On the deck, warming up to my comfort zone, feeling a little like vacation, which is what I want retirement to become. A feeling of perpetual vacation.
A first rate replacement for me in the screenwriting program, Cynthia Whitcomb, experience and credits and teaching experience. She's in her early 60s, be a good "end of career" gig for her the way it was for me. I knew she was in town but didn't think she was available, she's been doing so much workshop teaching on her own. This will give her more security, a good gig for her I'm sure.
I thought of offering help, advice, etc, re what I've learned about certain peculiarities of the class, but nope, I should let her make her own discoveries and solutions, we all do it differently.
But this does put the period down at the end of the sentence, retirement as theory is retirement as reality now that they've chosen my successor. CW is the logical choice actually, the most qualified person in town. I didn't think she was available, which is why she never occurred to me. But it is a very natural, logical fit. She has written a book herself, which I'm sure she'll use. And make it all very much her own, as she should.
So, another chapter ends. Onward.
I'm not doing any writing, other than blog writing, and I feel no energy to change this. I did make a couple false starts on things -- but I don't have the faith that writing matters the way I used to. I already have a huge archive, adding to it doesn't seem significant to me. What might change my inertia is a very wild, very experimental, very daring narrative idea. That's what usually gets my juices flowing. I can't get excited about doing something I've already done.
It's really nice out here on the deck. I don't get out here as often as I should, actually.
I really respond to Zen master Brad Warner, to his off the wall subjects, his values, his notions of Zen. Really glad I discovered him. Going to read all his books. A punk bass player turned Zen master. Perfect for the times.
I am rereading Wilder's The Skin Of Our Teeth -- what a major accomplishment! More later, I expect. But it makes so many plays look so irrelevant and frivolous.
Trying to keep the best stuff in front of me, counter balance to the horrors of the present political realities. In my novel, CJ finds a way to live through it but I'm not quite there yet, though I think Warner is helping me get there.
Typing this on the AlphaSmart. Man, I love this writing tool! Like it better than a computer. Sort of a cross between a computer and a typewriter, I guess. A battery driven keyboard. I am surprised more professional writers don't love it as much as I do. Of course, it was an international journalist who first turned me on to it. He was spot on. This is a remarkable tool IF what you want to do is write. Not worth doing anything else on.
Writing The Years has been fun but I may be nearing the end of my memories ha ha. More of a struggle now to add entries.
It's a beautiful day!
