Andrew Taylor-Troutman

James Davis was a Presbyterian pastor and poet. His funeral was held last Saturday at my church, and his family gave me a copy of his poetry book Seek the Counsel of Trees.

Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” was blaring in my head as I drove past the schools this week. I can picture today’s students joyfully slamming lockers and throwing papers in the air like in the movie Dazed and Confused.

I love to listen to baseball games on the radio. It’s a habit I picked up after college when I was working part-time jobs to scrape rent together and couldn’t afford cable.

Recently, my faith community, Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church, has partnered with Undue Medical Debt, a national nonprofit that buys medical debt from creditors.

Like many listeners, I was moved by Eric Church’s commencement address at UNC. He struck a particular chord with me because I learned to play guitar in college after a period in my life when I’d lost my way or, as Church described, “fell out of tune.”

I returned to the church to find a dead bird lying at the base of the glass door, his or her neck broken by the sudden impact. It was a sleek brown bird, one that I couldn’t identify. This failure made me feel sadder.

I love that students and community members have declared “Teachers Rock” by recognizing individuals from elementary schools to UNC and from public to home schools.

Years ago, I had a friend who had reached the age when many people start to lose the names of things. Sometimes, the object would be close at hand, like “windshield” or “coaster,” and I could supply the word when he touched it.

I enjoyed Daniel Wallace’s engaging interview with Aaron Keck about his new collection of short fiction, so I was eager to attend the Chatham Literacy Spring Luncheon and support a great organization.

Last weekend, my cousin got married, and while there were several unconventional elements to her wedding, what surprised me the most was her decision to ask her guests for song requests.