canvas. Jeb sipped his coffee, slo...

  So there you are, just popping into your local sporting goods store to grab some bait or maybe a new fishing rod, and you turn the corner into The Twilight Zone of Chiefs Kingdom. First thing you see is a guy who’s clearly the undisputed heavyweight champion of fandom, rocking a split Chiefs-Mizzou jersey and a hat the size of a small planet that looks exactly like a Super Bowl ring—bedazzled to the heavens. His face paint screams, “I take tailgating more seriously than most people take their jobs.” And flanking him? A young Mahomes-in-the-making who looks like he just finished an intense locker room speech, and a little cowgirl in Chiefs gear that’s clearly four sizes too big—but she's still somehow pulling it off like a boss. You don’t know if they’re about to head to a game, throw a BBQ that’ll shake the neighborhood, or storm a fantasy football draft. One thing’s for sure: nobody is walking out of that store without a high-five and a reminder of who runs the AFC West.