Find your carnival ride
Carnivals and amusement parks are some of the more interesting and enigmatic curiosities devised by the human brain. Why do we participate? Here’s my guess.
Entries by Mark E. Johnson
It’s different, but it’s still America
Tennessee skies. Amazing that it’s been 11 years. When planes started hitting buildings that morning, I wasn’t sure that the world would still be here in 11 years. Frankly, it all didn’t seem real. It was a movie, a Bruce Willis blockbuster. Exploding airplanes are often found in big-budget action pictures, right? In fact, when […]
Art worth NOT losing.
Readying for the state fair. My first story of this deadline will be about country ham. Yes, you read that correctly. Country ham. 4-H’ers in Rutherford County, Tenn., have a country ham project group. My 11-year-old son, Sam, is a part of that group, and since January, these culinary adventurers have been meeting at The […]
Writing — a perfect storm of risks.
This blog concerns itself with many different subjects, from exercise to photography to music to faith. But mainly, it focuses on writing. Whether or not the subject is about writing, what you find here is expressed through a writer’s (slightly skewed) view of the world. Being a writer is an interesting state of existence. Your thoughts — […]
What does THAT mean?
Mt. Lemon, Tucson, AZ. Why the title, “A Write Smart”? In the Appalachian Mountains, the phrase “a right smart” is an expression of quantity rather than intelligence. It means “a lot.” Examples: “How much corn has Erlie got this year? Oh, he’s got a right smart.” In my life, I’ve got a right smart […]
We need more John Adamses
I have recently finished watching the HBO series “John Adams,” and I feel equal parts embarrassed, ashamed, inspired, blessed, cursed, ecstatic, and saddened. What has our country come to? It’s not a political comment. What I’m talking about is us. Americans. People in general. What have we come to? Watching “John Adams” has inspired me […]
Of all the gall!
Last weekend, Sam was out riding his bike in the cul-de-sac and driveway. Suddenly, he burst in the front door and ran up to me, obviously distressed. “Dad!” he said. “Guess what!?” “What, Sam, What? Slow down and catch your breath.” “Okay,” he said, gulping air. “I was out riding my bike and this lady […]