Something has been missing from my blog lately. That would be...

Me.

I assure you that I haven't quit working on my next book--it gets closer to being published every day--but a lot of my time these past few months has been directed toward my upcoming move from Alabama to Tennessee. That would be from Alabama, which has been my home since the day I was conceived, to Tennessee, which is where one of my sons lives.

I could probably write a book about this--a short book, but a book, nonetheless--but a paragraph or two will have to do. Suffice it to say that...

Within days of my wife's passing (which, believe it or not, has been just over two years now), my son started dropping not-so-subtle hints that he wanted me to move closer to him. I steadfastly refused, telling him I intended to remain in my Alabama home until I could no longer climb into my vehicle and travel these United States. (Yeah, like that's been happening.) Anyway, as the weeks and months passed--compounded by a couple of "last-straw" events that happened this past summer--it became more and more obvious to me that I needed to make the move.

I won't go into detail about those "last straw" events except to say they made me realize I am truly alone now, far away from family.

More on this and other stories later.