Only for two months, but I love being here with both my Saguaro and human friends! We’re at the halfway mark.

One reason I’ve neglected my blog posts: I’m writing every morning for at least two hours. Over the past decade I’ve written hundreds of pages about various aspects of my life, stopping because I get focused on “Why would anyone want to read about my life? I’m not famous.”

It’s now or never! And I’m into it. I finally found the thread that I believe will interest readers. A rich life I have led in these nearly 78 years.

For other writers, I have learned that writing daily — what we all hear is essential — is the way to go. Why? I never realized that life stories would return so easily, but only if I’m consistently working on telling them.

Other than helping to raise two fine grown-up human beings, the most meaningful part of my life has been founding and running the OZ Children’s Bookstore in Southwest Harbor, Maine, from !982-1997.

So many wonderful people were involved with OZ as customers, authors, tourists, former students, local Mainers.

Perhaps, you?

On a Tucson afternoon hike the other day we ran into a couple from Belfast, Maine. As we always do, we got to talking. The man knew of OZ! I always love to hear this, of course.

His comment reminded me that some of you blog readers may recall a story about Oz, which may have meaning for my current writing. If so, would you be so kind to give me a hint of that story, so that the inner workings of my brain file may help with the neuroplasticity of remembering said story?

I would so appreciate it.

I’m in my happy place these days. In my writing and in my life.

Following our morning writing we hike afternoons in the wildness of the Sonoran Desert. The other day we took a field trip to Organ Pipe National Monument near Ajo, Arizona. What a magnificent place, which reminded me how much I need real natural places to thrive.

Eighteen years of living in Tucson, and I had never visited Organ Pipe??

Growing old (er) I don’t want to miss anything.

Starting our trek back to Minneapolis in a month will land me with my two young grandchildren, whom I have missed.

Thanking you ahead of time. Wishing you love, peace, and happiness in this troubled world.

Sheila of OZ (as my late dear friend Ashley Bryan called me)