Mark Gagnon
Bio
I have spent most of my life traveling the US and abroad. Now it's time to create what I hope are interesting fictional stories.
I have 2 books on Amazon, Mitigating Circumstances and Short Stories for Open Minds.
Stories (302/0)
- Top Story - May 2024
What Guys?
When I was very young, I would listen to my parents tell my older brothers to study hard, find something that interest them, and go for it. “The sky’s the limit!” was a favorite phrase of theirs. You can become anything you set your mind to. Our parent's enthusiastic support made them want to excel in school and life, at least until they reached high school. Unfortunately for them, higher education was wrought with distractions. Playing sports, cars, and, of course, girls lured them away from achieving academic greatness. Watching them falter frustrated my parents, but they never gave up hope. Boys will be boys, but eventually, they will become prominent men.
By Mark Gagnon10 days ago in Motivation
Who’s Really To Blame?
I must start this by stating that I am either pro-nor-anti Israel or Palestine. The few people I have met from both groups have always treated me respectfully and I hope they feel I have done the same. What I am attempting to do with this essay is to expose an underlying cause for everything that has gone wrong with Israel and its neighbors.
By Mark Gagnon12 days ago in Journal
Jolly Old England
Some would say I’ve been very fortunate as far as travel goes, and I would have to agree. Mostly because of my jobs, I’ve visited forty-nine of the fifty states and all but two Canadian Provinces. My non-work wanderings have taken me to nine European countries and the continent of Australia. As you may have guessed by the title, one of my favorite places to visit is England.
By Mark Gagnon14 days ago in Wander
Bird Envy
Well, birdbrain, how are you going to get out of this one? You are a thousand feet in the air, dangling from a piece of cloth and a few cables, with a motor that is about to run out of gas. My landing options are ditching in the roiling surf directly below me, or attempting to glide into the nearby tree-covered mountains. Either option will cause me a great deal of pain, if I’m lucky, or death if I’m not.
By Mark Gagnon19 days ago in Fiction
- Top Story - May 2024
The Ugliest BuildingTop Story - May 2024
Mark Twain called the building I work in, “The ugliest building in America.” I agree. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building isn’t the largest in Washington, D.C., but its imposing façade makes it feel like it is. I work for the Office of E-Government and Information Technology. I have a satellite office in the bowels of this monstrosity. Working in this building gives us quick access to both the President and Vice-President because they also have offices here. This access may be why I’m in this situation, or maybe it’s the project I’m assigned to, or both.
By Mark Gagnon21 days ago in Fiction
GPS No Thanks
GPS, thanks, but no thank you. I don’t know why anyone would want to own one of those things. I mean, come on, can’t anyone read a map anymore? Probably the better question is, doesn’t anyone own a map anymore? I certainly would never leave home without one. Of course, I seldom leave the town I grew up in, so after fifty-plus years, I know my way around pretty darn well. If I happen to get turned around, I can always stop at a gas station or convenience store and ask for directions. Most of the clerks will lend a hand. They’ll pull out their phones and get directions for me. It’s better for them to do it than me. Besides, I don’t own a cell phone.
By Mark Gagnon25 days ago in Fiction
My Other Half
Jeff and Angela had been married for forty years when the inevitable happened. Being two years older than his wife, Jeff always thought he would be the first to die, so he was in utter disbelief when a heart attack suddenly ripped Angie from him. He had no children or siblings to help him share the grief, just some well-meaning close friends. The burden of making funeral arrangements landed squarely on Jeff’s shoulders, which was a blessing in disguise. He was so busy picking out a burial plot, coffin, and venue to hold a service that there was very little time to allow his grief to consume him.
By Mark Gagnon30 days ago in Fiction
- Top Story - May 2024
I AMTop Story - May 2024
This is not who I thought I would be. Before my family was captured and forced into slavery, I had aspirations of becoming a wealthy business owner or possibly a scholar and philosopher. Becoming a warrior was the furthest thing from my mind. Unfortunately, our Roman conquerors had other plans.
By Mark Gagnonabout a month ago in Fiction
Deadline
Strange what runs through my mind when the pressure is on. I should be thinking about how many more miles I have left to go and, more importantly, how much time do I have left to get there before my world comes crashing to an end. Instead, I’m thinking about the origin of the word Deadline and how its meaning has changed over the years. I imagine many words can be traced back to their beginnings, but Deadline is particularly special to me right now.
By Mark Gagnonabout a month ago in Fiction
Dangerous Mind
Five hundred years had passed since countries waged war against one another. It took centuries of conflict to reach this point in time, but once the last battle was fought and the remainder of humanity was no longer interested in killing each other, the leaders that survived examined what caused wars. After many months of extensive investigation, these wise men and women determined that exploration, in any form, especially exploration driven by curiosity, was the root cause of all conflicts. Make people remain in the location they were born in and not venture out of those borders, and war would cease to exist.
By Mark Gagnonabout a month ago in Futurism