“And yet here I still am, occasionally. I don’t use the word ‘joy’ much to describe me or my experiences. But what I’m doing with journalism and journalists remains high on my current list of what I enjoy, even with my limits now.
“I’m an explanatory writer at my core, so I think about metaphors to explain complex ideas. Johnny Appleseed is pretty good, for me.
“The Disney-fied legend is basic: He was a nice but nutty guy who wandered early America tossing great apple seeds in random places. Hoping to create a legacy that would outlive him.
“Often when a true story is softened into legend, a motive is polished or added. The real life of Johnny, however, had a shining good-legacy goal. But his plans were much more specific than the legend.”
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