On June 27, after a heart-warming dinner with the Young Writers Project board (thank you Kathy), after hearing (thank you Susan) the startlingly kind words sent to me from many of you and your predecessors on how much this little project and community has meant, does mean, to you, I shut off the office lights for the last time after 12 years as YWP's executive director.

To you and the 110,000 kids we have touched in that time, thank you for opening your souls; thank you for sharing your ideas and observations, your flights of fancy and moments of bewilderment. Thank you for taking such creative risk.

You have enriched my life. You've opened my eyes to what you see and feel and experience and think and believe. And you have enriched the lives of thousands upon thousands of others -- your readers.

We need that. We need to listen to what you have to express, to see your images, hear your voices.

YWP lives on under the leadership of Susan Reid and the able caretaking of Rajnii Eddins and Anna Forsythe and Shannon Ripp and countless other writers and mentors who check in here, lead workshops & do other things. And, of course, there are all of you who support each other with comments and loves and suggestions. This is a community.

In the fall I will sneak back from time to time and I'll be helping out at a few schools. And I might share with you some of my own writing to which I will now devote much of my time. And do give me some feedback. Because, after all, that's the magic sauce of YWP.

Be well. Keep on writin'.

gg