TIME FOR A LOOK BACK AND THEN FACE FORWARD

 In a few days, we'll be ushering in a new year--2023. This is a good time to reflect on this past year--the wins, the losses, the blessings, the struggles, dreams dashed and dreams fulfilled. 

I've done my share of reflection these past few days. It hasn't been a year of big anything. I'm living the good life of retirement. I volunteer a few days a week. I edit for a few authors. I write my own books. It saddened me to learn of the death of a former co-worker I never had an opportunity to catch up with since moving back up to PA. What I learned is--don't take time for granted.

My one dream come true this past year was the completion and publication of my book Union Station. I had danced around writing this book for almost two years. Each time I'd decide it was more work than I wanted to do, something would be handed to me that helped with the writing. This book was meant to be, and I was meant to write it.

You've no doubt heard the saying, "You can't go home again." I dispute that statement. I released Union Station at a book launch at the Brownsville Free Public Library in my hometown. I can't tell you how overwhelmed I was by the response of the people, some old friends, family, and classmates, and others I'd never met. They showed up. They bought books. They made me feel at home again. And when I had a follow-up signing for Union Station at the BARC Heritage Center, they turned out again. Some came with stories about my father--men who worked with him on the railroad and knew him well. Those stories overshadowed the sales of books, and I will carry them with me always.

All in all, 2022 was a very good year.

What might 2023 hold? I don't make New Year's resolutions because I never keep them. I have the usual thoughts about living healthy, and the best I can do is promise to try. I want to always live in a way that reflects gratitude for the ways my own life is blessed. I hope I do that.

So, what books will be coming in 2023? I have three in the works. But we all know how that works. There's always another one that sneaks in there. My plan now is to bring these three books to publication this year:

Whatever your hopes for 2023, I wish you a Happy New Year filled with blessings and graces and happiness.

                                                             Linda