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
On April 3, 2025, I enticed Carla and our friend Heather to join me in violating the no. 1 rule of our influencer-driven, celebrity-obsessed culture: Never meet your heroes. Landon Bryant and his lovely wife, Kate, are the rare exception. We were among the first to arrive at Eagle Eye Books in Decatur that night … Continue reading Landon talks… to me
Widely known as the “Mark Twain of Lilburn,” I have an appreciation of stand-up comedy as an art form and humor more generally as a quality that enhances life. I am aware of my readership, so from time to time I enjoy performing a public service and letting you in on a comedian whose work … Continue reading Aaron Weber serves up quality comedy with ‘Signature Dish’
A look back at the year that was in 2024 for New South Essays.
It's Star Wars Day, and I cannot let this occasion go uncommented upon. "The Phantom Menace" is back in theaters on the 25th anniversary of its release, and I am frankly shocked that there is now a whole generation that looks back at the prequel trilogy with nostalgia. My children are among them. As I … Continue reading May the 4th be with y’all
My day job has been a relentless torrent of small talk the last few weeks. And it’s glorious. For an extrovert like me, good small talk is a renewable and infinite energy source. I readily admit I have the gift of gab, and I feed off of the social interchange. What I find so appealing … Continue reading Small talk
This week marked the end of an era. For more than 30 years I have been shaving with a Gillette Sensor razor. The same Gillette Sensor razor. That all came to a sudden and tragic end the evening of April 7. While removing my toothbrush from the cabinet, my finger caught on the underside of … Continue reading On loss and stubble
They say what happens in Nashvegas stays in Nashvegas. Well, I’m not sure that’s exactly how it goes, but either way, I’m about to spill most of the beans about a recent trip Carla and I took to the home of country music and rival to Atlanta for the title of capital of the South. … Continue reading 68 hours in Nashville
It’s only a slight exaggeration when I describe lunch as my favorite seven minutes of the day. After more than 30 years of work, I’m still learning to pad my calendar with time between meetings, and I often find myself squeezing in lunch while responding to emails, drafting content or catching up on breaking news. … Continue reading Method to my leftover madness
I recognize that we have just emerged from a festive season, but in my world, the holidays were just the warm up for some truly historic occasions. Last week we celebrated my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday, and my dad’s 80th is just around the corner. All of the forethought and planning that have gone into acknowledging … Continue reading Ain’t no party like an 80th birthday party
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