A Good Friend

AFTER EXPERIENCING TWO DISAPPOINTING selections from my library over the holidays, I decided to revisit my 2013 memoir, From the Hip & Heart. I still had an early copy resting on top of my dresser. https://goo.gl/Uecvh6

I’ve become a steadfast reader of printed and bound books, and I like this habit very much. It helps bring balance to my dependence on my electronic devices.

Twelve years have passed since I published my collection of humorous essays. I was interested in enlisting my seasoned eyes to review the effort I had put forth. My real motivation was my need to have something to read, as my library had closed due to a blizzard, and I was more than a bit antsy, to say the least.

The first thing I noticed in my book was the small font I had selected. Over the last few years, I have grown fond of LP (Large Print) books. This was my observation out of the chute. I know my eyesight has recently faced some challenges, so I would have increased the font size if I were still in the publishing mode.

Additionally, I was pleased to reflect on the use of relatively short chapters in my book. In our busy world, it seems that starts and stops are a part of my experiences, and I prefer short chapters in my books while I multitask.

I also decided to read the chapters in random order. It was just a whim I had with no real rhyme or reason, so I bounced around the pages. It was rather a fun exercise. After a couple of chapters under my belt, I beamed in delight at the respectable composition I found in my pages. I was impressed with my effort; it brought a smile to my face and prompted even deeper reflections on the stories I wrote.

These observations hit home to me even further after my brother expressed in a recent text that he increasingly judged books by the likability of the lead protagonist.

I liked the guy who was writing my stories.

If that is too egotistical, such is life.