CJ Woods III’s Story Archive

Judge Not

November 21, 2024 | by CJ Woods III

“I think you’re a crackhead,” said the judge to one of the defendants, and not for the first time, I wondered why I cannot break my habit of watching “judge shows.” When my mother was alive, she had a passion for watching television shows that featured courtroom shenanigans with judges … Read More

A Swift Connection

November 14, 2024 | by CJ Woods III

My friend deposited me at the bar of our favorite cidery and left to attend her prior engagement at a bourbon tasting. Paula Nicewanger, co-owner of this publication, told me that she would pick me up after the tasting had ended. I walked into the cidery and the was told … Read More

Door Gunner

November 7, 2024 | by CJ Woods III

First Published May 31, 2013 “Door gunning. They’re losing helicopters and they need door gunners.” — Philip Roth, The Human Stain I am a pool player who has played in organized leagues for years. I know little about the players with whom I shoot because we seldom have conversations that … Read More

A Day In The Line

November 7, 2024 | by CJ Woods III

“I read the news today, oh boy…” In the October 28th, 2022, issue of the Weekly View, I wrote “A Day In The Life,” an acknowledgement of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s song, which was covered by one of my favorite jazz guitarists, Indianapolis native Wes Montgomery. I thought of … Read More

Vote

October 31, 2024 | by CJ Woods III

This column first appeared on April 29, 2016. My grandchildren were somewhere in the overhead tubes at the Great Wolf Water Park in the Poconos of Pennsylvania when I took advantage of an opportunity to have a beer. My first bride was shepherding our grandbeauties through a gushing, twisting thrill-ride, … Read More