AWOL no more!!!!

I've been leaning on my shovel long enough. So to speak. I could claim any number of excuses: I've been busy. Not feeling so well. Writer's block.

In truth, I've been searching for a direction. After 30 years of writing, it has been a huge shock NOT to be writing anymore. Sure, I've checked the ads and have even contacted the local newspaper to see if they needed any help. Apparently, no one needs old, crusty folks like me, when there are young, vibrant types around. Or, maybe --- as I suspect --- newspapers are struggling for survival and there just aren't many openings to be had. It turns out I'm okay with that, though I have certainly struggled with forced retirement. Whenever I have one of my frequent nightmares, I roll around in bed dreading the thousands of deadlines (many against insurmountable odds) in more than 30 years of newspapering. I wake up with a start from the latest fitful attempt to sleep and heave a huge sigh of relief.

Really, deadlines have never bothered me, because of my organizational skills. Even early in my career, I was not affected by going to an evening basketball game and then heading back to the office to type up the game results by a specific time. I was only late, and that was because, while at Huron College, I made the mistake of inviting some friends along. For them, my getting back to the office was hardly important. We repaired to the local watering hole and, well, several hours later, I weaved back to Huron to face the glare of my editor. I never made the mistake again. But as I grew older, the workload, combined with the deadline, took its toll.

Anyway, all that to say I feel rejuvenated and have some blog ideas in mind, as well as some specific postings. Even if no one reads it, I'll feel better.

In closing, an idea for the pitiful political pundits out there. If people are truly sensitive toward the feelings of others --- specifically, bullied students who feel so isolated they want to commit suicide --- maybe they should consider being kinder to those they oppose. Whoops! They forgot to do that?? Name-calling is truly for bullies and other types.