A Beginning of Sorts

April. A good time to start. Bees are buzzing in the orchard, the hills are tinged with yellow mustard, and the world feels new again. I've been thinking about starting this blog for a long time. I hoped it could be a more fluid and potentially interactive version of my website, Zacate Canyon. I struggled with the title, which assumed disproportionate significance. On some days, Trying Not to Cry would have suited me best, but I settled on Still Amazed simply because, despite everything, I am.

So this is a place to share stories, memories, and thoughts on writing, teaching, and life, a place to discover the little sparks that somehow connect us. I'm based at a ranch in rural California, but you may find reminiscences here of growing up in Brooklyn and on Long Island, as well as fond recollections of fat-tire bike adventures, a bit of local history, and maybe the occasional rant, though mostly I seek reasons to be hopeful. I'd like to showcase people who are doing great things, share ideas and experiences from my years of teaching, maybe even talk about my book (How Writers Grow) and invite your questions and feedback. 

In other words, this weblog is a work in progress, as I suppose they all are, and I don't know how it will evolve...but there's a light in the window now and I hope you'll stop by.