It was in the 1950s when I was introduced to the rituals of Christmas in the suburbs of Atlanta. The activities of that holiday were enshrined in long, unchallenged traditions. The first protocol of Christmas was witnessing the lighting of the Great Tree. Dad would load us up in his shiny black Ford Fairlane and drive us downtown to Rich’s department store on Forsyth Street. A … [Read more...] about Christmas in Buckhead
Therapy by Elvis, Graceland and the Jungle Room
This tale begins long ago and far away when I entered the darkest period of my life. I had been carrying a monkey on my back for a long time. I had been riding a tiger but was scared to get off. I had a wolf by the ears and was afraid to let go. No need to go into the gory details. Let’s just say politely I was out of balance. A time finally came when I dispatched the monkey, … [Read more...] about Therapy by Elvis, Graceland and the Jungle Room
Shopping in the Day
As a child, I always hated shopping for clothes. I still do. Back in the late 1950s and throughout the ’60s, I was an unwilling participant in many grueling expeditions as my mom would take me shopping for clothes. This typically occurred in August of every year with the sudden announcement of, “Time to buy clothes for the new school year.” I never understood why it was … [Read more...] about Shopping in the Day
The Nirvana that is the Potato Chip
Who doesn’t love salt? The history of the world is littered with armies formed and empires built in the pursuit of that sacred mineral. Even our language has been infiltrated with its presence. Who wouldn’t like to be described as “salt of the earth”? Who wouldn’t enjoy a lazy afternoon listening to tall tales from an “old salt”? Those salty snacks, especially in the form of … [Read more...] about The Nirvana that is the Potato Chip
Coca-Cola, as the Good Lord Intended It to Be
My introduction to soda pop, or “belly wash” as my grandfather Daddy Doc called it, began in my earliest years. Growing up in Georgia, we all knew there was one beverage, and one beverage only, that could soothe even the most fevered brow: Coca-Cola. Some folks called it Coke, some Co-Cola. Whatever you called it, it was considered medicine in our family to be used only for the … [Read more...] about Coca-Cola, as the Good Lord Intended It to Be
