I was crushed when Dolly Parton died last week. That’s hardly a unique sentiment, of course. It was a good cry, though. I know there are angels on Earth, because I know Dolly Parton was one. Dolly Parton was a higher-fidelity artist than just about anyone I can name. Lea and I saw her ten … Read more
America’s Bicentennial is the first major news event I can remember well. Doubtless this was facilitated by my entire world turning red, white, and blue, but it was also aided by my grandfather’s sustained attention. A World War II veteran, Papaw was one of the most patriotic people I’ve ever known, and the Bicentennial was … Read more
Is the title of this post familiar? Did you hear it in your head in a parent’s voice, or grandparent’s voice? Maybe an aunt’s or uncle’s? If you’re at least third-generation Southerner, it’s a sure bet it, or an essentially identical sentiment (“we don’t discuss these things,” maybe?), has been part of your life. It’s … Read more
It was easy to dislike Kyle Busch. He was brash, periodically rude, and occasionally even childish. He was a grudge-holder, and his terms for doing so weren’t always equitable. But more than that, if you competed against him, it was easy to dislike him because almost all the time, he was nearly impossible to beat. … Read more
We’ve had the same Amazon Echo for well over ten years, because I was part of the group to which it was available before widespread release. It’s always worked flawlessly, though a few years ago I had to secure the top control cover with a little super glue. But it won’t do the new, AI-driven … Read more
I listen to the music of my adolescence and young adulthood frequently. As that meant (and means) a whole lot of hair metal and new wave, I heard (and hear) a lot of lyrics about sex and love. Some of it, particularly the sexual content, is pretty cringey now. (Was then too, surely, but now … Read more
Shortly after Aaron got his first wristwatch—so, maybe age 7—he brought it to me asking about the scratches in the acrylic crystal. I said, more or less: “if your fingernail doesn’t stop in them when you drag it gently across them, then you can put a really small dab of toothpaste on the end of … Read more
Some years ago I started taking a solo trip between Christmas and New Year’s to catch up with friends I’d be unlikely to see again without a specific effort, and after I’d done it a few times I named it the Precious Hearts Tour. It’s such a warm experience to spend time in person, and … Read more
Founding Kiss lead guitarist Ace Frehley died last night. He was 74. This is much more personal to me than most celebrity deaths. Ace has been an important part of my life soundtrack for just short of 50 years. I got Destroyer for my fifth birthday, and it was all over. It was the greatest … Read more
My esteem for Cracker Barrel is modest. I liked it a bit more when there were fewer good breakfast anytime options. It’s fairly easy to paste Cracker Barrel now in this department. For decades, however, I have found Cracker Barrel valuable for the occasional road trip stop. It’s predictable, to the point that you walk … Read more