Bonus Reader Content

Because I’ve had a (minor) influx of new followers and subscribers over the past several weeks, I thought I’d write a brief introductory blurb for those of you who are new to this Substack.

First, about me.  I am a 77-year-old white woman, retired in 2012 from a 25-year career as a high school history and government teacher.  I live with my husband in Williamsburg, Virginia.  We have two children and two grandchildren who make an occasional appearance in my essays.  I understand the assignment.

In retirement, I have been active in a number of community organizations:

• I tutor ESL learners at Literacy for Life (associated with the College of William and Mary.  Currently, I’m teaching an advanced writing course for learners who had professional careers in their home countries and need to improve their English language skills, including writing, to resume their careers in the United States.

• I take and teach classes for the Osher Program (lifelong learning) at William and Mary and for a similar program at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.  Over the past 10 years I have taught courses on history, politics, and genealogy.  This semester I’m teaching courses on the Pinckney Family of South Carolina, modern Virginia history and politics, genealogy, and historiography.

• I am an officer in two genealogy groups – the Tidewater Genealogical Society and the Williamsburg Area Genealogical Society.

• I volunteer several times every month at the Library of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia.

• I was co-leader of a local Indivisible Group from 2019 through 2022.

• I have been an election officer since 2020.

• I write a monthly column called “Did You Know That?” for our local newspaper, the Virginia Gazette,

I began writing a Substack column in February of 2022 and have written Monday-Friday most weeks since then.   My content has varied over time, but for the past year here’s what I’ve focused on each day of the week:

• Monday—Genealogy. Beginning in November, my genealogy articles will appear only on a separate Substack called “I Seek Dead People.”  I began this separate Substack a couple of months ago and have been cross-posting on both Substacks, but I’ll stop cross-posting in November. After that, Monday will be my “weekend update” article on this Substack, focused on whatever strikes me about whatever happened over the weekend. 

• Tuesday – The focus for this day has changed over time.  At one point I was writing about the lifelong learning classes I was either taking or teaching, but since May of 2024, I’ve been writing 250-years-ago-this-week articles on Tuesdays, focused on what was going on during the years before the American Revolution.  I’ll continue this through 2025.

• Wednesday – local or state news relating to my hometown of Williamsburg or my home state of Virginia.

• Thursday – I’ve been writing about International news stories on Thursdays, but beginning in November I’m going to use this day to write about Economic News.

• Friday – American politics

You may be wondering why I do this.  I’ve wondered that myself, and here’s what I’ve concluded.

• Retirement can feel rudderless and disconnected.  Focusing on concrete deadlines (even when they’re deadlines I have set) gives structure to my days, weeks, months, and years.

• I have discovered that I process information best when I write about it.  Focusing on putting my thoughts on paper makes me get my thoughts in order.

• I enjoy the process and challenge of writing. 

• I’m never bored.

In conclusion –

• Thanks to those of you who have been with me since the beginning.  I value your attention and comments. 

• Thanks to other Substack authors who have recommended my essays.  I am humbled by your support. 

• And thanks to new followers and subscribers who have joined me here.  I am buoyed by your confidence that I have something useful to provide to the substackverse and hope that you stick around.