Article Archives: Words with Woods

Passages

December 19, 2024 | by CJ Woods III

The country is marching, rumbling, and stumbling toward the end of the year, which will close out following some traditional celebrations. Some people will sit down to review the year and assess successes and lament failures. Not one of us can say that the year 2024 gave us everything that … Read More

12 Days of Irvington

December 12, 2024 | by CJ Woods III

This column first appeared Dec. 9, 2022. On the first day of Irvington, my neighbors sent to me: A Barred Owl in a fir tree. On the second day of Irvington my neighbors sent to me: 2 Doodle dogs and a Barred Owl in a fir tree. On the third … Read More

Change Comes

December 5, 2024 | by CJ Woods III

The singer/songwriter Benard Ighner (1945-2017) wrote a song called “Everything Must Change,” which was featured on Quincy Jones’ 1974 album, “Body Heat.” I remember hearing Ighner’s voice that year, when my first child was 2 years old, and I sang the song early and often to the two women of … Read More

A Time For Thanks

November 27, 2024 | by CJ Woods III

“How is it that we go right from Halloween to Christmas,” muttered the man on the bar stool next to me. He took a long draw on his draft beer and continued: “I don’t understand it.” I made no attempt to answer the question or to add to the discussion. … Read More

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