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...
Little Voice

Little Voice

Hi there. This is that Little Voice inside your head speaking. Yeah, I know. It’s been a while. But how are you? How’s life? How’s the fam? You...

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Mountains

Mountains

By SEAN DIETRICH The Alabama mountains look good today. The evening sun is cresting over the hillsides. I’m watching an Appalachian spring overtake...

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Mountains

The Country Gentleman

By SEAN DIETRICH Danny and the band arrived late to the nursing home. They were running behind schedule because of traffic. But they were here, and...

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Mountains

Bar Food

By SEAN DIETRICH I am at a bar. It’s loud. There is live music. And cheeseburgers. I missed dinner tonight because I was making a speech at a dinner...

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Mountains

The Good Old Days

By SEAN DIETRICH I have a confession to make. I am addicted to my cellphone. I’m not proud of it. I don’t like admitting it. But I’m coming clean,...

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Mountains

Dadeville

I can only pray. That’s all I know how to do. I am nobody. I am not particularly smart. I am not savvy when it comes to political discourse. I am...

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Mountains

The Phone Call

By SEAN DIETRICH The call came late afternoon. “May I speak to Sean?” said the child’s voice. Speaking, I said. “Is this a bad time, Mister Sean?”...

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Mountains

Opry Kid

By SEAN DIETRICH The phone rang. My wife and I were in the kitchen, cooking an elaborate gourmet dinner. I was chopping garlic. My wife was sauteing...

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Mountains

Play Ball

They were calling for rain. But no rain came. Yet.  The umpires stood on the field, clad in clerical black, staring at the sky, palms facing...

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