Here’s where I’m supposed to put something profound, I suppose. But the older I get (I’m 71, and don’t look like that photo on the left any more; the real me is below. But it has been 50 years, more or less!), the more I realize that shooting for profundity is a trap.
My wife, best friend and confidant of 50 years died at home of cancer in 2018. The house we rebuilt over 26 years is sold, I took a few months to live on the road, headed to the Pacific Northwest, where I now live, in Sequim, WA. Perhaps we’ll meet there sometime.
I’m trying to guard against becoming comfortable, complacent. You be the judge, though.
But here’s a brief biography:
- Member, Academy of American Poets.
- Published two books of poems: “I Came From a Place of Fireflies”, and “Snowflakes and Ashes: Meditations on the Temporary“, both at Amazon.
- 10 years out of college working in a city office in Ohio as a fraud investigator/mediator
- Two years in grad school, walked away with a master’s in journalism (University of Oregon. Go Ducks! Unofficial motto: “Northwest of Normal”)
- Six years in voluntary slavery as a reporter and editor—aka “ink-stained wretch” aaka “paid informant”—at two newspapers, where I reported on local politics and everything else from high school sports to swine judging at the county fair; I then variously was a news editor, an assistant city editor and a managing editor at that paper and one other. I acquired a love of newspapers, of conciseness; I also absorbed and nurtured a hatred of lazy writers and dumb rich people (my advertisers, my publishers and the drones at Corporate).
- I spent 26 years at a large university as a writer and editor, and –for 15 years in there somewhere–managing editor of the main web sites. Then I eased toward retirement by doing mostly research writing and managing our IT dept. This was all good. I was lucky to have been in a good place at the right time, and dabbled in technology and the intersection of communications, public service and the Internet. I was there at the beginning of the WWW and, if it doesn’t sound too immodest, saw what was coming before too many others. I managed to do some interesting things back in the day. I’m friends with a guy who was at the table when they invented the Internet. How ’bout that! Still, I’ve always maintained a private life of fiction and essay writing–mostly for my own sanity. There’s very little of the latter left, unfortunately.
- I published a children’s book inspired by the children of a friend, “Mermaid Sisters: First Dive”. 🙂
- I have two sons. One has a master’s in environmental philosophy at the U. of Montana and is a park ranger for the State of Washington and just married a phenomenal woman, and they’re starting a life. The other works at Facebook in Albuquerque, and is as smart and gentle as they come. He travels the world and makes me laugh. They’re both amazing young men.
About the title…. I’m worried that you think I was thinking a bit much of myself. Not the case at all. I was a big fan of Earnest Hemingway’s work when I was old enough to understand some of it. I liked his writing philosophy, the brevity and economy of it. It seemed to help to remember what he’d stood for: write tight (what the best editors demanded) worked in newsrooms, too). When I was thinking of starting a blog, and it seemed more like a lark, ‘-play’ sounded like a little joke on myself, to keep me from taking it all too seriously.
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Hi from WA state. Lovely introduction. I so appreciate intelligent, thoughtful writing. Beautiful, pensive, Hemmingway-esque photo of the younger you. I spent many summers, growing up, in Seaside/Cannon Beach and Portland. Oregon is so pretty. I’m looking forward to reading more of your work.
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Really enjoyed reading your about Statement. I just turned the sexy number the day before Halloween. I have started with Baby Steps towards my goal of being a published poet. This quote has run through my head for years and now I have progress reports to read at the end of each day – “What have you done today to make your dreams come true?”.
Thanks so much for the inspiration from your “I Want” in the phrase “bleeding on the edge of her words” that nudged me to write “SHE WAS LEFT BLEEDING”, soon to post!!
I am so appreciative for that gem of a line.
Thanks,
Chuck
Come visit me??
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That’s an “About” to grab the attention and bring me back for more. Sounds like you’ve had a pretty fabulous life and are continuing to do so. Good for you. I’m all about stories and sharing lives. Lark or joke or whatever, I’m glad you have a blog.
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Wow. Thank you for the kind words. 🙂
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Arrived via Bernadette’s website. Glad I did. A lovely and inspiring place you have created and I look forward to following. Thank you. 🍁
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Thank you for the visit and the follow. Glad we found each other, as I have your website open at the moment and was just about to “follow”. 🙂
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Love your bio but just have to say, Go Sun Devils! 😉
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Hahahah. But…. I went to UO… Go DUCKS!! 🙂
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I saw that and I know how big the rivalry is between UO and ASU.
