I had a boss one time who nicknamed me The Renaissance Man. No sooner had I inhaled his verbal, ego-boosting dose of adrenaline did he teasingly add, “That’s because I never knew anyone from Georgia Tech who could write a sentence, much less a paragraph.” Ouch. To him, I was a walking, talking, writing … Continue reading Embracing the Great Paradox
Author: Buddy McElhannon
Grandfather (aka Poppy) Extraordinaire. Golfer. Writer. I Like Chick-Fil-A. Georgia Tech Grad
Fight Like A Girl
As a ten-year-old boy, being told that I threw a ball like a girl was the ultimate insult. Adolescents can be cruel with their verbal barbs. For a young pubescent male, doing anything “like a girl” was akin to being called a sissy. But today, a phrase like “Fight Like A Girl” carries a new … Continue reading Fight Like A Girl
A Ticket of Grace
With Halloween just two weeks away, I am beginning to get the urge to shout “BOO” to 2020 in hopes it will go away. This year feels like a daily reliving of Groundhogs Day and Halloween as we wear a mask EVERY day. Come to think of it, 2020 feels like one of those haunted … Continue reading A Ticket of Grace
Coffee and Deprivation
Today, September 29th is National Coffee Day. Seizing the moment, Dunkin’ Donuts has also declared it National Dunkin’ Day. I guess they hope you will be dunking their donuts when you drink your favorite cup of Joe. If I were a conspiracy theorist, celebrating a National Coffee Day sounds like Maxwell House, Starbucks, and Dunkin’ … Continue reading Coffee and Deprivation
Praying for Tears
In the 1992 movie, A League of Their Own, Tom Hanks plays the Manager of a women’s baseball team. One of the most quoted lines of that movie is when Hanks shouts at a player, “There is no crying in baseball!” Frankly, I think most men feel the same about life. Shedding tears is not a … Continue reading Praying for Tears
A Grand Day
Since 1978, the first Sunday after Labor Day has been designated National Grandparents Day. The primary intention being the recognition of the importance of seniors and the contributions they have made. Being a grandfather many times over has proven to be every bit the joy I expected. I agree with one pundit who confessed, “If … Continue reading A Grand Day
Transition Planning
Let’s be honest. Death is not something we like to discuss. We don’t want to think about it, plan for it, much less talk about it. It is an uncomfortable topic of discussion, much like wearing a scratchy wool sweater in the heat of the summer — it’s neither fashionable nor comfortable. I remember years … Continue reading Transition Planning
All Black Lives Matter
When the posters and bumper stickers first appeared shouting “Black Lives Matter,” I was among those whose first response was to clarify that All Lives Matter, whether black, white, yellow, brown, or blue. But my response has changed. Ignoring the rioting, the looting, and the toppling of statues that served only to distract from the … Continue reading All Black Lives Matter
Where Have All the Statesmen Gone?
I have tried to minimize the topic of politics in my blogs. However, as another Presidential election looms, it seems every media format is filled with a growing number of caustic political ads, promises, and accusations that cannot be ignored. The vitriol from both the left and the right reminds me of vomit. It may … Continue reading Where Have All the Statesmen Gone?
A Higher Call
I have learned never to ignore coincidences, especially when they come in threes. An unexpected gift from my wife, a chance meeting at a golf course, and the discovery of a long sought after book at a used bookstore all within a week’s time made me sit up straight. Three strangely “coincidental” occurrences all dealing … Continue reading A Higher Call
