You’d probably never guess it after reading some of my stuff, but I was once a school superintendent. I was an elected superintendent, one of the few in the nation, in my small, mostly rural county in Mississippi. I served for four years and then was—I’ll call it—unelected. I’ve never written about that; maybe I will one day. But don’t be scared of me; I think I was at least a pretty fair superintendent—and no scandals. However, I was obviously a terrible politician. Well, I’d rather be a good superintendent for a while than to be a good politician forever.
That superintendent stuff is relevant because when I became superintendent, I asked the publisher of the local weekly newspaper if I could write a weekly column. My intentions were to keep it all about school stuff: school business, school accomplishments, school happenings. But I didn’t take long to figure out that it would be hard to be interesting and entertaining every week writing just about school stuff.
Also, well, things would happen. Only five columns in, my sister-in-law, who also happened to be one of the district’s best teachers, was assaulted in her home—by some of my former students. Four months into my column, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer, and he would die only three weeks after the diagnosis. Eight months into my column writing, we lost a dear little first grader and a teacher in unrelated car accidents. How could I keep writing about school plans and meetings and policies when these things were going on around me? I didn’t. The column began to head in different directions. I wanted to keep the public informed about school business, but I also wanted to be entertaining or poignant or thought provoking or humorous—whatever I felt like being for that week. Hopefully, sometimes I succeeded; and then sometimes—well, you can’t bat a thousand. My old pals love giving me grief about my particularly bad columns, but according to them, they are all bad.
The column started out being called “Superintendent’s Corner,” and when I was no longer in the job, I chose to call it “Drippin’ Ink.” That was something that I sometimes would tell my students back when I was—should I admit it?—an English teacher—nearly one hundred years ago. And, by the way, just to clarify, this column has absolutely nothing to do tattoos or tattoo art—kind of sounds like it does, doesn’t it?
So, for now, this website will be populated with some of those old columns that were originally published in the Lawrence County Press, and occasionally I’ll add more. The first column ran on the first Wednesday in February 2008. As of 1/1/14, I have written 239 columns. I will attempt to spare you from the really bad ones. I also think that I’m a great photographer, and I’ll throw some appropriate pictures up now and then—or, at least, ones that I like. Other than that, I’m not sure where I’m headed with all this. We’ll let it play out. And by the way, I haven’t figured out any way to make a single dime out of this; so don’t be worried about me asking you for money. But don’t get me wrong: I’m not opposed to me making dimes and dollars from this; I just don’t see how it’s going to happen.
Thanks for bein’ here. Come back again sometime.
Drippin' Ink 
Beautiful picture, where is it? I’m from Bolivar Co, currently living in Attala.
Hi Wanda, thanks for checking out my blog! You’re my first comment after the launch! That picture is about a quarter mile behind my house here in Lawrence County. Thanks so much.
So excited for you on this new endeavor!
Thank you, Angela. Hope you are well.
Tony, I have enjoyed reading your posts. Although they make me homesick. HA! They bring back so many memories of growing up in Monticello. I now live in Virginia, in the mountains & I love it here. I try to visit once a year. My brother, Tony Norwood still there in our little town.Monticello is such a good place to live & bring up kids. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you to keep up the good work & how much I look forward to reading your posts. Thanks, Pam Norwood Hastings
Pam, thanks so much for reading. Look out at those mountains and take a deep breath of it all for me.
Love your work tony. Keep it coming.
Thank you, Julie.
I’m so glad you’re finally doing it! I always enjoy your writing.
And thank you, Julie.
Looking forward to your new endeavor. What fun.
Thank you, Kathy.
Hey Tony. I look forward to reading your blog. While I’ve been gone a long time, I’m still a Miss’ippi boy at heart. I’ve kept up with you through Kev for a long time and look forward to feeling that ol’ boy from Miss’ippi feeling when I read.
Thank you Mark. Good to hear from you. I hope you find it enjoyable.
Hey Mr. Davis, why don’t you spare us the rambling (writing) and just post some pictures. It’s been said (by Mark Twain or T.S. Elliott-not sure which one) that a picture is worth a thousand words, so you could save a lot of time and ink (typing) by just posting the pictures. I’m a LCHS grad, so I like pictures more better.
Tameka, thank you for your comment. 1) You are more than welcome to look at the pictures only, and I have lots more on Facebook; 2) I don’t mind the typing; I might even like it better.
I just found you blog. I am looking forward to following you! I am presently living in Pa, but born and raised in Mississippi.. sooo very homesick.
Thank you. Hope you find it enjoyable.
Paula, so glad you found me! Stay warm in PA. We’re back to MS weather starting Thurdsay; looks like 60 or so for several days. Hope you enjoy the blog. What part of Mississippi are you from? If I’m ever traveling through I’ll take some pictures of home for you.
Glad I found your blog! Very interesting! I live in Mendenhall, but am desended from the Pierce’s of Lawrence County. I shared you on facebook, I think alot of people will be interested.
Ginger, I am equally glad (or more so) that you found my blog. Thanks very much for reading and for sharing. Do you know what part of the county the Pierces were from?
Just found your blog! I luv it! Gonna share wit all my friends on FB. I’m from Horseshoe,MS an now livin in Batesville,MS. PROUND TO BE FROM MISSISSIPPI,,,,,
JoAnn, thanks for the comment and the kind words. Would appreciate very much you sharing my blog up in Horseshoe!