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Oh, yeah. But I also worked at Penn State for nearly 30 years, and they played Oregon once in the Rose Bowl. I had a party at my house and invited people from work, all true-blue PSU fans. Some… awkward moments until PSU pulled away. 🙂
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Well this Sunday AZ Cardinals are playing the Buffalo Bills, I’m conflicted on who to root for. As for Buff State since they aren’t division one, I don’t think I will ever have a problem with college football.
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That’s a very refreshing take an a bio. Thanks for lighting up my day (and I totally need that today)!
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So glad to meet you circuitously through Bernadette and the Frog. I’m still trying to figure that out, but it did lead me to your concise, thoughtful, interesting, and introspective blog. I’m in! (Oh, plus yes, I do love that Jim Harrison quote – thanks for sharing.
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Good to hear about your journey a bit. You got my “follow”.
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Nice funny way to introduce yourself. Interesting and unique. Liked your writing.
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Thank you! Kind words are always appreciated.
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This is all rather cool would be an understatement! Fantastic bio! Think I’m gonna like it here 😀
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I hope it is okay that I laughed a lot while reading your introduction. I really fancy your picture of the hot (or was it heated) guy on the top of the post. Please send him my heart-shaped eyes 😀 😀
On a serious note, Please to meet you! I am happy to have found your blog through Mia’s.
Looking forward to reading you!
~ Dajena 🙂
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You, sir, have quite a writing voice.
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Thank you. 🙂 So do you. And I identify, a little, with what you went through, and admire the open way you’re processing that.
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Thank you–at first I thought of a blog as making my life something of a public wound, but it’s helped me gather a lot of insight from reader-writers who have their own ways of seeing the lingering light (as you do in that lovely poem).
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I know. There are some wonderful people and talents here.
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H. very nice to meet you and learn about your interesting life. Thank you for following my blog, I will certainly take time to visit yours as well. I hope your day is a happy one! 🙂
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Wow. I am kinda knocked out by your blog and the fact that you are even interested in my project. You have one very sophisticated and very erudite blog. I hope when I get the magazine up and running you will consider being a contributor. In the meantime, I have another blog, http://www.HaddonMusings.com. On Wednesdays I run a Salon that accepts open contributions. Check it out and see if it is something you might be interested in. I am glad you found me because I will enjoy reading your posts.
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Hi, Bernadette. Thank you for the kind words. I am definitely interested. Please let me me know when you’re ready for submissions. (I happened to be reading Haddon Musings when your note came in, by the way.) I’ll look around in my grab bag and see if I have something for you this Wednesday. Although, I’m sort of pleased with the “…Fireflies” one from this past week, if you get the chance to look.
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I’ve been struggling to navigate your blog using my phone, so I will have to come back tomorrow when I’m at my PC.
Thank you for following and for your likes, they’re very much appreciated.
Your about page is wonderful and reminds me I never went back to mine to put anything in it of supstance. I really should address that oversight at some point, shouldn’t I? *smiling*
Warmest of welcomes.
Touch
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Thanks 🙂 Gonna have to try curried couscous sometime.
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See, look at my comment above *shakes ahead*. It’s why I try to refrain from using my phone to post comments. Apologies for my spelling error. *Substance*
My cooking is about as good as my writing, so don’t expect too much of the curried couscous 😀
O.K., I’m going to go and have a read of your work now. Fingers crossed my internet is a little better this afternoon. It’s what you get for living out in the sticks. Some poor donkey on a wheel must have needed a good rest yesterday, given the state of our internet speed last night.
Right off to nosy 😀
Regards
Touch.
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You had me at Outer Banks, NC and put on weight and took it off. I’m from NC and have spent time looking at all the young pictures of myself when I thought I needed to lose weight. Oh to be at that weight now. You also mentioned going through 4 bouts of cancer. Lets just say, I’m interested. Not ready for casseroles at this time. Look forward to reading more.
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Thanks for the kind words. I hope you find some things you like here. 🙂
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Know how that goes. 🙂
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Your blog title fascinated me and so I stepped away from writing my nonsensical poetry and wandered across here to be nosey. A great introduction and what a fascinating life so far. I’m about to be even nosier and wade through some of your posts.
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Age is only a number so do as I do and ignore it, hide it in a corner and leave. Running girl sounds like one to add to my shelf. Great blog. ☆♤♧
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Thank you for the kind words and the follow. RG is still a work in progress, but she gives me hell if I don’t work on it.
