Yesterday we took the boys to the new Legoland Florida theme park. The boys had an amazing day, judging by their smiles, laughter and my over-exuberant uploading of photos to Facebook. Carla and I couldn’t help but reflect on our two previous visits to that property, each in a very different set of circumstances. Before … Continue reading Time passes one brick at a time
Tag: Southern Culture
No matter how far away we roam
I’ll be home for after Christmas. We’re at T-minus two days and counting until the big day. Soon, Carla’s parents will be arriving and we’ll being going to Christmas Eve services at church. The surprise and joy of Christmas morning will give way to the irritability and arguing of sleep-deprived children. Cognitively, I know that … Continue reading No matter how far away we roam
With every Christmas card I write
Even before my children start their annual greed lists, my wife begins a months-long odyssey of creating the perfect family image to send to loved ones at Christmas. What some people dismiss as an antiquated practice involving such archaic institutions as the U.S. Postal Service, sending Christmas cards is the apogee of the season for … Continue reading With every Christmas card I write
Build yourself a merry Lego Christmas
That children inherit certain physical and personality traits from their parents is indisputable. Carla and I are both planners and list makers, so it should be no surprise that our children follow suit. However, I am having trouble explaining the borderline mental disorder that has beset my children this year as they compulsively write and … Continue reading Build yourself a merry Lego Christmas
O Christmas tree
“How about this one?” I held the 6-and-a-half foot Frasier Fir at arm’s length, shaking it vigorously so the branches would fall into a more natural position. “Nope. Too skinny,” my wife said, frowning and shaking her head. “You keep rejecting these trees because they’re too skinny. I’m starting to get a complex,” I said … Continue reading O Christmas tree
In search of Black Friday
I hate shopping. I don’t even really like Internet shopping. There is absolutely nothing appealing about Black Friday to me. I don’t believe in its philosophical underpinnings. I don’t understand its attraction. I don’t acknowledge its existence. But like someone chasing a ghost or questing for grainy 8 millimeter footage of Big Foot, I set out … Continue reading In search of Black Friday
Thanksgiving grace
You’ve probably already planned every detail of your Thanksgiving meal – at least those of you who subscribe to Southern Living – but have you thought about the one act that gives next week’s holiday its name? At the risk of sounding preachy, Thanksgiving is supposed to be as advertised. But often, the last thought … Continue reading Thanksgiving grace
Bake me a cake as fast as you can
I pulled Harris’ overflowing train molded cake pan out of the oven precisely at 3:30 p.m. and put the bowl containing Barron’s yellow cake mix in at 350 degrees for 42 minutes. Then I left. As I drove to Alpharetta for yet another weekend work commitment, guilt pursued me like a Lilburn cop after someone … Continue reading Bake me a cake as fast as you can
A 10-minute conversation
When was the last time you had 10 minutes with nothing to do? Think about it. Let’s take it one step further: When was the last time you had 10 minutes with nothing to do and you did nothing? Umm-hmm. That's what I thought. I’ve been doing a lot of weekend travel for my day … Continue reading A 10-minute conversation
Holy costume, Batman, it’s Halloween!
Life is filled with difficult decisions. When you are the ages of my boys, one of the most agonizing choices is which costume to wear on Halloween. The conversation this year began in earnest about April. My boys have a bin of costumes from which they could select any number of identities: Power Ranger (Red), … Continue reading Holy costume, Batman, it’s Halloween!
New South Essays 