In recent weeks the news from here in Minnesota has been painful, distressing, and traumatizing. Here at the campfire we have tried to keep up. To keep the logs kicked towards the center and the fire crackling—a source of light and warmth and community. Perhaps while here you have occasionally been better able process your own thoughts and feelings; perhaps to feel a little less alone or anxious; a bit closer to others who share your concerns and perspectives. If so, I am grateful.

I have a request. In addition to writing here on Facebook, I have a site on Substack, called ‘Notes From The Campfire.’ It takes quite a bit of time to craft these posts, to think them through and share them. And to be perfectly transparent, we have had a bit of a tough year—budgetary and otherwise—with Kathy’s cancer and subsequent retirement from teaching. So, I have a request. The Substack site is the only one on which I receive any remuneration. If it is possible for you to subscribe there, I would surely appreciate it. There are actually two options–paid or free–and you are welcome to do either. Every subscription helps. Every single ‘like’ or comment or re-stack helps. And I am grateful for your presence and support in every way. I like Substack not only for the modest income I receive from paid subscribers, but because as my private page it is totally free from the online bullying, nonsense and obscenity contaminating social media. In other words, it truly is a smaller, more ‘intimate’ gathering. So, if you’d like to actively help support my writing, please give a Substack subscription a look. (See the link in ‘Comments’ below.) And if you are already there, thanks!!

Meanwhile, thank you for being with us here at the FB campfire. Thank you for your support. I will keep writing. And sharing. Now please pass the coffee pot and the marshmallow stick.

(On Substack, I am at Notes From The Campfire@douglaswoodauthor — CLICK HERE to follow and subscribe. )