Hi all,

I am not dead, I promise. I realize that I fell off the edge of the earth (it is flat, right?), and it may have appeared that I was either sick or sad or wandering down a country road with no clue of who I was or where I was going. (That last one could accurately describe a day of extreme fatigue.) The truth is, this is my busy season with my college and graduate school essay students. Since I will lead a group of family, friends, and soon-to-be friends on a trip to Sicily in mid-October for a Story Circle Network Sightseeing Trip and Writing Workshop, I have been burning the midnight oil with my students to meet their deadlines. My sole goal has been to leave them in good shape before heading off to an island I have yet to see. And, on a completely different topic, I am still pushing to complete my novel’s final edits before I leave, so it’ll soon be ready to publish.

The bottom line: I have been working my little writing fingers to the bone and can’t wait to head off to Sicily to explore this historically rich Mediterranean island, followed by three days in Rome. The departure date is mid-October for Ray and me, with a return toward the end of the month. Planning a group tour and writing workshop right in the middle of my busy season may not be the wisest choice in the world, but then again, traveling to the Mediterranean in the fall should be glorious.

My goal is to get back into my blogging routine, beginning now. My entries may be short, but I want to resume daily communication. That writing ritual makes me happy, as does hearing from those who are kind enough to comment.

Sorry for the disappearance, but I am now back. I’m happy to begin my daily chronicle again and remind myself of the simple and small joys that grace my life.

Hugs to all.

Len