Discovering a new Southern voice in comedy

With all of this talk of viruses, pandemics and vaccinations, I’ve recently gotten a hold of some of the best medicine, thanks to Nashville-based comedian Dusty Slay. I have reached the point in life when my entertainment choices can be guided by my children rather than the other way round. During the recent Christmas break, … Continue reading Discovering a new Southern voice in comedy →

Happy birthday, Mama!

Carla and I call her “Mama.” Our boys call her “Nanny.” No matter what name she goes by, my mother-in-law embodies much of what I envision when I think of the New South. She retains a bit of the old-fashioned, Southern ways even as she embraces change. She came of age in a close-knit, rural … Continue reading Happy birthday, Mama! →

Having Myself a Very COVID Christmas

Nothing has been the same in 2020. The holiday season is no exception. The 36 days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day that include Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa will be unlike any other in my lifetime. We’ve reached December. The music, weather, and lengthy to-do list are the same, but many facets of the holidays … Continue reading Having Myself a Very COVID Christmas →

The official New South Essays Thanksgiving Meal Planner

As a public service, New South Essays would like to inform you that Thanksgiving is just 19 days away. If you haven’t already started planning this year’s feast, now is the time to jumpstart your meal preparation. Of all the holidays and traditions we experience in a year, Thanksgiving is a meal-based celebration. It requires … Continue reading The official New South Essays Thanksgiving Meal Planner →

Social dilemmas

Tell me if this sounds familiar. Because of COVID-19, we are supposed to… Avoid gathering in crowds in indoor spaces.Avoid isolation because of the negative impact on our mental health.Wear a mask to protect others from the droplets in our breath that might spread the coronavirus to others.Wear a smile to help lift the spirits … Continue reading Social dilemmas →

New South TV

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, I recently spent 53.2 hours, give or take a few minutes, in the charming little town of Bluebell, Alabama. Never heard of it? Neither had I until a few weeks ago. Carla and I just finished a pandemic binge of “Hart of Dixie” on Netflix. We’re always late on pop culture … Continue reading New South TV →

I was told there would be answers

Milestone birthdays tend to end in zero. I had one Thursday, and like that first trip to the gym after too long a layoff, I’m feeling a little sore today. Twice a year like clockwork, I contemplate my life: New Year’s and my birthday. However, the extended period of being homebound during the COVID-19 pandemic … Continue reading I was told there would be answers →

Planting Generosity

Today’s New South Essay comes from good friend and former colleague Don Durham. I’ve invited Don to tell us about his life on the farm, feeding the hungry, launching a podcast, and challenging all of us to do our part to end hunger. In another life I had the privilege of working with Lance for … Continue reading Planting Generosity →

COVID Beach

We all need a vacation from COVID-19. But in case you haven’t figured it out yet, that’s not likely any time soon. Sorry to be a downer, but after a week at the beach, our annual family vacation was impacted by the global pandemic in many ways, some subtle and some obvious. If you have … Continue reading COVID Beach →

Containers and Surprises

Growing up, I opened enough tubs of butter only to find three-week-old green beans that I developed serious trust issues. I recently confronted these past traumas when Carla and I spent the day in her hometown of Sandersville cleaning out her mother’s refrigerators and freezers in preparation for selling her house. Most of my experience … Continue reading Containers and Surprises →