People who have blogs generally stick to one topic in order to develop a strong readership. I started out that way, concentrating on books and writing and the various aspects of promotion, but after Jeff died, my focus changed to grief. I didn’t really have a choice if I wanted to continue blogging since grief became my life. Besides, I was so shocked by what I was feeling, shocked that I didn’t even know it was possible to feel that way, shocked by the insensitivity so many people showed toward grief, that I felt compelled to tell the truth. Then later, as my grief started to wane, I wrote about my travels. Now, I write about . . . whatever. The topics range from grief to home ownership to gardening to books to aging.
The problem with writing a blog with such a wide range of topics is that every topic has its followers and every topic has its detractors. For example, those who wish me to focus on grief aren’t really interested in my ruminations on other matters. Some people think I should write more about aging since aging, like grief, is rather a taboo topic in our eternal-youth oriented society. (There’s something almost embarrassing about growing old, as if its our fault that we don’t remain young.) Other people, of course, think I talk too much about growing old.
I suppose it would be nice to have a single topic, and just post once a week on that particular topic, but I’ve done grief. I don’t really have much more to say about it. And I’ve done traveling as a topic, and now I’m pretty much done with traveling itself since I spent my traveling money on my house. Although I sometimes mention the books I’m reading, I don’t want to have a book blog. Writing reviews and critiques seems so much like writing book reports for school, and I never much liked doing that. I read, I think while I’m reading, I finish the book, and immediately start another. What else is there to say?
I really don’t want to talk about age, though it is a focus right now since I’m trying to age-proof my yard. And I can feel changes in myself — not just physically and mentally, but how I view the world, other people, and myself. So it’s hard not to let those things filter into my writing.
Basically, I really only know one subject intimately — me. And that’s what this blog has always been about — my take on the world around me and within me.
Is there a point to this particular piece? Probably not. It is fair warning, though, that the topics I write about will continue jumping all over the place. You don’t need me to tell you to feel free to skip any post that’s not to your liking since I’m sure you do it anyway. But I do need to say (it can’t be said enough!) that I appreciate your stopping by to read any of the things I write.
***
What if God decided S/He didn’t like how the world turned out, and turned it over to a development company from the planet Xerxes for re-creation? Would you survive? Could you survive?
A fun book for not-so-fun times.
Click here to buy Bob, The Right Hand of God.
Bertram's Blog 
March 30, 2021 at 3:17 pm
I have a humble suggestion why not write a book of aging ?
Or a novel !
The subject of aging in important. I consider that you are good writer in any subject if you are determined.
Lots of successful novels were inspired with authors real life autobiographical inspiration.
March 30, 2021 at 6:18 pm
A book on aging will be good, but I need to get even older so I have some perspective. Of course, I might be a late life Peter Pan and never grow older!
March 31, 2021 at 11:25 am
I have another suggestion. But please take it or leave it.
Because of psychological trauma it is difficult to read novels for the last three years. Next three months I am going to try to fight with my trauma and get over with it at least for the reading. No guarantee !
I have read again after forty years
Anton Chekhov new translation for me the best ever by
(The Two books I have bought it)
RICHARD PEVEAR AND LARISSA VOLOKHONSKY
THE COMPLETE SHORT NOVELS
ISBN 978-1-85715-277-7
ANTON CHEKHOV STORIES ISBN 978-0-553-38100-9
Simply I would like to you recommend to write short stories, short novels (grief, aging, about your life and etc)
What i like to say that short stories and short novels maybe easy to write before you getting old.
Simply a suggestion !
March 31, 2021 at 11:51 am
Good suggestion. I have written a few short stories. Maybe I’ll post them here or publish a short-story collection one of these days.
I understand about not being able to read novels. I went for years after Jeff died without reading. I did read at the beginning, but after a while, I realized every book made me cry. If it had a happy ending, I cried because he and I didn’t have a happy ending. If it didn’t have a happy ending, I cried because it reflected what I was feeling. I think it was in the seventh or eighth year that I began to be able to read novels again.
April 1, 2021 at 2:10 pm
Thanks a lot Pat again you saved me. Same experience happened to me. Now I understand and stay calm and and try little by little to read again and if I can’t the nexts three months I wait for the time. Grief helped to me to become calm. The serenity I am learning. As you have suggested I try to fall in love with something not necessarily with somebody. Now l understand that my journey is long to have some peace (it is absolutely not her fault) and I can wait. Her love never destroyed me. The proof that I have found your blog. Your kind reply simply made me cry.
April 1, 2021 at 5:49 pm
Someday you will be able to read again, but it’s definitely a long journey, probably because you are not taking the same “you” with you, but are becoming a different version of you, one that can thrive again.