Yeah, “not very stable” fits me pretty well.
It’s not that I’m nuts—at least, not in the clinical sense. It’s more like I’m constantly shifting gears. One moment I’m laser-focused, dialed in, and ready to conquer the world. The next? I’m mentally sprinting toward some new, sparkly idea or half-baked project I just thought of.
My doctor blames the caffeine.
Honestly, I think it’s that there’s simply too much to think about, too much to do, and too much to say.
What I really need is not more coffee—but more time.
In a single 24-hour Earth day, I need the full 243 Earth days of one Venus day just to catch up.
If only.
A friend of mine once told me, “You don’t catch up until you die.”
So here’s hoping I stay behind a little while longer.
But let me level with you for a second. I’m 69. I’ve got myasthenia gravis, heart failure, angioedema, and a war-shaped list of things the VA likes to call “conditions.” I don’t know how many more projects I’ll finish. Or how much more time I’ve got to write, travel, or take one more swing at cleaning out the garage. But I do know this: I’m still here. Still laughing. Still choosing joy. And still trying to get my house—in every sense of the word—in order before I go.
If you have the time—and the patience—to follow me down a few rabbit holes, by all means, stick around. There’s a lot I’m thinking about, writing about, obsessing over. Like:
What You Might Want to Follow:
- Israel vs. Hamas – Is this a localized nightmare, or the early pages of World War III? I pray for the former. I fear the latter.
- Ukraine/Russia – Will this war ever end? Or will it drag on into the next forever war… or something even worse?
- American Politics – Grab the popcorn and the tissues. Unless your vote comes with a $250 million check, it probably never mattered. Let’s be honest—it probably never did.
- The Weather – Global boiling meets polar vortex. You’ll melt… until you freeze. Climate change is real. One day, it will find you.
- Your Crazy Friends and Family – Now that’s a reality show worth watching. Trust me, mine’s Emmy-worthy.
- Me – Why follow me? Maybe one day I’ll say something that actually matters. Maybe. Just don’t hold your breath.
I’ve been writing for what feels like my entire life. And now, having breezed past the age when the government mails you a birthday card and a Social Security check, I’m finally pulling all the scattered pieces together: the old work, the new work, and the weird, wonderful thoughts that fill the space in between.
There’s another page that talks about who I am.
This one is about what I’m doing.
I’m inviting you to join me on a writing journey. I’ve got a few novels in the works, a slew of short stories and essays, and more screenplays than anyone not named Tarantino should probably have. And if you ask those who know me, they’ll tell you I’ve got an ego big enough to think I’m always right—until I forget what I was saying.
But hey, I am wise enough to think I can solve the world’s problems.
Sometimes.
Really though, my goal is simple:
Write the damn stories. Finish the thoughts.
Even as I spiral toward the sunset on this spinning rock, I want to get it all out before I go. It’s been one hell of a ride. And hopefully, I’ve got a few more ridiculous adventures left in me—especially with the greatest beings on the planet: my grandchildren.
So here’s to the millions of words I’ve written—and the millions more I might finish before the tomatoes start flying. (Figuratively, please. I’m not great at dodging.)
Welcome to my world.
It’s a little wild, a little wobbly, and sometimes as unruly as a politician during an election year—or a toddler in potty training.
Frankly, I trust the toddler more.
And one final thought before you go:
In all you do, choose joy.
Not happiness—joy.
Happiness relies on something else. Joy stands on its own.
Joy is the better revenge.
The Chief
HMC(SW/FMF)
USN (Ret)
PS – And if you have the time—and the patience—to follow me down a few rabbit holes… well, I hope you find something that makes the dive worth your time.
