Men being men
An Acorn Did That?
I finished my shower, toweled off then walked into the bedroom. My wife’s eyes momentarily twinkled until she saw the baseball sized bruise on the left side of my chest, just above the third rib. “What on earth happened to you?” “Oh that? An acorn did that.” She shook her head and frowned. “You’re … Continue reading
Bovinova!
Anyone can cook a whole hog, it’s not as daunting a task as it may seem. In the South, that kind of cooking happens every weekend. Whole hog BBQ is usually done in support of a big event such as a birthday party, church gathering or a fundraiser for a local charity. But if one … Continue reading
15
Father and son, both shirtless, we stood in front of the mirror, razors in hand. He carefully mimicked my actions as we applied a thin sheen of Gillette’s best before he hefted the razor suspiciously. “You don’t need to rush this,” I offered. “These blades may be incredibly thin but they’re unimaginably sharp. So … Continue reading
Kid Stuff
This essay originally appeared in the September 2002 issue of Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine The Beechcraft King Air 200 has shut down; the passengers disembarked and as the pilots are walking away I whisper into my 4-year-old son’s ear “Wave at the pilots”. It works like a charm. One of the pilots walks … Continue reading
The Trail less Taken
With sincere apologies to the memory of Robert Frost Two trails diverged in a Carolina wood And I with but a second to choose with two other cyclists bearing down quickly thinking I was their trail riding food I looked down one saw blackberries bent up to here Then took the other, thinking it … Continue reading
Thanks for making it interesting George
Larry and I were a third of the way up the north side of Paris mountain when a white-jersey clad rider flashed by us, descending at an incredible angle and speed. “Damn, I think that was Hincapie!” My cycling buddy Larry worked third shift and lived around the corner so four or five times … Continue reading
The Class of the Field
“Here’s your lunch and if you’ll excuse me” I announced as I handed the paper plates to Juan and Jimmy. I was serving lunch to two professional racing drivers that I respected and admired yet at that moment I was certain no one wanted me near them. The producer was having none of it. She … Continue reading
Five Seconds
January 16th. My birthday. I had turned 33 years old eight hours earlier and I’m going to celebrate by winning a NORBA sanctioned mountain bike race at Manchester State Forest near Sumter, SC. Amy and I left the warm confines of our home at six am so she could watch me bang wheels with a … Continue reading
