Sean Dietrich Articles

Sean of the South

Champions OPINION —The Scripps National Spelling Bee was broadcast a few nights ago on the Ion network, drawing a staggering 14 viewers not including nursing-home residents unable to reach the remote.And I don’t know about you, but I was spellbound.The winner was a...

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...
Erin Has A Guardian Angel. A Real One.

Trees of Alabama

By SEAN DIETRICH Somewhere in Alabama. A small town with a cute main street, lots of muddy trucks and men who wear neon orange, even to church. The...

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Erin Has A Guardian Angel. A Real One.

Hug Me

By SEAN DIETRICH I wish I could give you a hug right now. I really do. I’d reach through this screen and squeeze you so firmly that your eardrums...

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Erin Has A Guardian Angel. A Real One.

The Fighter

By SEAN DIETRICH The email on my screen reads: “Dear Sean, my oldest grandchild, Bryson, is 11 years old and was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma,...

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Erin Has A Guardian Angel. A Real One.

Christmas Tunes

By SEAN DIETRICH The last thing I want to do is sound like an old fart. But some things cannot be helped. Yesterday I was fiddling with my truck...

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Erin Has A Guardian Angel. A Real One.

You Got This

By SEAN DIETRICH Let’s talk about confidence. Self-confidence. Not the corny brand of confidence found in many self-help books where you repeat a...

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Erin Has A Guardian Angel. A Real One.

The Holiday Spirit

By SEAN DIETRICH Hi. This is your late loved one speaking. I don’t have long, so listen up because I have a lot I want to tell you. First off, I get...

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Erin Has A Guardian Angel. A Real One.

The Holiday Spirit

By SEAN DIETRICH I pushed open the door to the rural restaurant and the little bell above the door jingled. I had been on the road since six that...

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Erin Has A Guardian Angel. A Real One.

Atlanta

By SEAN DIETRICH Dear kid, I wish you could’ve been there. You are reading this letter in the far-off future, long after I am dead and scattered....

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