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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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My Angel Bud

My Angel Bud

Dec 2, 2020

By Sean Dietrich Yesterday I received several emails after I mentioned my guardian angel, Bud, in a recent column. One of the emails read: “Are you...

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My Angel Bud

Cracker Barrel

Nov 25, 2020

By Sean Dietrich Cracker Barrel, 6:39 P.M. — we are sitting at a table for our pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving meal. I am with my wife, my elderly...

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My Angel Bud

Jigsaw

Nov 18, 2020

By Sean Dietrich Ibought a jigsaw puzzle at the grocery store today. The box features an ornate cathedral with red roses and blossoming foliage. The...

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‘Tis of Thee

‘Tis of Thee

Nov 11, 2020

By Sean Dietrich It hangs from my porch, slack on a breezeless day. It is stunning in the early sunlight. The colors are so vivid you can see them...

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My Angel Bud

Holy Cow

Nov 4, 2020

By Sean Dietrich This story is not mine. But I’m going to tell it anyway. And our story begins at night. Nighttime in the countryside can feel eerie...

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My Angel Bud

The Old Man on the Hill

Oct 28, 2020

By Sean Dietrich DEAR SEAN: My dad is in the process of dying. He has mild dementia and he’s bitter right now, and is lashing out at all of us...

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My Angel Bud

The smell of books

Oct 14, 2020

By Sean Dietrich I was not a good grade-school student. It was hard for me to follow a classroom lesson. I was always distracted and lost in my own...

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My Angel Bud

Good

Oct 7, 2020

By Sean Dietrich MURRAY, Utah.—John works at a Nissan dealership in the service department. A customer called and said they had a big problem. John...

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My Angel Bud

Goodbye, Summer

Sep 30, 2020

By Sean Dietrich Dear Summer, You were not a great season this year. In fact, you were the worst. I’m glad to see you go. I hope autumn is better....

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