I have always had a special place in my heart for lilacs. When I was young, we had a huge hedge of lilacs rimming the edge of our yard and they would always be in bloom for my May birthday. I would cut gigantic bouquets of lilacs and put them in our largest vases, flanking either side of my bed, so I could inhale their sweet fragrance as I drifted off to sleep.

For over 30 years, I lived in places with no lilacs – Hawaii, and the mountains of Colorado. So I was excited to have lilacs again when we moved to Indiana in 2006. In a couple of months I will be moving back to a place with no lilacs – the arid southeast corner of Colorado. And so I told myself I need to really savor this last lilac season in Indiana.

I have two lilac bushes that are now blooming – but I find I haven’t once gone outside to admire them, to breathe in their intoxicating scent, to cut even a few sprigs to enjoy in my home. I have to ask myself: “What’s going on here?” Do I just miss the idea of lilacs? Why have I not taken the time to experience lilacs?

I will soon transition into life as an Emeritus Professor and I have been contemplating how I want to frame my intellectual life when I am retired from my day-to-day duties. What do I want this new phase of my life to be like?

I love to learn, and I yearn to read and learn anything that catches my fancy.

Reading and thinking. I long to have time to indulge myself in these activities.

But I realized that I feel incomplete if I don’t share what I am thinking with others. Read – Think – Share. That feels more complete.

I am reinvigorating my blog and will use these posts to share what I am reading and thinking about.