Sean Dietrich Articles

Sean of the South

What I did this summer OPINION — Lake Martin is busy, the rich scent of smoked meat fills the air, and my LDL cholesterol count is already rising.Pontoon boats are everywhere. Happy children ride in tubes, pulled behind fast outboards. The kids are screaming as they...

Sean of the South

A Memorial Day in the park OPINION — Sunset. There must be a million people gathered in Railroad Park tonight. Downtown Birmingham is crazy. There are no parking spots left. People are parking cars as far away as Milwaukee.The Alabama Symphony Orchestra is playing a...

Sean of the South

Dumplings OPINION — I’m 5 years old. On Mama’s stove is a steaming stock pot, filling the world with the essence of chicken and dumplings.I’m watching her use her fists to mercilessly beat a lump of flour that will become dumplings. She punches the dough, making loud...

Sean of the South | May 9, 2024

A mother's love OPINION — “I am a little old woman who lives in an assisted living facility…” her email began.Her following message was about the length of “War and Peace.” She is a woman who is as sweet as Karo syrup. But—and I mean this respectfully—brevity is not...
DOG

DOG

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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DOG

Thank You

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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DOG

Andy

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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Homecoming

Homecoming

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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DOG

House Guests

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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DOG

You Are Special

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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DOG

Teacher

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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Good

By SEAN DIETRICH He was tall, lean and young. When he approached me, he hugged me. Then, his mother hugged us both. A three-person club sandwich. He...

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DOG

Jackie

By SEAN DIETRICH The old man answered the phone. “Is this Herschel?” I asked him. I heard a loud TV playing in the background. A dog was barking....

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