Pie in the Sky: A Few More Clues to the Meaning of Life

In his third collection of reflective essays, Jim Buford offers additional meditations on life in the South. As both a participant and observer, he explores the themes of place, culture and psyche and shares valuable insight on the significance of rock 'n' roll music and why being able to do the Myrtle Beach Shag is more important than having a jump shot or knowing about rocket science. He explains how the pervasive influence of his ancestors, who fought for both the Union and "The Cause," led him to the DMZ in Korea, where he was assigned to a forgotten artillery battalion. Although the main action he saw was at a bar in Seoul, he provides a perspective on war that may not have occurred to those who actually encountered the enemy. As the years fly by, he contemplates midlife, including when and how to have a midlife crisis and why it is important to pick a surgeon who is culturally aware. Finally he tackles the really tough questions, such as why crows don't vote in local elections, how many pigs it takes to fill up a bay, and whether or not pets go to heaven. Pie in the Sky provides clues to these and other mysteries of life, although the author rightly points out that we can never know anything for sure.Jim James Ansel Buford is the author of 'Pie in the Sky: A Few More Clues to the Meaning of Life', published 2003 under ISBN 9781579660499 and ISBN 1579660495.