Thank you, Spotify. As creepy as the encroachment of social media platforms' algorithms are, they do serve a purpose. About a month back, our family account on Spotify sent me an email notification that an artist I like would be performing in my area. To say I like the angelic-voiced-yet-somehow-still-underrated mainstay of ‘90s country music … Continue reading Darling of ‘90s country still has it
Tag: New South
Summer curse
There’s no good time to get sick, but there are times that are worse than others. While our nation bakes under an extended heat wave, our family dedicated the final few days of our beach vacation to catching and spreading among ourselves a summer cold. Conditioned by the pandemic, we took Covid tests when we … Continue reading Summer curse
Vacation performance
My social media feeds this summer have been filled with friends and acquaintances taking amazing trips to beautiful and sometimes exotic locations, inspiring both envy and anticipation of my own family beach trip. Rather than resent these posts, I find them interesting. Honestly, my first reaction is “good for them!” But this week when our … Continue reading Vacation performance
Newfangled barbershops
The place where people go to get their haircut goes by many names: barber shop, beauty salon, hairdresser, beauty parlor, hair stylist, tonsorium. Whatever you call it, “getting your hair done” has succumbed to the forces of technology and modernization as almost all widely available personal services have. It’s not the same experience it once … Continue reading Newfangled barbershops
Happy Martyr’s Day
Representations of fatherhood abound in popular culture. From Goofball Dad to All-Powerful Patriarch, Nerdy Science Dad to Rugged Outdoorsman Dad and Cool Dad to Uptight Military Dad, the way fathers are depicted can easily devolve into cliche. Of all the father archetypes, I identify most closely with Martyr Dad. That’s my term for the long-suffering … Continue reading Happy Martyr’s Day
Summer jobs
In today’s New South Essays, an in-depth analysis of post-modern themes in contemporary Southern literature. But first, the jobs report… Monday, June 5, 2023, was a historic day for the Wallace household. All three offspring were gainfully employed. Now, back to literary blathering and self-important bloviating… Seriously, though, Monday was a big day. Barron, our … Continue reading Summer jobs
Canoe conversations
I am always seeking out ways to maneuver my offspring into meaningful conversations. I went into this parenting thing believing the lie that family dramas on TV sell (I’m looking at you Seventh Heaven) about deep conversations with your children happening once every 23 minutes only to discover that it’s really hard to find a … Continue reading Canoe conversations
Dear Class of 1988
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
Advice for my great grandchildren
I’m still in the heat of battle of raising children. It is beyond my comprehension that I will one day have grandchildren, much less that they will have children. The thought of having great grandchildren gives me hope, and in that spirit I offer the following advice to them as a voice from beyond the … Continue reading Advice for my great grandchildren
One of the best dates ever
This week Carla and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary with a Friday night dinner at Perry St. Chophouse in downtown Lawrenceville. Highly recommend, by the way. The happy couple for anniversary No. 26 at the Perry St. Chophouse in downtown Lawrenceville. The night out reminded me of one of the best anniversary dates of … Continue reading One of the best dates ever
New South Essays 