I began identifying as a “journalist” as early as age 17, long before I actually started keeping a journal. As the high school columnist and summer intern for that bastion of Central Florida journalism, the now defunct Lake Wales Daily Highlander, I was the cubbiest of cub reporters, filling notepads with scribbled quotes from interviews, … Continue reading The ‘journal’ part of being a ‘journalist’
Month: August 2025
80th birthday wishes
On Monday, August 18, Sharon Elrod Wallace turns 80. I’ve written tributes and reminiscences before, so to commemorate this milestone, I’d like to share my special birthday wishes. (By posting it to New South Essays I know you’ll see it because you are usually the first person to read my weekly posts each Saturday.) Mom, … Continue reading 80th birthday wishes
A Dusty Slay birthday
If laughter is the best medicine, I may have a drug problem. In fact, it’s the only medicine I’ll take on the regular. As I age, I find humor to be the most reliable way to lift my mood and generally feel better. At least 226 of you who posted on my Facebook timeline already … Continue reading A Dusty Slay birthday
Summer’s over
You can’t tell it by the forecast, but summer is over. Kindergarten through 12th grade students in my county return to the classroom August 4. Today, I move our middle son, Harris, into a new apartment on campus for his junior year at Mercer University. Like it or not, it’s back to school season, and … Continue reading Summer’s over



