CJ Woods III’s Story Archive

Bad Ideas

March 9, 2023 | by CJ Woods III

“Can I play with the bad idea?” My youngest granddaughter had just arrived at my house for a visit and was giving me her best and bluest sad eyes as she requested to play with one of her toys. The toy in question had been purchased by another of her … Read More

The Nature of Hugs

March 2, 2023 | by CJ Woods III

This column first appeared in September 2021. Someone passed my seat at the new location of my favorite cidery; I met this person at the cidery’s previous location. When she shared “Wonderland” with people, I was one of them. When she displayed her art, I was a viewer. And when … Read More

Typos

February 23, 2023 | by CJ Woods III

My friend’s follow-up text was her amused take on what she had previously sent to me. She corrected that text and finished the message with a string of laughing emojis. The message was timely, for I was on my grind, building a column about typos. I’ve been thinking about those … Read More

One Hundred and Fifty Years

February 16, 2023 | by CJ Woods III

The musical backdrop to my reading was a rollicking rag called “Brown Baby,” executed by Eddie Edinborough & His New Orleans Wild Cats. Having recently seen a farewell performance by one of my favorite guitarists, Charlie Ballantine, I wanted to surround myself with the music of my favorite instrument. “50 … Read More

I Love You

February 9, 2023 | by CJ Woods III

My youngest granddaughter and I were preparing to leave my neighbor’s house after dropping off a “Thank You” card. Myah had signed the card for Barbara, who had given her a book. As we prepared to leave, Myah turned to Barbara — she calls her “Mimi — and said, “I … Read More