Many of my posts this year have been prompted by outside sources: a few in answer to official blog prompts, a few in reaction to articles I read, and more than a few in response to my reread of the first eleven Wheel of Time books.
I’ve mostly given up reading online articles. I don’t want to know what is going on in the world, but more than that, I’m trying to live in the offscreen world. I was going to say I’m trying to live in the real world, but the Wheel of Time isn’t the real world, though it often feels like it since it’s a reimagining of our world, myths, legends, cultures. But even so, I’ve been trying to read other books for now.
Which leaves me in something of a quandary since there’s not a whole lot left to blog about. Most of the official blog prompts aren’t that interesting to me, and with the up and down weather as well as the hazy days from out-of-state smoke, I haven’t been doing much outside, which gives me even less to write about. (Though I did find one lone hyacinth in my yard to celebrate the first day of spring!)
Since I never actually decided to blog every day, it won’t be going against any principle if I simply stopped, but I’m on a streak — 79 days and counting — so it seems a shame to give up now.
I should be glad there’s nothing much to say, especially with the anniversary of Jeff’s death coming up. Normally that in itself would have brought an onslaught of words, but our shared life ended sixteen years and a whole-lot-of-living ago. As a memorial, I had considered reading Grief: The Great Yearning, more or less my journal of that first year of grief, but I leafed through it the other day trying to see if there was any significance to a moment of sadness I experienced, and nope. Nope to finding any significance to sadness on that particular day. And nope to rereading the book. Sheesh. Just what I saw was enough misery to sink a tanker. It’s better for me to leave all that emotion between the covers of the book.
So . . . quandary. What to write when there’s nothing to write?
With any luck, I’ll find an answer in time to write tomorrow’s post.
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Pat Bertram is the author of Grief: The Inside Story – A Guide to Surviving the Loss of a Loved One.
Bertram's Blog 
March 20, 2026 at 9:05 am
Loively picture of your flower for the 1st spring day. I have Pine trees that have to be planted but I have been sick and just today feel that I might be on the mend. Family can’t hel because they are all sick too. I am hoping you don’t get ill. My daughter who has the immune system of an ox actually looked like she felt worse than I did. However, as a retiree I just assume that it is because I have very little to do, while she works 6 days a week with many autistic children. Why on earth did we pick such careers? I don’t know. I chose learning disabled teens from the streets and she chose this. What were we thinking? I guess I remember now. I thought if I don’t help who will? Strange the things we think.
March 20, 2026 at 10:05 am
I pretty much stay away from people, so with any luck, I’ll be okay. I’m glad you’re feeling better.
As for why you picked that career? Because you made a difference.
March 20, 2026 at 2:37 pm
Thanks for the 3rd year section on your site. It gave me some hope that I will find out who I am before I die.
March 20, 2026 at 4:05 pm
I’m glad you found that section. Yes, you will find out who you are, and if not, you will still find peace.
March 20, 2026 at 6:28 pm
Peace sounds like a rarity. Just hoping for not dismal.
March 20, 2026 at 7:37 pm
I can understand that.
March 20, 2026 at 10:18 am
If you blog about a March Madness bracket, I won’t read it, lol.
March 20, 2026 at 10:43 am
Since I have no idea what that even is, chances are I won’t write about it.