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I know what you mean, mine thinks it can change plot midstream and have better ideas than me… *whispers* it’s conspiring…
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It’s when the characters turn into real people and get demanding that I have trouble. 🙂
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Precisely!
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“Shooting for profundity is a trap”. How ironically profound. Glad to have found your corner of the WWW. Looking forward to seeing more 🙂
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HI,
I’m Tokoni, a student and poet. Its nice to meet you. I’d like to invite you to my blog at http://www.insanitybeautiful.wordpress.com if you’re interested. Thanks.
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Nice to meet you, too. Thank you for the invitation, and I’ve started following your blog. 🙂
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Hi, thanks for following me! you have a nice blog here anyway 🙂
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HI! And thanks for the follow. You have a nice one, too. Have been enjoying it. 🙂
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Im glad you did 🙂
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nicely said, and good to see the Marcus Aurelius quotes…
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I have to admit, your line about hating lazy writers, then confessing to having to kick your own as because you’ve become one cracked me up. I’m looking forward to following fellow Oregonian with ties to journalism and a sense of humor. And thanks for the follow, by the way. Cheers and Go Ducks!
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Thank you so much for the annstvincent.com blog follow! I hope you enjoy what you read, and in turn, I look forward to exploring your blog further.
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hello hemm – thank you for the follow and i’m happy to have crossed paths with you and your blog. you’ve had an interesting journey and it continues…..i look forward to reading about it –
best, beth
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I do believe this page has been updated. I like the walk down memory road and the photo that goes with it. Hope recovery found you well. 🙂
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She did, Recovery. She found me. I patted her on the ass, gave her a big kiss and kept going. 🙂
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Fuck that noise, you best go after her and get what is yours!
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I am; that’s why I have to keep going. But she did what she came to do. 🙂
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I’m a fan of your words, Sir. I look forward to reading more. Blessings.
~Audrey
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Thank you. 🙂
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I’m 50 and wish I’d been more focused with many things earlier on. Of course, my realization came this year! I enjoyed an eleven-year career in the educational publishing business, then marriage, kids and earning happened all at once, as it does for so many of us. My children are now teens and I can get back to what I should have focused on thirty years ago – my art and writing.
There’s a great little book I keep on my desk titled. Late Bloomers. This little book cheers me up whenever I get depressed and say “why the hell didn’t I start earlier?”
Your About is quite wonderful and I wish you much happiness and success in your vibrant new electronic writing career 🙂
AnnMarie
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I figure at this point it’s just a footrace between the writing and Alzheimer’s. (Yes, I’ve developed gallows humor after living in a newsroom for a while and then editing academic prose.) I posted a quote by Marcus Aurelius a few days ago that I like in this context, as harsh as it sounds: ““Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what’s left and live it properly.
What doesn’t transmit light creates its own darkness.”
I do get so impatient with people who worry about things they can’t change, like, well… what happens to us all sooner or later. So, I soldier on, middle finger raised high to that gentleman with the sythe.
You can do this. Someone’s got to be there to call 911 for me. 🙂
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I hope I retain my funny bone too – I don’t mind the getting older part – it’s just the damn wrinkles 😉
AnnMarie
Thanks for the pep talk. I’m usually quite peppy myself but I guess tonight’s one of those ‘feeling sorry for myself’ kind of nights. I promise to visit your blog again when I’m happy which should be tomorrow 🙂 see I’m getting there already…
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Hello to my fellow Oregonian! Great to meet a new neighbor! 😉 Thanks for visiting my blog 🙂 Go Ducks!
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Hi, thanks for the follow. I enjoyed reading your about page. “Hemmingplay” raised a smile from me. I’m still new to this writing caper, so your feedback was very much appreciated 🙂 Cheers.
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You’re welcome. Glad we found each other. 🙂
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I like the title. Just curious. I hear those swine judging contests can be brutal. You either go whole hog or you don’t go.
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Yup. Go pig or go home.
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Laughing out loud!
😉
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thanks. 🙂
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Louise,
Feel free to send email directly to hemmingplay@gmail.com if it’s convenient. I’m probably more tied to email than anything else at this point, and carry it around in my pocket.
