Cynthia J. Thomas

Sponsored by Ozark Mountain Music Association, the contest is about legacy as much as it is about competition.

Don’t own any such writings? No problem. That’s what libraries are for. There’s also a great selection at the Freedom Encounter Theater’s bookstore in Branson!

Teaching first-graders in an area after-school program a few years ago, I was surprised during a “when you grow up” lesson assignment to see how many, even at that young age, included being an online “influencer” in their future goals, albeit without actually using that word. “I wanna be a You-Tuber” showed up more than once; another young man wanted to create online cartoons; still another wanted to be a champion gamer. Asked why, most responded something like “So people will know about me.” ...