It hasn’t been 84 years, but it sure does feel like that.

First off, apparently Squarespace has AI features now. That is horrifying to me, so I will absolutely try to ignore that feature that’s in the shape of a lightning bolt in the corner of the screen that’s waves me Hello as I try to write this. Sometimes, technology is horrifying.

Secondly, I’m 28, so it has not been 84 years since I’ve last been on this website writing to you all. But, it has been a few months. Apologies. Things have been busy, to say the least. There was a time a few weeks ago that I was so stressed about some things that were happening in my life that I kept dreaming (for a week straight) that either I or my loved ones were getting murdered. So, that wasn’t great. The other stressful but incredible thing that’s happening is that I’m in grad school! I’m approaching my second week, so send prayers. I’m currently in the middle of 3 books, so I’m reading like my life depends on it. My scholarship does, in fact, depend on how well I do in these classes. So, I’m trying to be as on top of things as I possibly can. Who knew that getting a master’s in English would mean you read hundreds of pages a week? Well, I did. Here we are.

Another fun tidbit that’s really new is that I have joined a writer’s group. Shoutout to you guys, because I am currently writing during one of our meetings. I am currently experiencing what the experts call “writer’s block” with a certain part of my book, so I’m mixing things up and writing on here instead. Here’s to hoping that these oat milk mochas that I drink at this coffee shop meeting place gives me enough strength and mental vigor to finish this book. It’s one that I’ve been working on for years, one that I famously (amongst my friend group) completely lost when I accidentally spilled a pumpkin spice latte on my latte without having backed up my book up until that point. Apparently flirting with a barista can distract you enough that you knock over a tablespoon’s worth amount of PSL and completely destroy a laptop that housed everything that you had been working on for years. So, yeah. Flirting is dangerous in my eyes.

Here we are, everyone. 2024: I’ll be turning 29 years old which is horrifying/exciting; I’ll have finished my first year of grad school (wut); I might have what’s considered medium-length hair by December (fingers crossed I don’t get the urge to do anything edgy and rash); hopefully I’ll get many more tattoos; and Harper, my dog, will be 8 years old. Things are weird but a good weird. I have a good feeling about 2024.

And with that, my farewell. Godspeed.

Reagan Fleming