Embracing Change: Life Lessons from a Coffee-Addicted Writer

The Sunday Post, Issue #279

The Editorial

Who can believe it’s already Labor Weekend? Time seems to slip through our fingers like sand at the beach, more quickly with each passing year. Maybe it’s just age creeping up on us, or maybe – just maybe – there’s a glitch in the matrix and we’re all trapped in some bizarre simulation. Let's avoid delving down that strange YouTube rabbit hole; I've lost more hours than I care to admit getting sucked into conspiracy theories that could have come straight out of a Stephen King novel. Trust me, save your time and sanity; you don’t want to wander into that labyrinth.

Labor Day Weekend is framed as the grand finale of summer, a bittersweet celebration where kids relish their last fleeting moments of freedom before being tossed back into the tumultuous churn of school life. That’s from their perspective, of course. As someone without kids – and I say that lightly, mostly as a joke – I can only imagine the parents counting down the days until their little darlings vacate their cluttered homes, rejoicing as the school bus rolls up, whisking their offspring away from the chaos of summer into the... well, let's call it the "structured chaos" of education.

Now, I can’t help but reflect on my own school experiences – a nightmare soaked in vivid memories that plague my nights. You might call it trauma or perhaps even PTSD; after all, few can truly forget the sting of childhood cruelty, especially when it comes from those who should be your sanctuary. I navigated the treacherous waters of bullying, just barely staying afloat. I’m living proof that, with God’s grace, you can indeed rise from the ashes. Next Sunday marks my 44th birthday, and I’m still learning to forgive—not just others but myself. Though I was fortunate not to be harmed by my own parents, my heart goes out to those who have faced those dark storms. To you, dear soul, know that you are family in spirit, and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your mother. But I digress before I plunge too deeply into sorrow.

Changes Happen for Good Reasons

Life tossed a few curveballs my way this past week—Google Search glitches, CEO drama, formatting snafus, and domain issues that felt like they were straight out of a sci-fi plot. For those who noticed, my blog was on a brief hiatus. Fear not! The ramblings of this coffee-addicted writer aren’t going anywhere. I weathered the storm, thanks in part to a little nudge from “Skynet.” Just a slice of humor there—I took a page from AI to help untangle the mess.

There's a batch of issues I’ve been dodging that will soon demand my attention, like an insistent ghost haunting my thoughts. It’s funny how they say you become a different person every five or ten years; well, here I am at 44, discovering that maybe I’m just a late bloomer.

In a twist of fate, my procrastination seems to be fading like a wisp of smoke—almost overnight. Perhaps age has finally endowed me with some wisdom, or maybe it’s just the fleeting realization of time’s cruel march. There’s only one blog now—this one. Yes, that’s right! I should’ve heeded the advice from my fellow bloggers about juggling two blogs being a herculean endeavor. But fear not, Gunsmoke & Grit, my haven for western fiction, won’t be disappearing entirely. I’m wrapping that up, migrating all the review posts here, complete with their original posting dates.

Instead of maintaining a separate blog, you'll find a weekly “Gunsmoke & Grit” feature here every Saturday, commencing September 6th. We’ll kick things off with “There’s Something Wrong in Hugo Creek” by Lumen Reese—an eerie blend of horror and western that hits two genre stones with one throw.

And for those still hungry for more, Gunsmoke & Grit has its own dedicated Facebook page, conveniently linked in the sidebar.

On the Reading Block

Reading has taken an unexpected turn, but I’m still burrowing into books, which is always a blessing. Everyone should read! I mean, actual reading—not the lazy perusal of a phone screen while slouched in a shopping cart. Seriously, if that’s your reading style, do us all a favor and straighten up; it’s not just a strain on your eyes and back, it’s an annoyance to everyone around you!

Returning back to the literary world, I recently tucked a Halloween II bookmark into Naomi Booth’s Sealed, a horror novel that I’ll be reviewing for “31 Reads of Terror” on October 1st. I’ve curated a list of spooky reads but might not adhere to a strict chronological order. But hey, I’m reading, so cut me some slack.

On my Kindle, I’ve got a NetGalley copy of Beverly Lewis’s Christmas House, an Amish romance novella that might seem a bit out of left field for my long-time readers. Believe it or not, I once devoured romances, especially those set in Amish communities. A quick search will unveil a treasure trove of my older reviews, but please—let’s not revisit those relics from a time when my writing was as raw as unedited film. I plan to revisit and rewrite some of those posts eventually, either before winter or whenever I muster the energy.

Even though I’ll be reviewing an Amish book in October as part of the Halloween festivities, it doesn’t quite vibe with the spooky season. I’m not feeling the holiday spirit just yet; it’s too early for that! But read it I shall, so expect my review whenever I finally manage to finish.

Fresh Off the Press

I recently penned a haunting five-star review of Ania Ahlborn's chilling novel, The Unseen. If you’re brave enough to confront your fears, you can read my thoughts here. After wrestling with my age-old procrastination demons, I finally managed to attack Michael Connelly’s Nightshade. I emerged, a little dazed but exhilarated, with a four-star review you can check out here. Honestly, it was a thrilling ride—Connelly knows how to keep you guessing!

Some Final Thoughts

Get ready, literary adventurers—the Friday 56 post makes its grand return this Friday! I’ll be sharing a tantalizing snippet from Sealed. I had been featuring it on my soon-to-be-exhausted second blog, but alas, those old posts won’t be making the leap to the new site. Instead, I’ve created a fresh piece of post art—whatever you want to call it. It’s slightly weird and possesses that Gothic flair that calls to me like a whisper in the dark. This new 56 won’t be tied to any specific genre; rather, it’ll be a free-spirited showcase of whatever I’m currently reading. Who knows what twists and turns await?

Happy reading, everyone! As always, what have you been reading this week?

⁓B.J. Burgess