Sean Dietrich Articles

A New Year

By SEAN DIETRICH Goodbye old year. You were a decent year, I don’t care what they say about you. Yeah, a lot of crummy stuff happened in 2022. But a lot of good stuff happened in 2022. For starters, scientists finally pinpointed the origins of the universe....

This I Know

This story was told to me by a friend. A retired nurse.  The nurse was passing by room 202 in the pediatric oncology wing. It was late. The hospital was decorated for Chrimstmas. Tinsel on the walls. Construction-paper chain-link garland everywhere. Pictures...

Christmas

Hi. We don’t know each other. But Christmas is on the way, and I wanted to introduce myself. Then again, my name isn’t important. I’m nobody special. I just wanted you to know that I’m thinking about you. I’m even praying for you.  I know you’re going through a...

Pretty Lights

By SEAN DIETRICH Sunset. My driveway. “OK, everybody get in the truck!” I shouted, using my cheerful American dad voice. Although, technically, I’m not a dad. In fact, I don’t even have a traditional “family.” Not unless you count our dogs who weigh more than average...
RIBS

RIBS

By Sean Dietrich Ribs. That’s what I need right now. Big, fat, juicy, thick, obscenely greasy, dangerously smoky, cardiac-distressing, country-style...

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RIBS

TRAILS

By Sean Dietrich Late afternoon. I am in the deep woods. It is raining. I’m riding a tricycle along the Chief Ladiga Trail, pedaling toward Georgia...

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NURSES

NURSES

By Sean Dietrich I saw you in the Publix parking lot. Your car’s gas tank lid was open. I wanted to tell you. But you were busy. You were wearing...

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STORIES

STORIES

By Sean Dietrich Dear Malcolm, I received your handwritten letter in the mail yesterday. It was written so incredibly well. And I wanted to take a...

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OLD PLACES

OLD PLACES

 A little church. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. In fact, it’s been a long time since I’ve been anywhere. I haven’t ventured far...

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MOONLIGHT

MOONLIGHT

The middle of the night. The rural Alabama countryside was lit by the glow of the full moon. In most major U.S. cities, tens of thousands were...

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MUSIC MAN

MUSIC MAN

It is a spring evening in West Florida. Humid. The sun is low. I am watching three old men strum guitars and sing “We Shall Overcome” on their front...

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MUSIC MAN

U.S. Mail

BOW, N.H.— A sunny morning in New Hampshire. Summer is inching closer. A few rural mail carriers ride the backroads, making their rounds. A dog...

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