Sean Dietrich Articles

More letters to Dear Sean

BY SEAN DIETRICH OPINION — DEAR SEAN: All I want this year is for this girl in my third period class to go on a date with me, but she’s way out of my league.Please help,Fifteen and pathetic in Birmingham Dear Pathetic:I’ll put this in the nicest way I can: If you’re...

All the purty horses

BY SEAN DIETRICH The day before New Year’s Eve. I was stuck in Birmingham rush hour. A ten-mile line of standstill traffic stretched before me. It looked like I wouldn’t be getting home until sometime around the next papal installation.The Dodge truck beside me towed...

The Giving Tree

BY SEAN DIETRICH Merry Christmas, Layla Grace. I got your name from the church Christmas tree. It’s kind of like Angel Tree, where you buy gifts for kids whose names are on the tree.Your card was hanging on the branch when I was walking through the lobby. I was...

Christmas Prayers

The side-of-the-highway café was decorated for Christmas. Plastic balsam trees on formica tables. Beside the napkin dispenser, a nutcracker soldier with a Sharpie graphic drawn on his unmentionables, lending new meaning to the unfortunate soldier’s station in...
America

America

“Sean, when are you going to say something about America and the pitiful state we’re in … ? A lot of people are speaking out … Have you heard the...

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Nicknames

Nicknames

I have a friend who was recently asked by his employer to use a different name in his workplace. My friend’s nickname is “Tater Log.” But mostly, we...

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America

AI

There is a lot of talk in the writing community about how artificial intelligence chatbots are going to replace authors someday. The fear is that AI...

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America

Angel Eyes

The man was ordering a beer from the bartender when I noticed him staring in my direction. “You’re that writer, ain’t you?” he said. That depends....

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Nicknames

Lake Martin

Lake Martin is flat. Mirror flat. It is a perfect evening. The sun is low. The crickets are singing in full stereo. And I’m visiting with old...

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America

Jump

I’ve never been to a trampoline park before because I prefer my groin muscles to be untorn.  Recently, we took my friend Becca — she is 11...

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Nicknames

Traveling

It’s a gray afternoon and we are traversing Alabama. Today, we make our run across the Yellowhammer state. My wife only ever pulls over to buy gas...

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Nicknames

Heat Wave

"This is the hottest I’ve ever seen Alabama,” said the TV meteorologist, who was sweating so badly his white shirt looked like a Ziplock bag. “I’ve...

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Lightning Bugs

Lightning Bugs

It’s a quiet night in Avondale. The sun is low in the western sky. The air is lit with lightning bugs. There are a few neighborhood kids, playing in...

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