Push in the clutch and downshift

My candle burns at both ends

It will not last the night

But ah, my foes and oh, my friends

It makes a lovely light

–Edna St. Vincent Millay

 I have loved that poem since the first time I ever read it. Dekie told me (rightfully) that I need to write an article for my site this morning and get back on track. The Millay poem was the first thing that came to mind.

 Today is January 8, and the first Sunday after the wrap up of holiday festivities. It is a mild and drizzly day and most suitable for reflecting on the many events of the past year. It was a busy one. WordPress has told me that I now have 93 articles posted on this site and if you like, you may look over to the calendar on the right hand side bar and look at the articles I wrote in 2011.I entered 2011 with a big radiation burn on my neck from cancer treatment. My throat was swollen and the only real voice I had was right here on Johntheplantman. Things got much better rapidly though, and if my voice is not quite all back, I am encouraged by its progress.

 We had tornadoes in our neighborhood in April and again right before Christmas. Dekie and I were married May 14 and we took a delightful trip out west to see God’s magnificent landscape. On our return I was able to help Ken and Mary Nance in the repairing of the tornado damage in their yard.

I enjoyed being a bonsai artist on a grand scale at the Hubbard’s home on the mountain and the new father-in-law got a sprinkler for his garden for father’s day. We later took my collection of whisky barrel rings to Buckhead to do a little renovation on a side yard.

 And all the time we were doing these neat landscaping jobs, I was working from 5a.m until 8 a.m. trying to finish the second book in my redneck series titled REDEMPTION FOR A REDNECK Which turned into a whirlwind of activity for Dekie the publisher and my son, J.R. Schulz, the illustrator. Books arrived during the first week of November and we started a whirlwind of activity with book signings and the like. I was honored to be included by the Ga. Writer’s Association. as a participant in a panel discussion with fellow humorists Man Martin and Ray Atkins on writing humor. That was a good time.

Now I’m just about ready to commence the new year. My voice is coming back nicely and I have managed to stay married for more than 6 months. I’ll have a nice landscaping article up next week. I promise.

john

As usual, I would just love for you click here to go to Amazon and purchase the ebook edition of my wonderful book, Requiem for a Redneck to go on your Kindle. I have also noticed that Amazon now has a free Kindle app for iphones and tablets. Is that cool or what?