Tag Archives: aging

A Letter to My 100-year-old Self.

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

If I ever make it to 100, it will be a family record. So what would I say to that future version of myself? Mostly questions—about family, faith, writing, and whether the diaper fits. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Rickhouse Window

Posted on March 8, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A rickhouse is a quiet place where whiskey ages slowly in the dark. But when a beam of sunlight slips through a dusty window, the barrels suddenly reveal details you might not notice otherwise. Sometimes life works the same way—nothing changes except the light. Continue reading →

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The Hobbies We Don’t Quit—They Just Quietly Let Go of Us

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I didn’t make a dramatic decision to stop playing video games—I just noticed one day that I hadn’t turned the console on in months. What replaced that time wasn’t noble at first, but eventually it became something far more lasting. Some hobbies don’t end in frustration; they simply fade as our priorities change. Continue reading →

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From Gummy Bears to Chocolate to … Bourbon

Posted on February 8, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A year ago, my favorite candy was gummy bears. I still like them. These days, though, I’d rather have chocolate—and if I’m being completely honest, I’d rather have bourbon than either. Call it growing up… or at least growing older with better taste. Continue reading →

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Why I’m Not in a Hurry to Leave This Life

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

There was a time when living a very long life didn’t matter much to me. That’s changed. Love, family, teaching, and writing have given my days weight and purpose. I’m not afraid of living long—I just hope that when my time comes, I can leave with dignity intact. Continue reading →

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Playtime, Now With Fewer Bruises

Posted on January 2, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Play doesn’t disappear as we get older — it just gets quieter, more intentional, and a lot easier on the knees. At 59, playtime looks less like recess and more like curiosity, laughter, and moments enjoyed purely for their own sake. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Mash Bill of Life

Posted on November 16, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

We all have a personal “mash bill” — the mix of influences, experiences, struggles, and people who make us who we are. Mine includes Texas roots, Florida shaping, a journalism-soaked upbringing, faith that held me together, mistakes I had to overcome, family that carried me through, and a calling I never expected. I’m still aging, but at least the barrel is good. Continue reading →

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Sunday Pour: Same Spirit, Different Levels, One God

Posted on November 2, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Bourbon barrels all start the same, but where they’re placed in the rickhouse determines what they become. My life has felt the same way — different levels, different seasons, different heat — all of it shaping who I am. And I wouldn’t trade the flavor of the life God has aged in me. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Dusty Bottle

Posted on October 12, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Sometimes the best friendships are like dusty bottles — set aside for a season, waiting quietly to be rediscovered. When we finally reach for them again, we find they haven’t lost their warmth at all. In fact, time has only made them richer. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Barrel & Patience

Posted on September 7, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Some things only time can teach us. Just like bourbon resting in oak, patience reshapes us in ways we can’t rush. Take Jack Daniel’s. Whether it’s Old No. 7, the 10-Year, the 12-Year, the 14-Year, or the new Single Barrel … Continue reading →

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