During our 21st visit to the white sand beaches of Florida’s Emerald Coast along County Road 30A, I took particular interest in the daily ritual of setting up and taking down beach chairs and umbrellas. This is a young person’s task, and I am neither fit nor inclined to pursue this vocation. Once upon a … Continue reading Umbrellas and chairs
Frodo Baggins set out to destroy the One Ring, defeating Sauron and saving Middle Earth from the forces of darkness. Luke Skywalker learned the ways of the Force in order to overcome his fear, confront his father, and overthrow the Galactic Empire and its emperor. King Arthur led the Knights of the Round Table to … Continue reading The Lord of the Pond
When a species has a specific geographical location in its name, it’s just common sense that the species would call that place home. I’m not clear if “Tasmanian Devil” is a whole species or just the one on the Bugs Bunny cartoons, but I am clear that I have never seen one outside of Tasmania. … Continue reading Atlanta Geese
No one in the New South answers their phone any more. Well, almost no one. I have recently stumbled onto an interesting sociological discovery, and I want to test a hypothesis here and gauge your response. No one who lives in the big city answers their phone any more. Folks who live out in the … Continue reading It’s for you
I’ve been a functional human being doing just fine with my iPhone 11 for several years, but the confluence of two unfortunate events is undermining my daily operations. First, Apple released iOS 26.5. This required 18.5 GB to install. I, apparently, do not have 18.5 GB to spare on my iPhone 11. Second, my youngest … Continue reading Too many attachments
I am a man of principle. One of my core principles is that when I am in Texas, I must consume brisket and Tex-Mex. Oh, and if it works out, I will try to hang out with my moogerhead brothers. This week I managed to accomplish all three during a work trip that had me … Continue reading When in Texas
Today the future governor of Georgia turns 21. Harris Goodman Wallace was born on this date in 2005, and almost from that moment until the present, he’s been campaigning. We didn’t know it at the time, but Harris would become a middle child, heightening his need to lobby for precious resources among his brothers, like … Continue reading On the campaign trail with the birthday boy
There aren't enough hours in the day to consume all of the world's content, and it's a problem. It's especially acute if you are like me and believe that entertainment is not meant to be enjoyed but completed. "Honey, if we work hard, we can finish the latest season of 'Virgin River' by knocking out … Continue reading My podcast cup runneth over
When my Darling Beloved assembled an amazing itinerary for a four-night stay in New York City for our youngest's spring break, I expected a few of its features: Spending quality time away from work on a family adventure. Six Broadway shows in four days. Colder temperatures than I was used to in Atlanta this early … Continue reading A walk in the park
I am nothing if not completely predictable, especially in my fashion choices. This was confirmed when I excitedly tore open a package from Land's End recently to reveal a thrilling addition to my workwear. You see, when you wear dress shirts every day for work, you have to swap them out from time to time. … Continue reading Both colors of shirts
New South Essays 