Article Archives: Words with Woods

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

An Embarrassment of Winter

January 23, 2025 | by CJ Woods III

My neighbor pulled to a stop on the corner across from my residence, lowered the window on her car and called out to me, “Are you OK CJ?” She had just seen me execute a 6’ 1’’, 178-pound body drop onto the snow and ice. I reassured her that I … Read More

Thanks For Reading

January 16, 2025 | by CJ Woods III

My friend and I were sitting on stools at the counter of our favorite cidery, and we got into a conversation with the two people next to us. Paula Nicewanger (your paper’s Creative Director) and I have a standing date to spend Saturday afternoons at the cidery, but this was … Read More

Holiday Cookies

January 2, 2025 | by CJ Woods III

My doorbell rang on December 23, 2024, and as promised, my friend Mary Hannah Wilson “dropped off” something to me. The “something” was a gaily decorated tin with “Happy Holidays” on the lid. The Gingerbread Man joined with other cookies to surround a red cup with “Joy” written across the … Read More

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