Playing Possum

As we recoil from the unrelenting drama of world news and weather, we turn now to the renewable resource of wisdom and entertainment provided by the creatures with whom we share this world. We don’t have to look far. Dogs teach us unconditional love. Cats show us how to stay limber. Snakes remind us not … More Playing Possum

The Pendulum Clutch

The decorations and the memories have been carefully wrapped and put away. The pants are just a bit tighter than they were two weeks ago. Elves did not magically finish the winter chores we set aside for the holidays, and there is still wood to be chopped and water to be carried. As a contrarian, … More The Pendulum Clutch

When “Good Enough” Isn’t Good Enough

There’s a particular kind of disappointment in watching a once‑reliable machine die in an undignified collapse of cascading destruction brought on by the failure of a single, fragile part. The irony is sharp when it happens at the peak of our season of conspicuous consumption. My old washing machine didn’t fail on Christmas Day because … More When “Good Enough” Isn’t Good Enough

The Little Things

I called my brother the other day while he and his wife were sharing a morning cup. The weather outside was frigid, but they were basking in the warm embrace of home and companionship, quietly chatting about this and that. A slice of toast, a comfortable chair, and nothing demanding they get up and get … More The Little Things

A Shadow Is Not A Stain

Last week, we wrote “A Shadow on the Badge,” remembering some of the misfortunes afflicting the Towns County Sheriff’s Office over the past half-century; misfortunes that seem disproportionate to the small size of our community. A few folks—among the unfortunate number who inform their opinions by reading headlines—thought the article was unsupportive of law enforcement. … More A Shadow Is Not A Stain