Article Archives: Words with Woods

The Listening Club

September 7, 2017 | by CJ Woods III

A recent broadcast of Nelson Price’s “Hoosier History Live” mentioned the “listening club” at the Irvington branch of the Indianapolis Public Library. I was curious about what such a club would be about, and when Ethel, Paula and I ran into Nelson during our First Friday travels, he suggested that … Read More

I’m Growing Old

August 31, 2017 | by CJ Woods III

“I’m growing dimmer in the eyes, I’m growing fainter in my talk…” “Don’t sit down like that! It makes you sound old.” My landlord was working in my apartment, and his comment puzzled me briefly. I then realized it was probably the result of some “woof,” or “wargh” I had … Read More

Wish I’d Said That

August 24, 2017 | by CJ Woods III

The line at the grocer’s customer service counter had four people in it, and I was the third. The man being served by the store’s representative had a small exchange with the woman behind him. She turned away from him, and toward me. I purposely chose a vague point in … Read More

Boom

August 17, 2017 | by CJ Woods III

My two-year-old son stood behind me at the top of the steps to the basement, waving his ever-present plastic toy sword as I descended into the basement of my home on Orange Street. I had told Chris to stay upstairs, since I was going to be brief at a task. … Read More

The Play’s The Thing

August 10, 2017 | by CJ Woods III

Last November, a friend invited me to get together with her so that we could catch up on each other’s lives. I worked with Karyn Ostendorf and her husband, Dave, at a large St. Louis department store, and we have remained friends. When we met last November, Karyn gave me … Read More