Article Archives: Words with Woods

Get Off My Lawn

September 30, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

“When did you get to be a ‘Get off my lawn’ person?” My eldest child professed confusion about some things that I had told her, behaviors of mine that mystified her. She should not have been confused: Her father was a well-established “Keeper of the Community, Watcher of the World.” … Read More

A Word Fight

September 23, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

Some people can walk by a bees’ nest every day and pay no attention to it. Me, I have to take a stick and beat on it. – My friend, Fred. Some people commented on the photo of a memorial that I posted on a social media site. One of … Read More

The Nature of Hugs

September 16, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

Someone passed my seat at the new location of my favorite cidery; I met this person at the cidery’s previous location. When she shared “Wonderland” with people, I was one of them. When she displayed her art, I was a viewer. And when she laid her head in a loving … Read More

Fear Of Franny: A Football Story

September 9, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

This column originally appeared in May 2009. I know a sports enthusiast who loves Indianapolis Colts football. I mentioned to him once that I had gone to high school with two players who had achieved NFL stardom: Larry Brown, and Francis Peay. “Franny” as he was called, was a first … Read More

Dog Life

September 2, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

(To quote a boss of mine, “This is going to bring rain.”) A woman posted on a social media neighborhood site that she was unhappy with the people who mean-mugged her house as they passed her barking dogs. She asked them for an itinerary so that she could provide milk … Read More