Conventional wisdom is that folks with December birthdays have it the worst. Their special day gets lost in the run up to Christmas, and those with Dec. 25-31 birthdays are completely overshadowed. I think we have a contender for most under-appreciated birthday month people: that would be the January folks. After looking at our calendar for the … Continue reading Here’s to you, January birthday person
Tag: Southern Living
Orlando beckons
In less than an hour on Interstate 75 the week after Christmas and it becomes abundantly clear that the entire population of the Eastern and Midwestern United States along with a great portion of Canada is heading to Central Florida. The mass migration is led by the exodus of Atlantans, fleeing the onset of a … Continue reading Orlando beckons
An unexpected journey
When Barron and Harris piled into the back of the new Hyundai, eager to ride with Daddy after another great meal at Los Hermanos, they had no idea we weren’t following Carla home. We had already had a pretty good day. It was one of those rare days when Carla and Carlton still had preschool, … Continue reading An unexpected journey
Ruining Christmas
Children are prone to hyperbole. I understand this. Overstated pronouncements barely even move the needle on my parental reaction seismograph. But last weekend I encountered a new psychological phenomenon that both amused and confounded me. Let me paint the picture for you: Every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, our family goes to breakfast and … Continue reading Ruining Christmas
Wheels
As I write today's entry, a life hangs in the balance. Our 11-year-old Volvo V70 station wagon sits in the parking lot of a transmission repair shop awaiting its fate. Those of you who are regular readers of New South Essays will remember that number 19 on my 30 days of Thanksgiving list was "functioning … Continue reading Wheels
Boys and dogs
For the last several years, our boys – particularly our oldest – have been pleading for us to get a dog. My reply has always been, “We have a dog. Her name is Pasha.” This is only partially true. There is a dog named Pasha that lives next door to us. She is friendly and … Continue reading Boys and dogs
A month’s worth of thankfulness in one serving
November brings with it a number of seasonal peculiarities: falling leaves, premature Christmas decorations, cooler temperatures and now, in the New South, daily thanksgiving posts on Facebook. I’m not sure when the trend started, but taking the month of November to post “What I am thankful for today” status updates has caught on. Yes, there … Continue reading A month’s worth of thankfulness in one serving
Fiscal cliff
Lately my wife and I have been talking a lot about money. No, not the exciting “What would we do if we won the lottery?” kinds of conversations about money. More of the “If we refinance our mortgage what does our monthly budget look like?” kinds of conversations about money. During the seemingly never-ending presidential … Continue reading Fiscal cliff
Sick day
Raise your hand if you ever envied your sick child’s excused day of lying on the sofa watching cartoons and napping. OK, so I’m the only one? No? You say you have felt that way, too? You have been burning the candle at both ends until there’s no wick left and you still haven’t found … Continue reading Sick day
Matrimony in the great outdoors
I’m not really a fan of weddings. I guess I enjoyed my own wedding, but overall, they’re just not that appealing to me. They are too often a big production that has little to do with making a sacred vow before God, family and friends. The spectacle and expense are too much for me to … Continue reading Matrimony in the great outdoors
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