IT'S ABOUT TIME TO GET IT TOGETHER

 

As of November 2026

 

 

 

The title of this autobiography has at least two meanings.

 

At the end of Chapter 3, I quoted a statement by 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. 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. It's about time, I concluded, that I 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 keep all that writing in mind coherently, not even me. So, as I thought about writing this autobiography, I decided to weave those writings into what I hope is a coherent, interesting summary of my life. I thought it would be good to bring all those writings together.

 

You will note that all of the chapters in this document are listed separately. While reading, you can't scroll down to the next chapter, but must return to the menu. I did this to keep each section relatively short, because going back to a particular place in a long document can be difficult. Accessing separate chapters will make it 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.