I hope you had a wonderful long weekend, that the Easter Bunny was good to you (or stayed away, if that’s what you were hoping for) and that the spirit of renewal and hope is in your heart.
 
We went light on chocolate (the bunnies in the backyard were warned beforehand) but had a peaceful and productive weekend, pairing pictures with book chapters and getting the book out to our editor/publisher before this week’s meetings in Toronto. I’m going to ask you a question on my Facebook page tomorrow and I want your honest opinion about an idea I have for the title. If you haven’t joined me there yet, here’s a link. It’s easy, no one will take your data (just don’t give them any) and you’ll be able to join the journal conversation, too. 
 
Speaking of conversations: I officially am no longer attached to my Rogers email account (the one at work) and I’m afraid that there’s been a bit of a glitch. If you have written to me there in the past few years (or weeks or days) you may not hear back from me. In moving my work emails into my home account, I was aghast to see some 25,000 (I initially thought 22,000 but the numbers kept rising) moved in. Most of them had been answered or deleted or both in the past year or two. But there they were again…and all I could do was watch with dread. 
 
By Saturday, I had cut them down to 2,000 and feel a lot more in control. But here’s the thing: the reason I wanted to hold on to these is not for some last vestige of my old life, but because I felt that I owed a response to those who wrote to me when they heard of my resignation or upon my leaving. Upon trying to answer a few during the down time between book edits in the past few months, I discovered emails that had deeply personal comments and such beautiful remembrances that I couldn’t just leave them unanswered! However, that may be where we find ourselves now.
 
I just don’t know how I’m going to tell the ones I’ve answered already from the ones I have not, and sending yet another “Hey, I’ve moved and here’s where you can find me” email to people who have already received one is just not kosher. So…I’m between a rock and a hard place.
 
Granted, the common response among those to whom I sent notes in the past year was that they didn’t expect to hear back from me. And I know it’s foolish, but I have always lived by the rule that if someone writes, you write back; if someone gives you a gift, you send a thank-you. They’re interlaced, in my books. I never, ever took your kindness for granted. And it’s another reason I’m urging people to start communicating with me through the FB page rather than emails; even if it’s just a “like” I can let you know I’ve read and am grateful for the feedback and the visit.
 
I don’t know what to do. But this time I may just have to, as the song goes, “Let it Go.” Those who want to stay in touch with the journal have – I hope – found me by now. It’s easy to find with a simple Google of my name. 
 
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some packing to do. We fly out tomorrow and there’s a two week trip with a sweet little boy waiting on the end half. I will be journalling while we’re away, too. Should be lots of fun and I hope you’ll come along for the ride!