Last Sunday night, I found myself amid a sea of forty-somethings standing shoulder to shoulder, awaiting the magic that was sure to come. The lights Continue Reading
We Needed This
I’m now at the age when I sit on my front porch to watch the rain and say, “We sure needed this” to no one at all. But we did. This drought and Continue Reading
I Ain’t Going Anywhere
They say you can’t wait for inspiration; you just have to write. I’m not sure who “they” are, but I’ve surely said it a time or two. So, perhaps after Continue Reading
I Don’t Want to Die at a Desk
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to live a creative life. I know it’s cliché, but I have always felt I had more to offer the world than just Continue Reading
The Expectation and the Job
"When I enlisted, I tried to sign up for the infantry," said every POG (person other than a grunt) ever. It’s true, but with little means for college Continue Reading
The Last Class Before Everything Changed
It’s graduation season. I’ve been seeing many people share photos of their loved ones walking across high school and college stages to receive Continue Reading
What the House Was Hiding
For the last few weeks, there has been a crew of workers in and around my house. I took on a huge project renovating my basement animal room over the Continue Reading
No Road Map
In my mind, I’m still twenty-one years old, boarding a plane, and scared to go to a war I don’t believe in. The reflection on the black screen of my Continue Reading
Empty Tank
My tank is on empty. I’m emotionally exhausted and mentally fried. I’m trying not to be a bummer, but my options this week were honesty or just Continue Reading
Dry Spell
If you’re reading this in the Southeast, you know that we’ve been in a severe drought. My little area in North Carolina is between 8 and 12 inches Continue Reading
Behind Friendly Lines
A few weeks ago, at the height of burnout and a real period of darkness, I got a text from a friend that offered a glimmer of hope. He asked if I Continue Reading
The Recruiter Found Me in a Doghouse
No joke, there I was... slacking off at my pet store job, taking a little nap on the clock. We were slow, and I only made around six bucks an hour. Continue Reading