Gratitude, that’s all

Today I’m 58. The distance traveled over my years seems incalculable

A bit o’ journalism that I’ve had cooking on the back burner for months is just about ready. Not quite finishing-touches almost done. More like all of the ingredients are in the mix and coming to a boil.

I think.

This assignment isn’t going to pay a lot of money. Still, gratitude is what I feel on this birthday. Gratitude that I get to tell stories for a living. Most of my college peers have gone on to other things, the American news media ecosystem is so damaged.

Yet the need is so great…

That my adult children are so beautiful and interesting makes me incredibly thankful. That I have a big group of friends who help get me through the financial challenges inherent to my sojourn, that’s everything.

That my ex-wife has an awesome work situation also brings me gladness. I’m feeling less guilty over the economic impact of throwing aside my Regular World media career.

Also, my housing situation is a dream. I get to focus and really write, without distraction.

The money will come, I deeply believe it.

I would feel immense gratitude if you took it upon yourself to tell a friend who might like what I doing on Substack. It’s easy to think only people out west will be feeling it. Or just stoners. My subscribers are actually hella varied. Some don’t smoke weed, some live in France.

If I’ve made you laugh aloud, in a newsletter or a social media post or in real life, consider offering a tip here. If productive pondering is what I provoked, think about leaving a still bigger one.