CJ Woods III’s Story Archive

On Dogs And Such

May 9, 2019 | by CJ Woods III

Early in April, my eldest daughter sent me a text, with a picture attached. The picture was of my granddaughter Imani, snuggling with a puppy. The text read, “Your grands.” I have, on occasion, referred to my first crop of grandchildren as my “grandbeauties,” and my “grandpuppies.” My third grandbeauty … Read More

I Promise You

May 2, 2019 | by CJ Woods III

In an episode of one of the many cops and robbers TV shows I watch, one of the main characters told someone she was interviewing that she was going to find the person who had committed a crime. She said, with theatrical emphasis, “I promise you.” When I hear that … Read More

A Happy-Maker

April 25, 2019 | by CJ Woods III

My first bride dinged my cellphone at 6:47 a.m. with this message: “Your morning quiz! What is an embarrassment?” My first two grandchildren know that their maternal grandparents have differing talents and as a resource, can be separated into “math grandparent,” and “word grandparent.” They call me for help with … Read More

House Party

April 18, 2019 | by CJ Woods III

No: This will not be about the riotous 1990 film of the same name, starring two young hip-hop stars named Kid and Play. This was a “house party” of the kind where musicians play for a small group of invited guests in a sponsoring person or couple’s home. When my … Read More

The Poetry of April

April 11, 2019 | by CJ Woods III

On Friday, April 5th, my friend sent me a text: “My poem today is ‘The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner.’ ” She wrote that another friend wanted her to read the poem to him so that he could share it with a “group of older men” who were gathering … Read More