Sean Dietrich Articles

Sean of the South | May 9, 2024

A mother's love OPINION — “I am a little old woman who lives in an assisted living facility…” her email began.Her following message was about the length of “War and Peace.” She is a woman who is as sweet as Karo syrup. But—and I mean this respectfully—brevity is not...

A walk in the dog park

OPINION — My truck cab was filled with three barking dogs and one idiot. The dogs were in the backseat. The idiot was behind the wheel.“Sit down!” the idiot kept saying.But my dogs do not sit when I drive. They never sit. They dutifully explore their space when the...

Columnists’ Day

BY SEAN DIETRICH I didn’t believe him. I thought he was pulling my leg or similar appendage. I was at the airport bar. He told me April 18 was National Columnists’ Day.“Surely you’re joking,” I said.“Nope,” he said. “And don’t call me Shirley.”The bartender pulled us...

About today

Hi. You don’t know me. I don’t know you. We’re strangers. But we’re the same, sort of. Only chances are, you drive a nicer car than I do. In fact I guarantee you drive a nicer car.I drive a 25-year-old truck. The tailgate is rusted, there is a prodigious layer of dog...

America

BY SEAN DIETRICH There are three or four neighborhood cats who sit on my porch each morning as I write. They are feral animals. They were here when...

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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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