A Christmas letter, 2020
Christmas is upon us and with it comes the joy, laughter, happiness and warm wishes of the season. And, those "holiday letters" that typically fill us in on al…
Christmas is upon us and with it comes the joy, laughter, happiness and warm wishes of the season. And, those "holiday letters" that typically fill us in on al…
One of the wisest pieces of advice I've received in my life is that I should be very, very careful what I wish for. I'm pretty sure this applies not just to me…
The thing I've noticed the most about my yearly physicals isn't the sights or the smells or the paperwork or the waiting. It's the sound.
I was checking my news feeds the other day (I believe the phrase is "doom scrolling," for obvious reasons), when I came across an announcement of a march in At…
I'm probably not the biggest country music fan in the world. Frankly, I'm not even in the running. But if there is one thing about the genre I appreciate, it's…
These are significantly challenging times for a columnist like me.
So, let me get this straight. We have a worldwide pandemic, raging wildfires in the West, hurricanes and flooding along the Gulf Coast, civil unrest and an eco…
If we have firmly established one thing in our time together in this space, it's that I'm not the Hard News Guy.
In addition to all the fun family games we've learned while in Pandemic Lockdown, we've added a new backyard pastime: "Just Whose Yard Does This Belong In?" …
I am all about streamlining processes, eliminating waste and creating situations where I don't have to do something more than once. Mostly, it's because I'm so…
Those who know me will tell you I am somewhat oblivious to most things, even those that directly impact me. Potentially, that includes even those things direct…
So, we're officially God only knows how far into the pandemic, which means we have God only knows how long to go before we officially have all the drastic meas…
There was a concept that was foreign to me as a child and, frankly, even as a single adult that has grown on me to the degree that I'm not sure how I did witho…
I get car sick. It's always been a thing (definitely for my parents, but, hey, I'm the youngest of three, so they knew the job was dangerous when they took it)…
It is safe to say we are living in, as the old Chinese curse/wish puts it, "interesting times." Despite recent expansions of what we all might think possible i…
I'm having to spend a lot of time lately assembling things. And as most everyone knows, no good can possibly come of that.
When I think about things that live in the woods and are a real danger to attack and bite me and generally make my life miserable, I tend to think Big Picture …
The Lovely Mrs. Smith and I decided to brave the big old world outside our driveway and see what life was like since the Before Times.
It seems, as a nation, we have a problem, specifically a problem with change. Change is in the air. It is, however, not in the cash registers.
More random thoughts from the Wear Your Mask front. Because the struggle is real and continues.
More dispatches from the working from home front, many of which might actually even be related to working from home:
Not to beat a dead horse, but ...
Of masks and men. OK, at least of masks and me. And with apologies to John Steinbeck ...
Recollections of childhood in 1968 and its similarities to 2020.
Slightly uncomfortable, masks have a lot in common with seat belts.
Among the things I would have gotten done by this time most years (including my taxes, five haircuts and complete, pointless and largely inaccurate research on…
A few notes from the front lines of an American dutifully staying home.
Weeks of working from home and social distancing changes needs list
From hand-washing to social-distancing deliveries, life has changed in the midst of a pandemic.
In the battle against the covid-19 spread, a few thoughts about Halloween, video conferencing and Samuel L. Jackson's role.
A few things learned from people who are experienced at this working-from-home thing.
Why can't protecting ourselves involve a healthy rendition of Springsteen tunes?
Sometimes the real stories are every bit as good as the made-up ones.
Additions to the family, eventually, open new windows to the world.
Some folks are worked up over the subtitles in the best picture winner at the Oscars.
These badges come with no authority to enforce laws, but they do open (some) doors.
Athletes hold a special place in our memories because we all like to believe we could play the game.
Everything seems to be breaking at the Smith house.
A trend toward more casual clothing in the workplace may reflect less formality, but feels like a step in the right direction.
Going from "director" to "adviser" in children's lives challenging, but it's still a role one can sink his teeth into.
If we survived Y2K, why can't we expect to get by Y2K-plus 20?
Columnist Gary Smith considers the promise(?) of a better life as a result of "intentional" sleep.
Columnist Gary Smith says preparations for a new family member are leaving him a little unnerved.
Columnist Gary Smith reviews a perhaps disputable list of elements that shouldn't be a part of Christmas.
Columnist Gary Smith engages in self-examination to determine why he never became a rock star.
Columnist Gary Smith recalls the challenges of cooking a turkey on short notice.
Columnist Gary Smith examines one of the reasons giving up the twice-annual change of the clocks might be a good thing.
To be honest, I’m pretty ambivalent about Halloween.
Columnist Gary Smith ponders how Northwest Arkansas' fall colors serve as an antidote to life's challenges.
Columnist Gary Smith offers his thoughts on how young people sometimes stereotype older people when it comes to technological prowess (and turning their blinke…