Article Archives: Words with Woods

Booked Solid

August 7, 2025 | by CJ Woods III

This column first appeared in August 2014. “Uncle CJ, you have more books than me,” said my 24-year-old niece, looking in wonder at my book-jammed apartment. I chuckled, thinking, “I’ve had a bit of a head start.” I don’t know how many books I have. When I try to count … Read More

The Joy Of Film

July 31, 2025 | by CJ Woods III

My good friend Steve Nicewanger sent word to me with his bride, wanting to know my three favorite movies. I promptly named two: “The Hustler,” starring Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason, and “High Noon,” with Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. I struggled to name the third movie, but finally came … Read More

Implied Profanities

July 24, 2025 | by CJ Woods III

A professor of English at Indiana University Southeast once commented to his class that the use of profanity showed a lack of skill and acquaintance with the English language. I’m sure that I was not the only student who quietly snickered at that, though I was the oldest in that … Read More

Goodbye, and Good Luck

July 17, 2025 | by CJ Woods III

When I moved to Irvington in May 2013, I had been at least two years away from the primary care physician that had attended to me when I lived in St Louis Missouri. I cannot remember the sequence of events that prompted me to find a PCP in Indianapolis, but … Read More

The Box Man

July 10, 2025 | by CJ Woods III

In my house there are few rooms, and many boxes. (Sorry, John.) At some point in my life, I became enamored of boxes, so much so that I have added them to the list of things that my children will wonder about after I’m gone: “Why did Dad have this … Read More