Author: John P. O'Grady

A road through the middle of nowhere can get pretty rough. This one was posted with a sign that said: “Unstable Surface, Temporary Speed Reduction, 5 MPH.” The sign was rusted but we obeyed...

We were lost on back roads and came upon an intersection with a 4-way stop. Three of the roads were dead ends, including the one we came in on. Close by was a forlorn...

Where do they come from? Where do they go? In the more frolicsome days of youth, I would head out into the woods to follow dark streams, stony and thin—or sometimes game trails—just to...

Hello. I do considerable reading in the history of American religions. It’s one of my longstanding interests, though I myself am not religious. For instance, this evening I was reading something about the Shakers....

Back to the service center at the car dealership. I figure they’re my best bet for an explanation as to why every warning light on my dashboard is wildly flashing like a Reno slot...

Night ride across New Jersey. Aren’t they all? But for this one the sun is dressed up for Trick-or-Treat, so it shines. Corridors of commerce. Crowded highways. Aggressive drivers. Stoplights with jug-handle turns. Filigree...

I’m back at the diner. It’s a real place and once again I’ve got real car problems. Minor ones perhaps, but they require genuine attention. A bigger problem would be having to sit in...

The only time I see TV anymore is when I take the car in for service and find myself sitting in the waiting area of the dealership. They call this place the “lounge.” Today...