Nathan Sparks 83 posts 0 comments

The Best of Times I was standing in the large arena at STAR for the Bridles and Blue Jeans fundraiser when a blast from my past tapped me on my shoulder. Sometimes when you run into an old friend, it’s like the universe is trying…
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Donde Plowman joined the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2019 with big plans, and nothing’s going to stand in her way of achieving them—innovative initiatives, exceptional sport teams, and unbridled growth abound. Over the…
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Sometimes all it takes is a fly rod and a quiet stretch of river to renew the spirit It is nearly noon, and I have temporarily retired my fly rod in favor of a camera, hoping to capture the moment. I stand behind my friend Edwin…
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Dangerous Things I remember when I learned I might have an attention deficit disorder. I was shocked. But then I laughed out loud. But not for the reason you might suspect. It was true. I had lots of challenges paying attention as a…
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I confess. I was not the best student during my school years. But one day, in Mr. Odell’s math class, I was struck by a comment he made. “The best mathematicians are lazy,” he said, adding, “the smartest people always look for…
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Much of my life has been based on split-second decisions. Looking back, I can clearly say that my best and worst decisions often occurred in a split second. While many, or maybe even most people, don’t relish the idea of having to make…
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No matter the season, getting off the beaten path and into the wilderness will heal your soul. We have set up our campsite, and I am helping my son Troupe with the evening’s firewood collection. We are in the Smoky Mountains for a few…
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Skirting Chicago on the east side, private planes often fly just over the water around 1,000-1,500 feet AGL in the VFR flyway to view the Chicago skyline. This was today’s plan. A group of us from Knoxville had joined up at the Lansing…
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As a young boy, I loved everything about baseball. Well, almost everything. I wanted to be part of the team, build friendships, and enjoy the thrill of victory. Being somewhat of a nerd, I never found my rhythm in the sport. Yet despite my…
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Tyler Jamison’s passion brings out the beauty in wood Tyler Jamison carves and turns wood, emphasizing texture, highlighting grain. But he’s not working with just any old wood he finds. Each piece is carefully selected, each unique to…
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