We woke up this morning to the most beautiful windstorm, driving winds that rattled the house, chased the donkeys and sheep into the barn, has us bent over and stopped when we tried to bring some hay out. This is writing time, sweet time, I’m working on a Creative Aging Manifesto for my Ted Talk in Montclair, N.J. a week from tomorrow, it will be videotaped at Montclair State University.

Montclair was the home of my other life, my first marriage, where my daughter was raised, where I became a writer, it was never a good fit for me, never home for me, and since my divorce in 2008 I have not been back. It’s time, I think, Montclair is an interesting place, it will be strange to see it again, so many memories and feelings.

I’m excited about my Talk, I read a rough draft to Maria last night to get the timing down, it sounded good, it felt good, it always does to say what you believe.

When we heard the wind howling, we grabbed the dogs and set out for a walk on a nearby trail, it is warm but the wind is fierce. This is sweet writing weather, I am holed up with Red and Lenore and some candles, clacking away in peace and quiet.