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I am currently having issues with my ‘like’ button… seems to unlike everything I like so will have to sort that out! But I really like your about page, I am looking forward to your future posts very much. Thank you for the comment and the follow 🙂
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Thank you so much. I hope you find this a place you’ll visit from time to time. You said somewhere that you’re from Essex originally? I’m in the States. Pennsylvania. But my ancestors from from way up north in Yorkshire, a little place called Todmorden, near Halifax. Quite a distance from you. They left a long time ago, though. 1725.:-)
Good to hear from you, and hope you’ll write again if you want to bounce anything off the wall.
H.
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I will most certainly write again! I am enjoying reading though your blogs 🙂 just sorry I can’t like anything!
Yeah originally from Essex but moved more West and now in Bristol. Wish I knew my family history that far back! So way over the sea to yourself. One of the best things I found about the online blogging is the ability to connect to so many people.
Thank you! Louise
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By the way, the problem with your ‘like’ button is probably due to a bug in the theme you’re using, or it might be something in the Dashboard settings. I’d guess somewhere in the “sharing” settings or in the “Appearance” areas.
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Perfect I will have a look thank you! It keeps working and then stopping, before when I cleared the cache it worked again but that didn’t work this time around… very annoying.
I will take a look, thank you 🙂
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It is working again! Very mysterious…
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It is. Glad it cleared up.I’m headed to bed, but shoot me an email any time you want to chat. I’m online most of the time I’m awake and will respond. 🙂
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Thank you! Same goes back to. Sleep well 🙂
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Hi Hemmingplay, I wanted to thank you for the follow!
My blog is a bilingual one. So you may get links to poems in English as well as to some in Italian… Pictures, on the other hand, have no language barriers 😉
Keep up the good work.
Anna
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I don’t speak Italian, but I like to hear it spoken. I found your audio files and enjoyed listening. That’s a great idea, by the way. I prefer hearing the poet speak her own words, and the intent and emotion come through so much more clearly than just in the words on the page or screen.
I look forward to reading more.
H.
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I think you are incredibly inspiring, so I’ve nominated you for The-very-inspiring-blogger-lighthouse-and-awesome-blossom-award/ no obligation to accept, I just wanted you to know.
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I don’t know quite what to say, other than to send many, many thanks for the kind words. That is very gratifying. 🙂
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Dear friend, Thank you very much, I was really happy to have been following your blog. I’m still a lot to figure out, and here I can only say that you are an awesome blogger, full Inspiring and hope you can inspire more readers. Thanks and greetings compassion from Gede Prama 🙂
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Gede,
Thank you for the kind words, especially since I don’t feel worthy of them. Most of the time, I’m just stumbling along. If you find something good in this, though, I’m glad. Thanks again.
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Kudos on the blog title and tag line! 😀
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Thank you. Much appreciate your comment and visit.
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Hello..You have a great writing blog..here..Keep it up.
Cyril
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Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate them, and the visit very much.
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Welcome..
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Thank you for the nomination for the Versatile Blogger Award! Not sure what I did to deserve the attention but thank you! Even better than being recognized by a fellow writer is being led back to a great blog. You are a true writer with a real mind for words. Looking forward to reading more from you.
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Not at all. I enjoy all kinds of writing, but your voice and experiences are important. I have friends who are in the middle of raising children and dealing with marriages and the struggle of the next day, and that requires a kind of humility, candor, quiet courage and humor that I admire and believe it deserves more credit.
Thanks for your kind words, too. They’re more gratifying than you could know.
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Please accept this from me as I feel you are worthy 🙂 http://bruisedbelly.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/the-versatile-blogger-award/
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Hey, there. This is a totally unexpected pleasure, much like every visit I make to your blog. I really like your work, so a nomination from you is especially humbling. Thank you.
hemmingplay@gmail.com
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You are most welcome. And thank you 🙂
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Hello, good to meet another ex journalist – and one who is old enough to remember when photos came in on sheets of transparencies! I’d love to go back to university and study one day, hope you enjoy the next stage of your career and thank you for following my blog from Australia.
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Ah, someone else who knows the secret handshake. Good to hear from you. I wasn’t in it all that long — about six years– but long enough. The ink gets into your blood. Thank God. 🙂 Last honest thing I’ve done, or so it seems some days. I’ve been in communications (PR) for a Univ., which seemed honorable enough until a couple of years ago.
I’ve just stuck a toe in self-publishing, too. I’ll have to check your book out. Mine is for little girls… (written for the daughters of a friend).
Again, very good to hear from you. Best of luck.
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