I thought this would be a good time to check in with you because you have an anniversary coming up. I think it’s number 6.
That’s right. I posted the first column on Tuesday, October 6, 2020. In fact, this is column 158. For the statistically minded, all the columns amount to a total of about 120,000 words.
Have you ever thought you might run out of ideas to write about?
I did at first because I couldn’t estimate or even imagine how many subjects I would write about before having to repeat myself. So far, though, that hasn’t been a problem. As everything changes, there are more opportunities for giving new and meaningful twists to any subject that fits well under the Country Boy Logic banner.
That seems to feed into the mission of these columns.
Exactly. In my mind, there’s never been a greater need for simple logic. Yet, just look at how many times, and I mean important times it’s either forgotten or just plain ignored. For example, we tend to forget that for every plus there’s a minus and for every advantage there’s a disadvantage. The subjects and conditions might change, but the basics don’t.
So what are readers saying about all this or do they say anything?
Some do share their concerns and reactions with me and I appreciate that more that they will ever know. I just wish more of them did. People have told me that reading my column that week made up for a bunch of bad days they’ve had. Others have said that some of the insights I have shared with them have been valuable in helping them keep their sanity in what has become a far more complex world. Some readers pass on my column to their kids and grandkids which I think is wonderful. Another thing. I always answer any message I get from readers. Readers can contact me via the website but it’s simpler to just send me a note at writerfred@aol.com
But I have to ask this: Where do you get your information for the columns? And along with that, what about AI?
Having been both journalist and photographer, I’ve done a lot of reading, conversed with many people, and witnessed many situations and relationships both in personal and business environments, and done that in many different places both here and overseas. Also, whether listening or seeing, I try to always be aware of what’s going on around me. All of that doesn’t make me an expert, but it does provide a broad and endless source of different points of view. It’s surprising how well they fit with everyday challenges and problems shared by all of us. As for AI, by a country mile, I much prefer to choose and use my own words and express ideas and concepts with my own emotions involved. To me, that’s the most honest and meaningful way any writer can effectively share ideas and concepts. It’s a matter of real people sharing with other real people. There’s nothing artificial about that nor should there be.
Okay, now for a companion question: Where do you get the idea or main theme for each column?
I don’t get them. They come to me. What’s unhandy is that I never know when or where that’s going to happen. They can come in the middle of the night or when I’m mowing the yard. I keep open to every possibility. The human brain is truly remarkable. The biggest challenge is that of instantly making a note of whatever idea emerges. They are extremely perishable.
You have made some of those points before, but it never hurts to do a repeat.
No, it doesn’t. The more people know about how I think and what I must do to share information with them, the greater will be their understanding of the subject. After all, when it comes to this business of living and having a life, all of us are in it together. We all need guidance and new thoughts on how best to do that. At the same time, we also need to keep stressing the old and trusted values that people either don’t know or fully understand. One of my favorites is the fact that nothing is free. Everything has a cost or value that someone must pay for or cause to happen. What so many people still don’t realize is that not only does someone else pay for what we get for “free,” but we pay for what someone else gets for “free.” So, nothing is free, right? Right!
Well said, my friend, well said. Okay, my final question: How much longer are you going to write the columns?
My best answer is that I will continue as long as I’m able to keep doing it as I have been or as long as readers tell me they want to keep reading what I’m writing — whichever comes first.
Well said, my friend. And since I’m one of those eternal optimists, I will say now that I’m already looking forward to the future.
Good for you!
