My ant stopped by with friends. She’s a pest. Before you get all worked up over the spelling of ant, go back to memorizing your Chicago Manual of Style—I have no aunts in the area. It’s been a summer for ants on the Jagged Edge, and it was dry for a spell. I thought I…
Author: Tim Cotton
Late Summer
As the summer wanes, the camps nearby are empty from the giggles, music, and loud, late-night UNO games. Chainsaws are silent until cooler weather, but the bass along the shore chime in with a splash now and then. Chirping crickets overpower the buzz of mosquitoes, and the crows become more brazen in their hollering from…
The Soft Tap, But a Firm Grip
Tonight, as it often does, the softer hands of grief tapped me on the shoulder while I was driving into a sunset. I’d frequently go to see my Dad and Mom on nights precisely like this. After an ice cream, I’d swing in for a dooryard visit. A ten-minute hello to catch up, but nothing…
Tents, Tarps, Bees, Berries, and Birds
Lying in bed this morning, listening to the raindrops tickle the tarp that topped off the roof, my mind wandered to tents— canvas tents. The stripping and shingling took longer than the time allotted; it is understandable. Showers arrived, unmentioned by those tasked with keeping us abreast of weather events in our area. The meteorologist…
Travels with Charlie…and Lily; Steinbeck Would Approve
Little did these dusty travelers know, two W.A. Bean red snapper hot dogs saved them from sleeping in the middle of the well-haunted Black’s Woods, out on old Route 182. Bear with me; I can explain. I grilled hotdogs late in the afternoon, believing it best to clean out the fridge before leaving the camp…
Oh, How Good It Can Be
Follow me north or east, for that matter; I can take you somewhere where you’ll forget how bad it is because you’ll see how good it can be.
Drinking from the Neighbor’s Garden Hose
While true, drinking from a garden hose has become the most commonly recited Interweb fact from Boomers and Gen Xers alike. It’s a fact that pops up in my feed almost every week, and recently, it’s been making even more frequent appearances in Internet memes, videos, and other sundry posts. There’s a certain charm to…
Alternate Route
“I noticed three distinct but separate scenes on that road—each Americana diorama included people chatting outside, seated in lawn chairs.”
Chew the Gum
“You can attach a lot of meaning to a lone piece of gum loosely held in its tattered original packaging. You can save it for a while, sure, but it’s better to chew it.”
Sunrise or Sunset? The Choice is Yours
I think we all enjoy a sunset. I’ve sat on enough southern beaches with gaggles of other humans waiting for the sun to drop below the horizon. Not too long ago, on the west coast of Florida, we found a chair each evening for the event. But it’s the clapping that ruins it for me….