I know that a fair number of my friends read this Blog from time to time, and as we head into the new year, I want to offer a heartfelt blanket apology. I have been remiss in my communications—including many non-responses to rather urgent professional and personal emails.
I am sorry!
Period!
While rudeness allows no mitigating circumstances, I can only say lamely in partial defense that the last six months have been marked by unexpected and unremitting book pressure. It was precisely July 4th week that I began to re-work the rough draft. For reasons mostly of stupidity, I though it would take a bit of “touching up.”
Ha!
There have been no more than a few days respite for six rather grueling months—including a 2-week August “vacation” in New Zealand during which I edited (re-wrote) from more or less 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. each and every day. (Total number of hikes: 0.)
It’s been worth it, alas, even the rudeness. Which is not to say the book is worth a damn. It may well not be worth a damn, but it is always worth infinite effort, to one’s limits, to try and make something that allows one to occasionally say, “Not bad.” At this point, with my work (and that of Erik, Cathy, Shelley) more or less done, I’m going through that horrendous phase when I am powerless—and yet am certain I have produced a pile of crap.
We shall see.
But, again my apologies for behavior that, though beyond my control (no kidding—book writing is for me a garden-variety addiction), is still shameful!