Article Archives: Words with Woods

My Own Words

February 27, 2025 | by CJ Woods III

My friend laughed at something I said, and asked, “Who else would your self-portrait be of?” My discussion with Mary Hanna Wilson, an artist, and a Trivial Pursuit player, was about sketching. During the conversation, I committed the kind of verbal error that often irritates me. I told her that … Read More

A Review Of A Life

February 20, 2025 | by CJ Woods III

My first bride died in late July of 2024, and I spent some time with my first daughter in New Jersey, helping her to sift through the things her mother had collected in her life. When I returned to Indianapolis, I decided to make it easier for my children by … Read More

Happy Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2025 | by CJ Woods III

My shallow dive into the origin of the celebration called “Valentine’s Day” produced no concrete and irrefutable origin for the February 14th event that many people in this country celebrate, though there were many theories. Still, we conscript Cupid into our service, asking him to “draw back (his) bow” and … Read More

February 2025 Black History Month

February 6, 2025 | by CJ Woods III

When I was young, the flame of my desire to be an artist guttered and died in Los Angeles California. My bride and I had travelled across the country from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to LA, but I was unable to get a satisfactory position with the companies that I had adored … Read More

Honorific

January 30, 2025 | by CJ Woods III

“Noun. A title, phrase, or grammatical form conveying respect, used especially when addressing a social superior.” The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition. Several years ago, my then-new neighbor met my youngest granddaughter. Karen was walking her dogs and Myah, as is her wont, wanted to “pet that dog.” I … Read More