Clinton, South Carolina, Saturday, July 6, 2019, 1:49 p.m. I’ve restrung two guitars this week during the time I could spare from work. I also worked on my next novel on consecutive days for the first time in at least six months. Independence Day gave me some time for independence. I had a few local …
Author: wastedpilgrim
I'm a writer.
Blogs. Novels. Journalism. Songs.
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A Celebration of The Celebrant
Clinton, South Carolina, Monday, July 4, 2019, 8:29 p.m. So many words are insufficient. I’ve never liked to say that I “covered” something, such as, oh, stock car racing for 20 years. Sometimes I say it or tweet it, but I try not to write it. I’ve never liked the notion that I “pull” for …
Suddenly a Song
Clinton, South Carolina, Tuesday, July 2, 2019, 11:20 a.m. For about a month now, I’ve thought that next year, when I vote for the first time, it will also be the first time I walk into a poll unsure of my choice. The more I think about, this is natural. It’s likely that if I …
I’m on a Slippery Slope My Ownself
Clinton, South Carolina, Wednesday, June 26, 2019, 11:50 a.m. My greatest flaw is absentmindedness. Fortunately, I am also meticulous. How do these competing atributes exist in the same body? This has thus far been a frantic week, and there’s no good reason for it. It’s “the summertime when the weather is hot, you can stretch …
Taking It All with a Pound of Salt
Clinton, South Carolina, Thursday, June 20, 2019, 10:47 a.m. Advertising has never been particularly important to me. I’ve spent most of my life working for newspapers, but I have my own small role in their decline. I’ve never paid any attention to the ads. Apparently, I was not alone. In a very small way, I …
Just Trying to Accentuate the Positive
Clinton, South Carolina, Friday, June 14, 2019, 12:22 p.m. What is better now than it used to be? Special K. Remember when kids jockeyed for position to get the best cereal ahead of their siblings from the Kellogg’s Snack Pack? Special K wasn’t special at all. It usually got thrown away. It was supposed to …
Twilight Gets Comfortable
Clinton, South Carolina, Friday, June 7, 2019, 11:49 a.m. Uh, the Red Sox have won four in a row. The Warriors are down. So are the Bruins. Yesterday I asked the governor a few questions. I wrote about a high school graduation. I watched Clemson’s Tiger mascot entertain and pose with elementary-school children. I went …
Up the Down Staircase
Clinton, South Carolina, Tuesday, June 4, 2019, 11:07 a.m. I am, under normal circumstances, annoyingly punctual, a legacy of my grandmother and my football coach. Most of my acquaintances are fashionably late. Many are the times I get antsy, complete my work in a hurry and go somewhere 45 minutes early. It makes me frantic …
They’re Only Words, and Words Are All I Have …
Clinton, South Carolina, Saturday, June 1, 11:39 a.m. A half hour ago, I was trying to catch up on email, text messages, posts, tweets – the bare necessities of life – and I heard NASCAR driver Christopher Bell say his car was “migrating” in the turns. I’m guessing he meant it was “wandering up the …
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Just Lookin’ for Some Pic-a-nic Baskets, I Reckon
Clinton, South Carolina, Tuesday, May 21, 2019, 12:55 p.m. A black bear visited this weekend, which was quite the rage. I’ve lived here most of my life, and I’ve never seen a bear anywhere other than in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It seems that motorists saw the rummaging rascal on Saturday out near our interstate …
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Nightrider's Lament 