The best way for me to spend a happy afternoon is to sit at my computer and write something for TheLatest.

Writing has always been a joyful experience for me. I remember as far back as summer camp when I wrote letters to my parents. The Second World War was on, and so I chose to share my feelings about war and people dying. As I grew up, my favorite thing to do was to write compositions for my classes in school. On into my high school and college years, I joyfully grabbed the opportunity to write something.

The question I am asking here is why is writing such fun? The answer appears to be that it is a way of sharing with others. I have always felt a sense of loneliness, and as an only child, most of my days were spent alone. Strange as it may sound, I continue to spend most of my time alone. So when I found TheLatest it was the ideal opportunity for me.

In addition, teaching provided me with a chance to read my student's words. In doing so, I felt the vicarious pleasure that writing has always given me.

For anyone who feels lonely I recommend writing. You may discover much about yourself in trying it. Since we recently lost all of our books in a fire, the ones I most miss are my Webster's Dictionary and my Thesaurus. A man with whom I spent many years teaching sent a book to me. It is a translation of Plato's Republic. Unfortunately it is not the translation I used when I was teaching Philosophy, so reading the introduction was unpleasant. Anyway, I must remember to call and thank him for sending it. Perhaps he may find me a dictionary and thesaurus.