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...
An American in Rome

An American in Rome

BY SEAN DIETRICH Rome, Italy. The sun is rising over the City of Seven Hills. I am sitting at a cafe, not far from our hotel, editing a column on a...

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Beulah Land

Beulah Land

BY SEAN DIETRICH The man had a dream. In this dream, he died. It happened so quickly he almost didn’t know life was over. One minute he was alive;...

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All Dogs Go to Heaven

All Dogs Go to Heaven

BY SEAN DIETRICH It was dark. The young dishwasher was on break. He was sitting behind the restaurant, out by the dumpster, tapping a carton of...

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Beulah Land

A Long Way to Mobile

This is not my story. But it was told to me by an old man who lived it.The year is 1987. Rural Alabama. Our main character is a young kid. He’s at a...

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THE KID

BY SEAN DIETRICH This is not my story. It was told to me. In fact, I’m hearing it for the first time, just like you are.The year was 1982. The old...

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ROAD TRIP

BY SEAN DIETRICH Traffic is heavy. There is a blind dog in the passenger seat of my vehicle, emitting strange and exotic smells.The dog’s name is...

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The Interview

BY SEAN DIETRICH I am mid-20s. I am a cub journalist for a tiny local newspaper with a circulation of about six. My biggest dream is to write for...

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FLY

BY SEAN DIETRICH I am writing from a plane that is stuck on a runway. It’s raining. Hard. I have a screaming baby behind me. Angry passengers...

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FLY

BY SEAN DIETRICH I am writing from a plane that is stuck on a runway. It’s raining. Hard. I have a screaming baby behind me. Angry passengers...

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