Confrontations with the truth can be so startling it takes time to process the impact. We adopted Archibald “Archie” Wallace last February 5 from the Society of Humane Friends in Lawrenceville. They had received this beautiful parti poodle from a group of dogs rescued from a hoarding situation in Coweta County. (I documented this joyous … Continue reading Who wears the (under) pants in the family
A whopping 14 years ago, I wrote one of the statistically most-read posts of my blogging career about Valentine’s Day. Apparently I struck a nerve with couples who were more… ahem… mature in their relationship. If you need the “TL;DR” summary, here goes: Don’t waste money on flowers, chocolates or stuffed animals. Give your special … Continue reading The evolution of our Valentine’s
Quick, how many age-related cliches can you quote? You’re only as old as you feel. Age is just a number. I’m having a senior moment. You’re not getting older, you're getting better. Or my personal favorite, the twist on this last one which was used by the “Keenagers” senior adult ministry at our church in … Continue reading Discovering a new way to measure age
When is the best time to book a beach trip? It’s a trick question. The answer is any time. As has been well documented in this space, our family takes a beach trip each summer. For 20 of the past 21 years we’ve been to Santa Rosa Beach on 30A along the Gulf Coast of … Continue reading Wanna get away?
There is something wrong with time. I don’t know what “science” would say, but my astute powers of observation lead me to conclude time is accelerating. Why, just yesterday I was sitting here at this very desk on this very MacBook writing the Official Wallace Family Christmas Letter 2024. Seriously. What is going on here? … Continue reading The Official Wallace Family Christmas Letter 2025
Apparently there are filters on my email and social media accounts preventing any content from getting through without the words “gift guide” appearing somewhere in the text, meta description or ALT tag. This is the season of giving, and to help me prepare, my algorithm and the host of online retailers with whom I’ve ever … Continue reading The official guide to gift guides
Unlike every other internet influencer that has been serving up Christmas content since August, New South Essays observes a rigorous adherence to a holiday schedule that allows each celebration to have its own, dedicated season. With Thanksgiving now in the rear view, we can officially turn our attention to Christmas. And in this season of … Continue reading The definitive must-watch Christmas movie list
In our modern age we rely on precision in our measurements. Even when we don’t need it, our devices give it to us. Google maps tell us how far away Grandma’s house is, down to the tenth of a mile. Our scale gives us our weight to the hundredth of a pound. Our workout app … Continue reading A heap of Thanksgiving measurement
This weekend we are celebrating my Darling Beloved’s birthday, a few days removed from the actual anniversary of her birth. It will include time with her mama, her children and their significant others, a celebratory dinner out, and the always fun Cirque du Soleil. And I’m here to say that she is worth all of … Continue reading What I needed to hear
When you’re one of 93,033 screaming, barking fans Between the Hedges on a fall Saturday, it doesn’t seem like a statistically unlikely occurrence. And when you are among 4,000-plus taking in a show in the Broadway series at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, you are not that special. When it happens somewhat spontaneously during a busy season … Continue reading Say ‘yes’ to the best
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