New South Essayist
Paying attention to contemporary Southern culture-
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Tag Archives: Harris
Absolute power
Every January since 2008, I have been participating in the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby, a diabolical scheme in which a young boy and his dad are supposed to transform a 1.25-by-1.75-by- 7-inch block of wood into a 5-ounce vehicle capable … Continue reading
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Tagged Boy Scouts of America, brothers, check-in, children, contemporary South, Cub Scouts, family, Harris, how to build a pinewood derby car, Lance Elliott Wallace, Lance Wallace, New South, New South Essays, NewSouth, parenting, Pinewood Derby, pinewood derby anxiety, pinewood derby stress, rules, South, Southern, Southern Culture, Southern Living, Southerners, specifications, the South
2 Comments
The gift of a time machine
Programming note: For nearly two years, New South Essays has been published on Friday mornings. Because of my job change, I’m finding that Saturdays are working better. I hope you’ll stick with me as I move to Saturdays. To ensure … Continue reading
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Tagged 40th birthday of video games, atari, Atari Flashback 4, brothers, Carlton, children, Christmas, Combat, contemporary South, family, Harris, intelivision, Lake Wales, Lance Elliott Wallace, Lance Wallace, New South, New South Essays, NewSouth, parenting, South, Southern, Southern Culture, Southerners, the South, video games, Wreck it Ralph
8 Comments
An unexpected journey
When Barron and Harris piled into the back of the new Hyundai, eager to ride with Daddy after another great meal at Los Hermanos, they had no idea we weren’t following Carla home. We had already had a pretty good … Continue reading
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Tagged Batman, Batman Begins, brothers, Carlton, children, contemporary South, family, family traditions, Georgia Tech, Harris, Lance Elliott Wallace, Lance Wallace, Lilburn, Los Hermanos, New South, New South Essays, NewSouth, parenting, paw paw, relationships, South, Southern, Southern Living, Southerners, surprises, Texas, Thanksgiving, The Hobbit, the South, The Varsity, unexpected journey
6 Comments
A month’s worth of thankfulness in one serving
November brings with it a number of seasonal peculiarities: falling leaves, premature Christmas decorations, cooler temperatures and now, in the New South, daily thanksgiving posts on Facebook. I’m not sure when the trend started, but taking the month of November … Continue reading
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Tagged Boy Scouts of America, brothers, Carlton, children, Christmas, contemporary South, Cub Scouts, Facebook, family, gratitude, Harris, Lance Elliott Wallace, Lance Wallace, Lilburn, New South, NewSouth, parenting, relationships, South, Southern, Southern Culture, Southern Living, Southerners, thankful, Thanksgiving, the South, things I'm thankful for
7 Comments
Sick day
Raise your hand if you ever envied your sick child’s excused day of lying on the sofa watching cartoons and napping. OK, so I’m the only one? No? You say you have felt that way, too? You have been burning … Continue reading
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Tagged 24-hour stomach virus, bowling, Carlton, children, church, contemporary South, country music, Cub Scouts, deacon, down time, exhaustion, family, Harris, Lance Elliott Wallace, Lance Wallace, New South, New South Essays, NewSouth, parenting, preschool, relationships, relaxation, responsibilities, rest, sick day, South, Southern, Southern Culture, Southern Living, Southerners, stomach bug, stomach flu, stomach virus, stress, teaching, television, the South, vomiting
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County fare
Last Friday night we loaded up the minivan and headed to Lawrenceville for the Gwinnett County Fair. We hadn’t been in several years, and we were overdue for a family outing. This one fit the bill nicely. I prefer my … Continue reading
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Tagged brothers, Carlton, children, contemporary South, county fair, county fare, fair, fair food, fairs, family, fried oreos, fried Reese's Cups, fried Twinkies, funnel cake, Georgia, Harris, Lance Elliott Wallace, Lance Wallace, midway, New South, New South Essays, NewSouth, nutrition, parenting, Pinterest, South, Southern, Southern Culture, Southern Living, Southerners, the South
4 Comments
In search of the moment
As temperatures rose into the upper 80s, I packed the minivan for a three-night campout at Black Rock Mountain State Park just north of Clayton. With sweat running down my forehead and my patience waning, Carlton and Harris sat in … Continue reading
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Tagged Black Rock Mountain State Park, camping, Carlton, children, contemporary South, fishing, Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center, Harris, Lance Elliott Wallace, Lance Wallace, New South, New South Essays, NewSouth, parenting, relationships, South, Southern, Southern Culture, Southern Living, Southerners, the South, travel, vacation
3 Comments
Happy trails (mostly)
This week Harris and I embarked on a 4.8 mile journey that has come to represent more than just a hike through the Chattahoochee National Forest. This rite of passage for my boys began five years ago when Barron was … Continue reading
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Tagged Amicalola Falls, Amicalola Falls State Park, Appalachian Trail, Arthur Lee Wallace, brothers, Chattahoochee National Forest, composting toilet, contemporary South, Georgia, Harris, Hike Inn, hiking, Lance Elliott Wallace, Lance Wallace, Lee Wallace, Len Foote, Len Foote Hike Inn, middle children, New South, New South Essays, NewSouth, parenting, relationships, South, Southern, Southern Culture, Southern Living, Southerners, Spring Mountain, Stratego, the South, trail, travel, Uncle Lee, vacation
6 Comments
Connecting with the past
When we hit the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from Charleston into Mount Pleasant the boys stopped watching Harry Potter on our minivan’s built-in DVD player. From the span over the Cooper River we could see the U.S.S. Yorktown, parked at … Continue reading
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Tagged aircraft carrier, Arthur Ravenel Bridge, Carlton, Charleston, Cub Scouts, grandparents, Harris, history, Lance Elliott Wallace, Lance Wallace, Navy, New South, New South Essays, NewSouth, parenting, Patriots Point, Poppy, relationships, Sandersville, South, Southern, Southern Culture, Southern Living, Southerners, the South, travel, USS Yorktown
2 Comments
The Power of Pine
For the last five years, I’ve spent one Saturday in January at a unique sporting event that induces anxiety, quickens the pulse and triggers a few tears. Of course I’m talking about the annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. This anachronistic competition … Continue reading
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Tagged Batman, Batmobile, Boy Scouts of America, Carlton, contemporary South, Cub Scouts, guitar, Harris, hot rod, Jeff Gordon, Lance Elliott Wallace, Lance Wallace, New South, New South Essays, NewSouth, parenting, Pinewood Derby, school bus, South, Southern, Southern Culture, Southern Living, Southerners, Stone Mountain, The Ducks, the South
3 Comments
