Thankful

For my beautiful wife of 25 years. For my two kids, even though they’re both presently teenagers and at times bear more resemblance to the Martian visitors in Mars Attacks!  Both of them have the ability to be kind, understanding, courteous and thankful–just not on the same day. For my extended family. For my many […]

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  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 […]

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 […]

The Good Lady Upstairs

Bonnie, our faithful and fearless Jack Russell Terrier was growling, a deep threatening growl that meant business.  She was determined not to let this intruder near our bed.  The hair on the back of her neck spiked upward and her teeth were bared.  She was this close to leaping on and ripping into this intruder.  […]

Do you hear that?

  Those were foot-steps.  No question about it.  Even in the darkness I could see the fright on my wife’s face.  She threw the blanket over her and clutched me like never before, the flesh on my shoulders proving no match for her recently manicured nails.  Someone was walking on the third floor of my […]

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 […]

A Tour of Benton’s Smoky Mountain Ham

We spent this past weekend in Chattanooga, TN visiting a very good friend of Amy’s and on the way back we stopped at Benton’s Country Ham in Madisonville, TN.  Benton’s is perhaps the most famous, most sought after bacon and country ham producer in the United States.  Their pork is featured at the finest and […]

Shore Lines

Sands of Fortune swirl past my eyes As the bleached bones of the un-living Are once again cleansed by the tide Frothy water hushes our exchange While we walk in search of constancy on this ancient shore of change   Her many layers of faith, quietly challenged and bent The breeze stiffens, demands respect Vacationers, […]

Salad on the Grill

Ever grilled Romaine lettuce?  It’s quite delicious and gives me one more reason to light up the grill and cook outside.  Plus I had some white truffle oil that I was dying to try. Like Truffle Oil?  Try this one from Degredient.  Now I know all about Gordon Ramsay fussing about crappy truffle oils being […]

A Blogging Award for chefjohnmalik.com

  My good friend Shaunda Wenger has awarded chefjohnmalik.com with the Versatile Blogger award.  This is an informal trophy that bloggers pass back and forth to let their followers know who they follow, admire and appreciate.  Shaunda is a gifted writer and author of nine books and her first book (which we have) the Book […]