CJ Woods III’s Story Archive

Men With Hats

November 12, 2026 | by CJ Woods III

The head coach of the Indianapolis Colts was being interviewed on the Sunday morning program that I was watching, and — not for the first time — I noted his commitment to the “Men With Hats” club. Shane Steichen was wearing what is commonly called a “baseball cap,” one that … Read More

Nuclear

November 5, 2026 | by CJ Woods III

I read a recent article that reported that an Indiana state senator had introduced a bill to encourage utilities to develop sources of nuclear energy, and I thought, “Yee-ha: here come the locusts.” I flashed back to the early 80s, and my own “year of living nuclear.” I was a … Read More

Do Day

October 29, 2026 | by CJ Woods III

This was first published in 2013. On October 10th I turned the corner of one street onto another, ignoring the call of a woman on the other side. She said, “Excuse me,” and I kept walking. She called out again, “Excuse me, sir. You, across the street.” I rarely respond … Read More

Fashion Fails

October 22, 2026 | by CJ Woods III

As I dressed for my singing date with the Harmony Collected community choir, I hesitated, briefly, as I buckled a black belt on my tan pants. I have been a fan of a “black and tan” beer — the layering of a stout beer over a pale ale — but … Read More

The Halloween Time

October 15, 2026 | by CJ Woods III

In the town of Irvington, Indiana, October is a special time. As soon as the calendar changes from September 30th to October 1st, the houses and grounds of the town bloom with ghosts and goblins and graves: Oh, my! My neighbor across the street had work done on her sewer … Read More