Straight Outta The MS Delta- The John C. Cox Newsletter- Vol. 2, Issue 18- Vacation Thoughts
“Some days in late August at home are like this, the air thin and eager like this, with something in it sad and nostalgic and familiar...”— William Faulkner
I thought a lot about my parents when my family was in Florida on vacation a couple weeks ago. Growing up, my family stopped going on vacations when I was around 12 years old. Life got in the way after that, but we had some memorable trips when we did go. Not necessarily because of the scenery, but memorable because of the times we had on the trips. It’s the little stuff I remember the most.
When we were driving in bumper to bumper traffic on the way to our condo a couple weeks ago, I immediately thought of our family trip to St. Louis to see the Cardinals one summer. The postgame traffic out of St. Louis to our hotel in St. Charles stretched as far as the eye could see, and Dad finally lost his cool.
“Why don’t all these damn people go home?!?” Dad yelled as he pounded the steering wheel in frustration. I had similar thoughts as we navigated the Emerald Coast Highway with thousands of our closest friends two weeks ago.
Vacations are about relaxation and family, and like I said earlier, the trip is not as important as the memories made. I know that sounds corny, but it’s true. I’m not 8 years old anymore, so I wouldn’t voluntarily go back to Harrison, Arkansas (the former home of Dogpatch, USA) to save my life right now, but I would go on that same trip with my parents tomorrow if I could, just like I did when I was 8. Just so I could talk to them again. Just so I could hear them talk to each other again. That’s the stuff I miss most of all.
On this day in 1927, my father was born. Because of him, I have life and I owe my smirk to his gene pool. Because of his influence, I enjoy hot tamales, ribeyes and good scotch. I love quiet time in the evening with a good book just as he did. Most Saturdays in the fall, my mood is dependent on the performance of the Ole Miss Rebels— a curse inherited directly from my father. If I miss a shot on the tennis court, then I hear Dad’s voice in my head just as if we were hitting at the park on an early Sunday morning when I was eight years old. My bedroom closet is filled with nice suits and neckties, and I have a law degree on the wall largely because he was the only thing I ever aspired to be in this world. Dad spent the better part of 16 years teaching me about the practice of law, just like he spent the better part of almost 42 years teaching me about life.
I wonder most days whether I'm a good father, husband, or lawyer, but I do know if I am worth a damn at any of those three things, then it's because I learned, in large part, from him. I wish I could eat cake with him tonight and have him say more in one sentence than I would have said all day.
We miss you, Dad. Happy birthday, and thanks for the good times. Tell Mom I said hello.
Only Pete Rose Could Make a Phillies Game Fun- Take A Listen
Dog Lawyer??
I’ve read some wild stuff over the years, but I read a profile in the New York Times this week about an attorney who specializes in dog cases. Yes, I mean cases which involve four-legged canines. Who knew there was a market for such a thing? The entire article is very interesting, and you really understand how much some people really love their mutts. Check it out right here.
Is This Even Taught Anymore?
If You Like Good Writing
Boston Celtics Legend Bill Russell Deserves Our Reverence, Understanding and Respect by Howard Bryant, ESPN, August 1, 2022. If there’s anyone in the country who can adequately explain Bill Russell and his place in our country’s history, then it’s Howard Bryant. His voice is crystal-clear and as always, his analysis is spot-on.
Flying Over Water by Scott Hines, The Action Cookbook Newsletter, July 27, 2022. This little essay got me all in my feels when I read it a couple weeks ago. As parents, we have to let our children fly on their own but Jesus, it’s scary stuff. His normally cautious child deciding to jump off the diving boards at the community pool is a great metaphor for life. Take a read, and bring a tissue.
The Bookseller Who Helped Transform Oxford, Mississippi by Casey Cep, New Yorker, July 20, 2022. Square Books is more than a bookstore; for many of us, it’s like a home away from home. It’s not just a regional thing either. Richard Howorth created an American institution when he opened the doors of his store years ago. Definitely worth the long read.
The New J. Crew by Sam Schube, GQ, July 25, 2022. I know as much about fashion merchandising as I do molecular physics, which is to say zero. But I found this article so interesting. When I was in late high school/college, J. Crew was a preppy staple. I would still kill to have my anorak back. But the brand got lost somewhere along the way. Here’s a profile of the man charged with leading J. Crew back to the front of the line.
Amanda Shires Isn’t Letting Nashville, or Her Marriage, Off the Hook by Lindsey Soladz, New York Times, July 21, 2022. Amanda Shires’s new music is as intense as she is, and worth the listen. She’s married to Jason Isbell, and between the two of them, there aren’t many secrets in their lives once they finish writing songs. Amanda is Fierce with a capital F, and doesn’t pull punches. Ever.
Remembering Vin Scully, the longtime Los Angeles Dodgers announcer and beloved voice of baseball by Eric Neel, ESPN, August 3, 2022. We lost the true voice of baseball a week or two ago, and I’m still a little upset about it. Eric Neel writes beautifully about Vin Scully and the mark he made on baseball, the world, and the writer personally. Godspeed, Vin.
Wow. Just wow.
Classic Writing
The Allman Brothers Story: How Gregg Allman Keeps Band Going After Duane’s Death by Cameron Crowe, Rolling Stone, December 6, 1973. Yeah, I’ve been a Capricorn Records kick lately listening to a lot of Allman Brothers and early Widespread Panic, so somehow I stumbled across this 1973 article in Rolling Stone about the band. The profile is so well done, plus it’s absolutely phenomenal to read with the knowledge of it being written by a teenager who turned 16 years old less than 6 months before the article’s release. Film director/writer Cameron Crowe is a talent, and had an entire writing career before he was old enough to sign up for the Selected Service. Damn.
Country Lawyer Book Club
I was late to the Ace Atkins party but I’m glad I finally made it. Yes, the main protagonist in this series shares a first name with my youngest son, but even if that weren’t the case, I still couldn’t get enough of Ace’s crime novels. It’s like Elmore Leonard doused with a bunch of Kentucky Tavern. I’m a huge fan of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser novels, and Ace has written a bunch of books in that series as well. If you want a good southern fried story, then check out anything written by Ace.
Soundtrack of the Week- I Just Keep Coming Back
I wish I had a good reason why I keep coming back to the Kings of Leon, but I don’t have one. I do know, however, that this guys have a distinct sound and while they’re no longer in the stratosphere, they’re still really talented and really tight as a band. They’ll always have a place on my Playlists. Here’s an old video of one of my favorite KOL songs.
https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/muscle-shoals/muscle-shoals/ If you haven’t seen this movie