• Uncategorized

    A short hike, a long talk, and a magnificent waterfall

    September 19, 2025 - By 

    Last weekend, my 15-year-old son, Cooper, and I found ourselves in the Great Smoky Mountains. We’d planned a short hike a few days before, and I was grateful we didn’t find an excuse to cancel, as we so often do with our busy schedules. We settled on Spruce Flats Falls, a short 1.7-mile trail that the GAIA GPS app rated as “easy.” The trail began at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. As soon as we parked, Cooper’s eyes lit up. “Dad, I’ve been here before!” he exclaimed. It turns out he came here for an overnight field trip…

  • In the Moment

    How Goose Coop Cards Took Flight

    September 6, 2025 - By 

    It started on a quiet stretch of highway, somewhere between Starkville and home. Erik and I had just dropped Gracie off to begin her freshman year of college—her dorm room freshly decorated, her heart full of anticipation, and ours… well, ours were a swirling mix of pride, nostalgia, and the ache of letting go. As we drove, the car felt unusually quiet. Cooper was back at home, starting his sophomore year of high school with thrilling new adventures of his own—learning to drive and preparing to audition for the youth symphony orchestra, his absolute passion. He was stepping into his…

  • In the Moment

    Letting Go, Holding On: Dropping Our Daughter Off at College

    September 2, 2025 - By 

    This August, under the blazing Mississippi sun, we pulled into Starkville with a car packed to the brim and hearts full of anticipation. Our daughter was starting her freshman year at Mississippi State University, and we were about to help her move into her dorm—an experience equal parts exciting and emotional. The Heat and the Hustle It was one of those classic Southern summer days—humid, sweltering, and buzzing with energy. Families were everywhere, hauling bins, fans, and couches up stairwells and down hallways. Dads were in full DIY mode, assembling elaborate furniture setups like they were auditioning for HGTV. Bed…