The Impetus

I am sitting across from Jake Eagle, our therapist, and talking about having finished Pebbles: Memories of a Small-Town Kansas Boy this week. Jake suggests another writing project that could be fun and might be helpful to others—to write about growing older, maturity, approaching death, sexuality in maturity, and relationships with sons and daughters. He tells me that my attitudes on all these issues may be unique and helpful, which is a big stroke for my ego. I like the idea a lot and begin to think about writing a few notes as I go through this process. This is the first such note.

The thought that comes to me as I drive away from Jake’s place is that I have no credentials to write a “How To” book on growing older. I am not a professional therapist or counsellor. My academic training is entirely in music. My only qualification is that I am growing older and I’m having fun doing it. At age 71 I count that as a qualification of sorts. I have no idea whether my life is of interest or of use to anyone else. I do like the prospect of writing down my feelings and thoughts just to see where they will go.

If you are reading this, you know where they went—into this blog (and maybe into a book one day.)

I am sitting in front of my computer writing this piece. On the monitor is taped a message to myself: “But, will it be FUN?” This is the message I read every day and it pretty much summarizes my approach to life.

Added July 4, 2008. At Jake's suggestion the message on my computer monitor now reads: "But, will I be FUN?" I like it even better!