About the author
With Feeling
This piece was originally published in July 2011. The concert had been delayed for two months, and anticipation was high. The last time the Avett Brothers had come to town was before the Rick Rubin-produced album, before the placement in Starbucks, before the performance at the Grammys. Last time, they’d been at the outer stage of a second-rate venue while a metal show droned away on the main stage. When...
My Neighbor, the Thief
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the core question being answered is “who is my neighbor?” The answer that everyone is your neighbor is revealed through the hardship that the unnamed protagonist goes through after being waylaid by thieves. While the Samaritan is revealed to be the most faithful neighbor in the scenarios that follow, very little is said about the thieves. They are more plot device than ch...
Concerning Texploitation
They’re coming. On heels. In boots. Driving pickups and Bentleys. Descending from their manicured lawns and their havens of new money opulence, they’re coming. The Texans are coming. Fortunately, they’re only coming as far as the small screen. In case you’re unaware, or have been occupied with partaking of more valuable forms of entertainment, Texans are taking a prominent place in a number of new televisi...
Music from Life
We are often told that our sense of smell is the means of perception most closely associated with memory. For instance, for me, “childhood” smells like the hot vinyl upholstery of a 1980 Caprice, Ivory soap, and slightly stale Cheerios. “Fall” evokes the smell of burning leaves, and “college” smells like a particularly over-sweetened latte. You (almost literally) get the picture. Lately, however, I’v...
The Unexpected Return
Around the third hour, I’d had enough. I lurched into a seated position, and fumbled through the covers to find my phone. I brought up my wife’s number, but hesitated before calling. She was at a graduation party for an old family friend. Best not to interrupt like that. Even with this. I texted her instead. “Come home. I think I need to go to the hospital.” When she got home, pale and distraught, I was...
Front Porch, Back Porch
We proved our thesis quite by accident. After a long day of hunting for our first house, we decided to drive by a couple of the homes we’d seen earlier in the day for another look. As we drove up to the red house, I slowed the car to a crawl as my wife and I discussed the pros and cons, and renovations both possible and necessary. That’s when we saw them. I daresay they saw us first. The owners of the...
In Defense of Easter Suits
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="360" caption="The US Senate holds a Seersucker Thursday in June, where the participants dress in traditionally Southern clothing. "][/caption] These are dark days, friends. The mercury screams past 80 degrees, cackling as it goes, and we are without respite. How long, oh Lord, must we leave our lightweight fabrics in the closet? I’ve been thinking a lot about the...
