IT'S ABOUT TIME TO GET IT TOGETHER

 

as of September, 2026

 

 

 

The title of this autobiography has multiple meanings. At the end of Chapter 3, I quoted the late Thomas Merton, a Trappist Monk and prolific author. He said, "We do not want to be beginners. But let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything else but beginners, all our life!" Reflecting on my own life, I realized how true this was for me. I have done much, but I have left much undone. So, as I said after quoting Merton, "Of course, I am a beginner in almost every aspect of my life, a sobering thought, since I am now almost 90 years old. I think it's about time that I should really try to get it together." 

 

But the title has another meaning. I've written over 100 brief memoirs, independently published 88 of them.  For most of my adult life, I have sent out end-of-year updates about my year just ending.  I've done all this so that family and friends might know who I am and what I've been up to. However, nobody can coherently keep all that writing in mind, not even me. So, in this autobiography, I have tried to weave all those writings into what I hope is a coherent and interesting summary of my life, trying to get it all together.

 

 I consider the contents of this autobiography essentially, though not entirely, true. Memory fades, and gaps must be filled. I remembered some of the events I wanted to write about, sometimes incompletely.  As I did when writing the collection of memoirs on this website, on which much of the material in this document is based, I might ask someone for help or search the web. If neither of those works, I make it up. 

 

You will note that you must access all chapters in this document separately. You can't scroll down to the next chapter, but must return to the menu. I have done this to keep what you are reading relatively short because going back to a particular location in a long document can be difficult. By using separate chapters, it will be easier to return to where you left off if there is still more to read.  

 

So, here, for your consideration, and I hope, enjoyment, is my attempt to finally get it all together.