School’s out for the summer. Now what? One thing is for sure: sitting around doing nothing is not an option. Summer is play time. It seems that in the New South, everyone has somewhere to go … all the time. Our schedules don't allow for plain ol’ downtime. You remember that, right? Get-up-at-11-stay-in-your-pajamas-watch-TV-barely-move-off-the-sofa-all-day-kind-of-lazy? Those days … Continue reading No more pencils, no more books
Childhood obesity. Video games. Television. Air quality. Bugs. Weather. There are lots of circumstances that conspire against children playing outdoors these days, so much so that getting kids outside is one of the biggest challenges of parenting in the New South. Long gone are the days when barefoot children hit the screen door after breakfast and … Continue reading Just a swingin’
In the South – old or new – we love our mothers. It’s the right thing to do, and even in those rare circumstances when it may be difficult, a child’s bond with his or her mother lasts a lifetime. As I age my relationship is changing with my mom. It is growing and deepening … Continue reading What I love about Mom
Yesterday marked the 15th anniversary of the day Carla Lynn Barron became my wife. Emily Post would tell me to celebrate the occasion with a gift of crystal and an arrangement of roses. Somehow, that just doesn’t seem to fit. Rather than blindly opting for tradition – a very “Old South” thing to do – … Continue reading Fifteen years and counting
How the magnolia became a Southern symbol, I’ll never know. Sure, it thrives in warm, humid climates and has lovely blossoms that emerge this time of year to give the air a sweet and intoxicating aroma. But, let’s face it, this tree is a mess. It takes a special homeowner who can handle it. I am not … Continue reading Magnolia malady
New South Essays readers know I’m a fan of Southern singer/songwriter Kate Campbell, so when her 13th album “1000 Pound Machine” was released April 3, it wasn’t a stretch to predict a review was coming. I was intrigued by several twists on this album. First, Campbell trades her customary acoustic guitar for a piano, the … Continue reading Piano music
What a difference a week makes. Last week I was in the Chattahoochee National Forest connecting with my middle son and enjoying the beauty of the Appalachian foothills. This week I visited Big Bend National Park in Texas, connecting with pastors and enjoying the beauty of the mountains and desert of southwest Texas. Call it a … Continue reading Fierce landscapes
This week Harris and I embarked on a 4.8 mile journey that has come to represent more than just a hike through the Chattahoochee National Forest. This rite of passage for my boys began five years ago when Barron was six. We made a similar journey from Amicalola Falls State Park to the Len Foote … Continue reading Happy trails (mostly)
Next Thursday the Atlanta Braves will begin another marathon baseball season with aims of winning a World Series. Oddsmakers give them a 22 to 1 chance to accomplish this feat. Whether or not they actually succeed really isn’t the point. I’ve been a Braves’ fan since 1982 when my Aunt Phyllis took me and my … Continue reading What makes the Braves Southern
I believe every homeowner should be able to patch a hole in drywall, install a ceiling fan and stop a running toilet. If self-reliance and resourcefulness aren’t Southern traits I don’t know what are. My two-week battle with a running toilet tested my convictions in ways that both surprised and infuriated me. It all started … Continue reading Toilet trouble
New South Essays 