As a writer and a musician, I’ve come to believe that one of the world’s greatest needs is for more humor, inspiration, and positive points of view. I thought about calling this blog simply “Up,” but there is already something out there with that name and it doesn’t really lead anyone up.  Flannery O’Connor had it right: all things that rise must converge.  We need convergence, but even more than that, we need an alternative to the thoughtless soundbites, anger, criticism, and manipulation that passes for modern journalism.  We need more truth, and I believe the truth is good and we need not fear it.

Let’s begin with something basic. Yesterday we went to a local coffee shop on Monroe Street in Madison and saw a young couple walking with their toddler between piles of leaves.  The little one wore her green flannel dinosaur costume, complete with pointy ears and tail.  Halloween was two days away.  I congratulate those parents.  It’s okay for life to be one-third anticipation, one-third wearing a costume, and one-third not worrying about what others think. I like it that life is not linear but layered.  When we are 60, we are also still 40, 21, 16, and 8.  It’s all still there, and I still have a dinosaur costume in my mind.  I can feel it, see myself in it, and be excited about Halloween.  I think I’ll put it on right now.  There, that’s better.  ee cummings was also right.  There’s a better world next door; let’s go.

We are what we want to be.  As a writer, I also want to be a blogger.  There, I am.  I’ve taken off the dinosaur costume and put on a writer’s tweeds.  What do you want to be today?