As temperatures down South dip into the 40s and 50s, tasteful seasonal decorating requires at least one nice gourd on the front porch. Some of you have been so eager for fall temperatures that you ran out and bought a pumpkin when they first arrived in stores or when the pumpkin patches first opened in … Continue reading Get thee to a pumpkin patch
Tag: children
Little gym, big gym
Last Saturday Carlton and our family and friends celebrated his fourth birthday at The Little Gym in Snellville. Though Carlton only took classes there for six weeks, he often asks to go back. The birthday party was the perfect excuse. The folks at The Little Gym were organized, well-staffed, professional but personal, and they made … Continue reading Little gym, big gym
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 fairs a little later in the fall -- call it a habit formed by 10 … Continue reading County fare
Boogie-woogie bugle boy
There are many challenges in life for which I believe I am unprepared: landing a disabled aircraft, selecting a paint color for a formal living room, lecturing on physics or attending a baby shower. The next big life hurdle staring me in the face is being a band parent. Last Saturday Barron took possession of a … Continue reading Boogie-woogie bugle boy
Commuter dude
I recently changed jobs, and in the process traded a consistent 30-minute commute for a nail-biting daily adventure into downtown Atlanta. Commuting is not a remarkable activity in and of itself. It is a necessary evil for those of us with kids, living the suburban "dream." And, unfortunately, it is one of those activities that characterizes life in … Continue reading Commuter dude
Nerd alert
Does dressing in the costume of your favorite super hero make you a nerd? Does carrying a plastic gun or laser sword make you a nerd? Does donning pointed ears and makeup to resemble an elf make you a nerd? Does getting up early on a holiday weekend to go downtown and watch a parade … Continue reading Nerd alert
Asocial behavior
Sheets of rain lashed the balcony of our condo, soaking our nearly dry swimsuits and towels. Day six of our week-long family vacation was being washed out, not by a stray afternoon Florida thunderstorm, but by a day-long, soaking tropical rain. With the exception of a couple of forays to local restaurants, we had thus … Continue reading Asocial behavior
Summer camp in the age of Facebook
Facebook has no higher calling than when it is used to demonstrate to anxious parents that their children are still alive while they are away at camp. I’ve recently been on both sides of this phenomenon. When our oldest when to Boy Scout Camp at Camp Rainey Mountain in Northeast Georgia a couple of weeks … Continue reading Summer camp in the age of Facebook
Playing catch up
I’ve spent the better part of the last week in Fort Worth, Texas, working long hours, enduring incredible heat and spending time with my youngest brother and his family. The 8-day odyssey to the place of my birth felt more like two trips in one. The first four days I was engaged in the annual … Continue reading Playing catch up
What I want to tell my dad
Of all the retail-induced holidays, Father’s Day requires the most time at the greeting card shelf. It takes me forever to find something that captures the essence of the relationship I have with my dad. I don’t know who writes cards these days, but some of us would like something more meaningful than fishing, golf, … Continue reading What I want to tell my dad
New South Essays 