Month: October 2024

Always look on the bright side of life

Chris Johnson | Posted on October 30, 2024 |

I’ve been described as cynical, skeptical, nonconformist, negative, stoic, antagonistic, nihilistic, pessimistic and all sorts of other gloomy ics. And that was just this morning while I was talking to my reflection in the bathroom mirror. “But I’ll be danged if you ain’t one handsome feller!” I added in an effort to boost my spirits. I smiled, for a moment, then I realized I was pretty skeptical about my own compliment. It’s just my nature. Even when I’m perfectly content, I have a look about me that makes folks want to ask me, “Are you OK?” To which I respond, […]

Are basic conventions now relics of the past?

Chris Johnson | Posted on October 23, 2024 |

My wife and I and 374 mosquitoes decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood before the sun went down yesterday so that we could get a little bit of exercise and enjoy one of Georgia’s approximately 13 days of fall. Because our neighborhood in Perry, Georgia, has grown about eight-fold in the eight years that we’ve lived in it, we can now get in a 2-mile walk without even walking every street. I’m not sure if I lose any weight on these walks, but I did lose about a pint of blood to the skeeters — who, by […]

Macon’s amphitheater hits all the right notes

Chris Johnson | Posted on October 14, 2024 |

MACON, Georgia — I used to love going to see concerts. Unfortunately, it’s the “going” part of that statement that grew tiresome as I got older. (Cue “OK, boomer” comments.) For my first concert at 16 years old, I had to drive my little stick shift for more than an hour through the rain to catch the Beastie Boys at Columbus’ old, pitiful Municipal Auditorium — only to have them kicked off the stage by authorities late in the show. During my 14 years living and working in Columbus, I was fortunate enough to catch up and coming acts like […]

Mayberry in minutes: A quick visit to Andyland

Chris Johnson | Posted on October 9, 2024 |

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. — A recent work trip to southwest Virginia took me up Interstate 77 through some beautiful portions of the North Carolina mountains — a couple of weeks before there was such a thing as Hurricane Helene. One of the places just off of I-77 required a pit stop — Mount Airy, N.C., home of Andy Griffith and the small town upon which the fictional Mayberry was based on “The Andy Griffith Show,” a staple of both my childhood and adult years. While my heart aches for those who have been impacted by Helene, it was a beautiful […]