The place where people go to get their haircut goes by many names: barber shop, beauty salon, hairdresser, beauty parlor, hair stylist, tonsorium. Whatever you call it, “getting your hair done” has succumbed to the forces of technology and modernization as almost all widely available personal services have. It’s not the same experience it once … Continue reading Newfangled barbershops
Month: June 2023
Happy Martyr’s Day
Representations of fatherhood abound in popular culture. From Goofball Dad to All-Powerful Patriarch, Nerdy Science Dad to Rugged Outdoorsman Dad and Cool Dad to Uptight Military Dad, the way fathers are depicted can easily devolve into cliche. Of all the father archetypes, I identify most closely with Martyr Dad. That’s my term for the long-suffering … Continue reading Happy Martyr’s Day
Summer jobs
In today’s New South Essays, an in-depth analysis of post-modern themes in contemporary Southern literature. But first, the jobs report… Monday, June 5, 2023, was a historic day for the Wallace household. All three offspring were gainfully employed. Now, back to literary blathering and self-important bloviating… Seriously, though, Monday was a big day. Barron, our … Continue reading Summer jobs
Canoe conversations
I am always seeking out ways to maneuver my offspring into meaningful conversations. I went into this parenting thing believing the lie that family dramas on TV sell (I’m looking at you Seventh Heaven) about deep conversations with your children happening once every 23 minutes only to discover that it’s really hard to find a … Continue reading Canoe conversations
New South Essays 