In the New South, we have so many choices on where to eat out, my Darling Beloved and I resort to the process of elimination, filtering by geography to narrow our voluminous choices. It goes something like this: Me: What do you want to go for dinner tonight? DB: I don’t care. You pick a … Continue reading Get thee to a ‘meat and three’
There are two kinds of personality tests: scientifically valid and silly. This is the latter. Among the myriad serious assessments of your “type” or “preferences” are Enneagram, DISC Profile, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Big Five Personality Test (aka OCEAN), and Clifton Strengths Finder. I’ve taken them all at various points in my illustrious career and … Continue reading Mexican restaurant personality quiz
If you are able to enjoy a brisk morning walk along North River Drive in Lilburn, Georgia, free of entangling spider webs, you’re welcome. Since the onset of spider web season, I have been the person clearing the way for you at least three mornings a week in the pre-dawn hours. I’m not saying I’m … Continue reading Web walking
Can there be such a thing as too many spring breaks? If this is a malady, I have it. If it is a blessing, I am looking for a way to appreciate it. This week is spring break for Gwinnett County schools, which typically falls the first full week of April. It is relevant to … Continue reading Too many spring breaks
This week the Lilburn Wallaces will gather around our dining room table for a feast of turkey, dressing and all the fixins. I have committed to enjoying this day fully because I don’t know if 2023 will be the last time we enjoy our Thanksgiving this way. Traditions have a way of ending unintentionally or … Continue reading When traditions end
This week our middle son, Harris, graduated from Parkview High School in Lilburn, Ga., with all the usual pomp, circumstance, cheers, tears, and, of course, speeches. Parkview’s graduation speakers included the valedictorian, salutatorian, and several members of the senior class who were selected from two-minute auditions. Harris’s speech, titled “Unlimited Potential” was chosen, and he … Continue reading Dear Class of 1988
The concept of “being the man of the house” feels archaic in today’s equality-driven society, but in our home, that role comes with one unescapable duty: protect the occupants from bugs and critters. That’s why I found myself doing battle in the middle of the night in my underwear with a little brown bat. We … Continue reading Bravery isn’t the absence of fear
Tonight thousands of Lilburnites will gather at Lilburn City Park for the Independence Day celebration known as “Sparkle in the Park.” Or, as I like to nonsensically call it, “Sparkle in the Parkle.” The Fleetwood Mac tribute band "Rumors" rocks Lilburn City Park on June 4, 2021. July Fourth is a time when our Atlanta … Continue reading Welcome to ‘Thrillburn’
I hate moving. Moving is one of my least favorite activities because when you’re married to Carla, moving means painting. I hate painting. When we first got married we lived in an apartment with vaulted ceilings. Because of her need for color and beauty, she insisted we paint the rooms, forfeiting our security deposit and … Continue reading Four walls and a roof
Jack is an old dog. To you and me he’s 16, but according to the Pedigree Dog Calculator, he’s the equivalent of an 80-year-old man. Jack has outlived his brother, Joe, by about 10 years. He’s outlived his best friend, my father-in-law, by three months now and counting. He’s an old dog, but he is … Continue reading New tricks
New South Essays 