This is a terrible way to send holiday greetings, so long after it’s over, but I want this to go to all the friends whose “following” has enriched my life, and especially to friends who were kind enough to send me greetings when they heard nothing from me in return. But at the very least I’d like to give some explanation, ask for forgiveness, and let you know a bit of what I’ve been up to.
First of all, I did enjoy a lovely family Christmas, all six of us, including friend Elizabeth who has become a delightful regular participant in our family shenanigans.
Then I’d like to tell you how my time has been tied up especially with my about-to-happen book: How Could Those Lovely People Let it Happen: A Psychologist’s Personal Journey. I decided to publish with Beaver’s Pond Press who do a very thorough and professional job of editing and preparing the book for publication. Right now we’re sharpening up my cover vision executed by a super artist. It currently measures 213 pages, but I’m sure the final printing will change that some. Right now I’m looking for people who’d be willing to read and review the link to the manuscript. If that sounds to you like a good thing to do, Please email me at www.forgivenessoptions.com. Some people will tell me I shouldn’t get it out there so freely, but I’m sure I could win in court if anyone tried to steal it. It’s all about me, and only things I could write. It would be lovely to have people ready to review it on Amazon when it comes out. And I do think the answers to the titular question are quite relevant to the current world condition. I plan also to publish the Preface on my web site, www.forgivenessoptions.com.
So how good is that as an excuse? Well, do consider that energy lessens with age, and I’m well into that age thing. And besides, I’ve chosen to be the correspondent for my class of 1951 from Connecticut College, which was, at the time, Connecticut College for Women. And I do get myself involved in things like the Residents Council here at the Excelsior Waters where I’ve been living a very comfortable life since 2018.
And then there’s technology! Sometimes I wish I had just retired. (Oh yes, I didn’t renew my license last year.) Some folks actually do things like reading books and attending the myriad of activities here. I know enough about technical stuff until something goes kaflooey and I get to work a day or so with a helpful techie. Thankfully most of the time they can get me straightened out, some more efficiently than others.
I do walk a half-hour every day, though, and attend exercise classes four days a week. And, of course, I still enjoy concerts and theater – and travel. This past spring my son and I cruised up the Mississippi with Viking. I especially liked that because we ended in Saint Paul, so all we had to do was disembark and enjoy a ride to our homes in a friend’s car. I may or may not make final payment on an August Viking cruise of the Arctic on a ship identical to the one we enjoyed on the Antarctic a couple of years ago.
And so it goes. Age happens whether we like it or not, but it doesn’t have to be dull.
If you would consider reading the manuscript, please connect with me via my email, forgivenessoptions@earthlink.net
monagustafsonaffinito 
Good to hear from you, Mona! Really good news about your latest book. You have been prolific since we returned from Israel! I have two of your books. I’ll look for the next one when it hits Amazon.It’s good to hear th
I had just finished a response to you, Mary, when someone came to my door. Now I can’t find it, so I hope this doesn’t end up being a duplicate. At any rate, I want you to know how happy it makes me that you always respond so quickly. (I think you must spend as much time as I do on line.) At any rate, I’ll be happy when you read and, I hope, review it on amazon. I’ve been told that it helps sales a lot if some 25 or more reviews appear in the first few days. I’ve also been told they won’t print a review if it comes from family or friend. Not that any of my books have sold enough to meet the initial expense, but I’m determined to try this time.