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Sean Dietrich Articles

Sean of the South

Relax, you're going to be okay You’re going to be okay. That’s not an opinion. It’s not a guess. This isn’t some trite little catchphrase from some crappy motivational book that reads like it was written by a greasy televangelist.You’re going to be okay. It’s the...
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The 11-year-old in the house

BY SEAN DIETRICH There is a little girl in my house. She is 11. She is currently playing piano in my office. She is blind, so she plays by feel. She has no idea what she’s doing on the instrument. But she actually sounds pretty good.I do not have kids. I’m not a smart...
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From the files of ‘Dear Sean’

BY SEAN DIETRICH DEAR SEAN:I’m not sure what to do. My teenage son died in an accident three years ago. … A few months ago one of his good friends started hanging out at our house…We’ve become really close. He doesn’t have a very present mother. And I find myself...
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Sean of the South – The Checkout Lane

He was loading my grocery bags. I’ll call him Michael. He was early twenties, wearing an apron. He has Down syndrome.“How are you today?” he said.“Pretty good,” said I.“So am I!” he said. “I’m doing pretty good, too!”I smiled. “How about that.”The cashier was...
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Tough

Tough

Jul 6, 2022

SEAN DIETRICH Three of us sat beside Mama’s above-ground pool, out in the wilds of Black Creek. We were beneath a dollar-store umbrella, and a...

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The Ballad of Bubs McFee

The Ballad of Bubs McFee

Jun 29, 2022

By SEAN DIETRICH New York Harbor, 1885. Only 20 years after the Civil War. New York was the epicenter of the world. Bubs McFee had traveled all the...

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Tough

DOG

Jun 22, 2022

By SEAN DIETRICH I have here a letter from a friend which reads, “My beagle of 14 years has died. I don’t know what I should do. Tell me what I...

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Tough

Thank You

Jun 15, 2022

By SEAN DIETRICH I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you. That’s it. You don’t get thanked nearly enough for all you do. And I’m here to correct...

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Tough

Andy

Jun 8, 2022

By SEAN DIETRICH He was born the same year Ty Cobb retired. The same era The Bambino was selling Old Gold cigarettes in the back pages of “The...

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The Ballad of Bubs McFee

Homecoming

Jun 1, 2022

By SEAN DIETRICH Nineteen kids came romping up the golden staircase, taking two steps at a time, sprinting toward the mother-of-pearl gates. It’s a...

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Tough

House Guests

May 25, 2022

By SEAN DIETRICH My sister’s family is visiting from Florida this week. It’s difficult to get any serious writing work done becausspiwjg[qi31...

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Tough

You Are Special

May 18, 2022

By SEAN DIETRICH You are special. You are infinitely, unbelievably, absolutely, once-in-a-septillion-years special. That’s right, I’m talking to...

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Tough

Teacher

May 11, 2022

By SEAN DIETRICH A fast-food chain. I was standing in line, waiting for my Oreo milkshake. There was a group ahead of me, with ages ranging from...

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