When my OCD collides with the ADHD that surrounds me, I sometimes resort to name calling. I’m not proud of it, but if I’m being completely honest – and New South Essays is nothing if not 100% truthful at all times without exaggeration – I will occasionally throw out a “you people” toward my Darling … Continue reading You people and visible transmittance
I don’t know about where you live, but here in the thriving suburban paradise of Lilburn, Georgia, (AKA “Thrillburn”) we’ve been losing our power with some regularity as of late. I have felt these recent outages acutely. They struck during the early morning hours when few people would care that the power is out because … Continue reading The power is out (again)
It’s official. As of today, the tenth day of October in the year of our Lord 2026, there are no longer any children living under my roof. Our youngest offspring is now 18 years of age. It feels momentous. Eighteen years ago this little bundle of joy came into our lives completing our family. Carlton … Continue reading We’re all adults here
I am old enough to remember when fall was different than it is now. And I’m not talking about 1982-1988 when I experienced Central Florida fall, which is indiscernible from summer. I’m not even talking about the last 23 years when our family has called the greater metropolitan Lilburn area home. I'm talking about my … Continue reading Welcome to new fall
There’s a fine line between making a joke and being the joke. I have long subscribed to a saying attributed to the 16th century preacher John Bradford, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” I try to keep this in mind and regulate my mockery of those to whom I may feel superior. … Continue reading I’m not as smart as I think I am
My ambivalence toward college football has reached new heights. I don’t even know how to calculate which week of the season it is, but in real time, they have been playing college football games since August 29, which was classified by ESPN as “Week 0.” (This nonsensical measurement of time is in the same category … Continue reading I can’t quit college football
When we first moved to Lilburn, Ga., way back in “aught three,” we developed a metric to identify when it would feel like home: My Darling Beloved and I knew Lilburn was home when we took our then two-year-old son, Barron, to Bruster’s for an ice cream and saw someone we knew. I can’t recall … Continue reading Seeing people you know
Last Friday night as I sat on my comfy sofa in my air conditioned house, I turned to my Darling Beloved and said, “Do you know where we would have been at this exact time four years ago?” “In a football stadium somewhere sweating to death?” “Something like that.” August is the worst climatological point … Continue reading Retired band parents
I am living a nightmare. You know the one in which you find yourself on stage or in front of a class or maybe even in a boardroom, performing, lecturing or presenting and you suddenly realize you are in your underwear, or, even worse, completely naked? (I believe the technical term is “naked as a … Continue reading In the spotlight
Carlton's senior portrait I’ll spare you the passage of time cliches and just leave it at, “I am astounded that my youngest son will begin his senior year of high school this week.” There are still many miles to go on this journey, but I cannot pretend this week doesn’t mark another significant milestone. It’s … Continue reading Back to school part one: Carlton’s senior year
