My brother plays drums for a party band called The Lava Walkers.
At the 2024 Chattahoochee Hills Fall Festival the second number on their lineup was Steppenwolf’s hit “Born to be Wild”.
FLASHBACK: my very first rock concert was headlined by the band Steppenwolf in 1971 at the Georgia Tech Coliseum and of course they performed “Born to be Wild”.
FAST FORWARD to 2024… more than half a century later… and I find myself rocking out to my brother’s band playing the same song.
What a marvelous time machine trip this life turned out to be!

For many decades as I have driven up and down Interstate 75 in Georgia, the Big Peanut has stood near the highway in Ashburn.
The original Big Peanut was pale yellow, and to my eyes bore a a remarkable resemblance to then-President Jimmy Carter.
Alas, that first monument was toppled by Hurricane Matthew.
The replacement Peanut is a brighter shade of yellow…
But it doesn’t look a thing like Jimmy Carter.

Wait, what??

You know I had to check that out.

For one flat fee you can play literally dozens of vintage pinball machines, as many times as you want. No quarters required.

Some of these babies offer multimedia experiences. I especially enjoyed the rock and roll themed models that allow a player to choose a song for the soundtrack to their game. I enjoyed the Elton John classic the most, of course choosing Pinball Wizard to accompany the amazingly complex mechanisms as a tiny dancer spun on a tiny stage

If you are in Brunswick, Georgia don’t miss this entertaining experience. Oh, and the kids might like it too.

From The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language,5th Edition:

swan song
• farewell or final appearance, action, or work.
• The beautiful legendary song sung only once by a swan in its lifetime, as it is dying.

More of a swan GROWL, really, but Machinist! is calling it quits.
This dark, indomitable swan of a band has soared through the national underground metal scene for more than a decade, feathering its own unique nest while brooding over fellow bands like a Black Mother Hen.
But all adventures must come to an end.
At the waterfront in Brunswick, Georgia, Machinist! ‘ s next to last performance proved that the journey was worth it.
Machinist! has left the building.
Please remain calm.

Fig trees grow in yards all over Georgia. Their soft seedy fruits sweeten my childhood memories.
Recently I passed a fig tree and was delighted to find it loaded with figs!
Anticipation turned to disappointment. All of the figs were hard and green, too young to eat.
I knew there were ripe figs coming but I had to travel on, so I blessed them for the fruit that would delight someone else.
Then I left.
Within the hour I met a friend who handed me a bag of ripe figs freshly picked from his tree.
The key to miracles is knowing them when you see them.

“This is the story of a man with a dream.”
The Purple Dragon folded wings and tail, and began.
“MacMan is a hard rock-and-roller who is now disabled, confined to a wheelchair, and living in poverty.
“But he had a guitar, and a dream.
“The guitar was his treasured Teisco Del Rey ET200N… and his dream was that he wanted to present that guitar to his fave rock star, Samantha Fish.
“Mac did the research, wrote the letters, and scrimped for months to save up the money for a bus and a hotel and a VIP ticket.
“All by himself he dragged his uncooperative body onto a Greyhound bus along with his wheelchair and that guitar, endured lines, enjoyed a rocking concert from the front row… and afterward met his rockstar idol who excitedly accepted the treasured guitar.
“MacMan made his dream come true.”
The Dragon puffed
“How about you?”

Having made my living as a writer, I savor the good stuff.
Sometimes I recommend a book for the writing itself.
In Land of Milk and Honey author C. Pam Zhang spices up her dystopian novel with luscious food-related images and culinary references.
The beauty of Zhang’s writing style makes it easier to stomach the bitter truths about an environmental situation that disturbingly mirrors our own.
The storyline may or may not be to your taste.
But the writing is delicious.

Last Christmas a blast of polar air chilled temperatures down below freezing for three straight days, unusual weather conditions for extreme south Georgia.

My friend’s lemon tree, full of lemons, froze.

When the thaw came every fruit rotted and all the leaves dropped.

We nearly despaired.

Instead we focused hope and blessings on that bare tree.

Now that tree is glorious with green leaves and golden fruit, genuine south Georgia Miracle Lemons.

The Purple Dragon spoke:
“I was talking to a friend, a man who is considered certifiably crazy by the mental health industry.
“This friend explicated for me his unique worldview.
“Of course I listened until he was finished before I described the way I see the world, which is radically different.
“My friend listened attentively, then stated simply: ‘That works for you. ‘
“I agreed: ‘Just like yours works for you. ‘
“We both nodded, then changed the subject.”
The Purple Dragon smiled.
“It was the most civil discourse I have ever enjoyed with a human. “

“It’s nice, to see The People win!” smiled the Purple Dragon.

The Dragon’s friends had been sued by the city they love, after they worked to gather enough petitions to add to their city’s charter an amendment ensuring citizens the RIGHT TO CLEAN WATER.

Enough petitions got the amendment a spot on the ballot and more than 80% of voters approved it – but the city council objected, and took the group to court.

The judge ruled in the group’s favor!

The amendment must be added!

VICTORY!