Article Archives: Words with Woods

The Quality of Mercy

January 3, 2019 | by CJ Woods III

The man leaned forward in his chair, intently watching a news report about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. “Those people are brutal,” he said, pointing at the TV screen. My response was immediate: “Yes. They go into synagogues with AR-15s and murder 11 people.” I was seated to the man’s … Read More

Oh, Holy Night

December 20, 2018 | by CJ Woods III

Two friends became lovers and started a journey together in July 1969, and in September 1970, after travelling thousands of miles from their homes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, nestled into another home in Los Angeles, California. There, they sought to bring the man’s dreams of being an artist to fruition. This … Read More

Songs for the Children

December 13, 2018 | by CJ Woods III

“Good morning, Crabby Appleton, how do you feel today? Will you laugh and squeal and smile at me, or will you growl and bark and bray?” — CJ Woods, III My lean and football-hardened 14-year-old grandson planted his 150-pound body onto his mother’s lap, an almost nightly ritual between the … Read More

The Hanover Hurricanes

December 6, 2018 | by CJ Woods III

“Imani’s practice is 6:30 to 8:00.” The Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving, my daughter called to reiterate what she had told me the night before about my granddaughter’s soccer practice. I was visiting in New Jersey and my grandbeauties’ parents were at work, comfortable with leaving the septuagenarian to shuttle the … Read More

Walking on Purpose

November 29, 2018 | by CJ Woods III

The white car cruised to a halt near me and the driver’s side window slid down. The man in the car asked me, “Do you want a ride?” I paused on my walk up the slight hill leading from my daughter’s apartment complex and declined her neighbor’s offer. “Thanks, but … Read More