It’s almost September, and soon the inevitable school bells will ring. September always feels like a new year to me, even though I no longer work in school or have children in school. September heralds the start of something, a time to make plans, buckle down, get busy. A time to learn something new. No matter how old we are, there is much to learn. I got a new car last week, one with so many digital bells and whistles that I find myself spending quite a bit of time sitting in the driveway with the owners manual in my hand, studying and learning how to operate them all.
Although there is no owner’s manual for life, we each find our ways to make it through. For me, writing has always been my way of figuring things out. Sometimes I don’t know what I think or feel until I write about it. For most of my life I did my writing in private, but the advent of the internet allowed me to share my thoughts through words. The connections I’ve made have become an integral and vital part of my life.
I haven’t written a lot in this space during the summer, and that’s mostly because I’ve been revisiting some writing from the past, writing that I've compiled into a new book called Life Goes On. Today I’m pleased to announce the publication of this second volume of essays which begin where Life In General left off. They trace the next steps in my journey through life, one that includes the joys of being a grandparent, the grief of losing both my parents, the search for meaningful life in retirement, and coming to terms with growing older.
My writing helps me make sense of life, but perhaps more importantly it invites connection. These essays are my personal calling card, my way of saying, “Look, we’re all in this thing called life together, and we have a lot more in common that you might think. Grab your coffee, come sit with me a while, and let’s talk about it."
Life Goes On is dedicated to my wonderful friends, those in the real world and those I’ve met only in the digital realm. As life goes on, I’ve learned that connecting with shared stories helps us feel less alone in this fractured world. We learn from our shared experiences, and continue to find new ways to walk through life together.
I hope you’ll join me on the journey.
