The summer of 1986 was glorious, until it wasn’t. In the first two weeks after school ended, I met the younger sister of a woman in our church. She was my age and visiting for the summer from Chicago. When you grow up a preacher’s kid in a congregation with limited teenagers in a small … Continue reading A memorable/terrible birthday
Tag: the South
Childhood stories about ‘Little Lancer’
Stories not only describe a life; they can shape it as well. That’s true for the stories I’ve heard about my infancy and childhood as I have constructed my life’s narrative. These stories contain clues that explain my reluctance to change, fastidiousness, stubbornness, refusal to give in, and spreading joy with humor and good spirits. … Continue reading Childhood stories about ‘Little Lancer’
‘Stranger Things’ and nostalgic fads from my childhood
As my family indulges in season four of Netflix's hit series "Stranger Things," I'm once again overwhelmed with '80s nostalgia. It has led to many conversations with my boys about which fads of the era I embraced. No, I did not have Steve Harrington hair. Yes, I was a high school journalism nerd. No, I … Continue reading ‘Stranger Things’ and nostalgic fads from my childhood
Beach happy
I am blessed with myriad joys in my life -- being married to Carla, parenting three wonderful young men, participating in our family of faith at Parkway Baptist Church, and many more. When joy is given a location -- the now cliche "happy place" -- my mind always goes to our summer family vacations to … Continue reading Beach happy
College visits produce anxiety, nostalgia
The joke about campus tours is that they’re all the same. This short video from College Humor captures it nicely. After taking two such tours this week with my middle son, Harris, I’ve concluded that, yes, touring campuses starts to feel like deja vu after a while, but if you’re paying attention, there’s a lot … Continue reading College visits produce anxiety, nostalgia
River rescue
From my earliest days as a rookie features writer at The Macon Telegraph in 1992, I heard reporters talk about canoeing the Ocmulgee River and writing about it for the paper. I was young and foolish enough to attempt it. In the late summer of 1993 I began the ambitious project of paddling the entire … Continue reading River rescue
What’s in a name, part 1
Our middle son will turn 17 on May 2, and this is the perfect time to look at how our penchant for family names resulted in him being named "Harris Goodman Wallace." See what I mean about the hair? Our second born was the only one of the three we didn’t know the gender of … Continue reading What’s in a name, part 1
Just Like Mama Used to Say
I really miss colorful, old-timey idioms in everyday speech. Original turns-of-phrase catch my ear and bring joy to my heart. The better a person is at coming up with such quips on the spot, the more I admire them for their quick wit, intellect and personality. You know the kind of sayings I’m talking about: … Continue reading Just Like Mama Used to Say
Four walls and a roof
I hate moving. Moving is one of my least favorite activities because when you’re married to Carla, moving means painting. I hate painting. When we first got married we lived in an apartment with vaulted ceilings. Because of her need for color and beauty, she insisted we paint the rooms, forfeiting our security deposit and … Continue reading Four walls and a roof
Thoughts on Lanny
On Nov. 1, 2013, my father-in-law, Lanny Barron, was in an automobile accident on his way to his house in Sandersville from his family's farm outside of town. He died on Thanksgiving, Nov. 28. Today's essay is the eulogy I had the honor of delivering at Lanny's funeral. He and Cynthia would have been married … Continue reading Thoughts on Lanny
New South Essays 