it’s done. it’s really, really done. since August 13th of last year, i have read 365 short stories, 365 poems, and 365 essays. i’ve also written 52 short stories (plus a couple drabbles, a poem or two, and some spare bits of story fodder).

i have had a little bit of time to reflect on the experience and decided that wrapping things up today, on Uncle Ray’s 90th birthday, would be appropriate.

in this last year, i’ve truly fallen in love with the short story format as well as poetry. the essays were “good for me” and i read them dutifully, though they were by far the most challenging part of the project. perhaps i was simply reading the wrong ones!

it probably goes without saying, but i have no intention to stop reading any time soon! in fact, i have already started retraining my brain for longer works again. i’m excited and inspired and cannot wait to see where the next step on my reading and writing journey takes me.

so i say thank you, Mr. Bradbury, not only for your sublime stories, but also for your inspiration. you have shown me the joy that a passionate devotion to words can bring into one’s life.

poem: doing is being - ray bradbury

essay: the beautiful bad weather - ray bradbury

story: the wonderful ice cream suit - ray bradbury

poem: my father’s lunch - erica funkhouser

essay: insert flap ‘a’ & throw away - s.j. perelman

story: the man who rowed christopher columbus ashore - harlan ellison

poem: my husband discovers poetry - diane lockward

essay: the hostess diaries - coco henson scales

story: the working slob’s prayer - poppy z. brite

poem: the happiest day - linda pastan

essay: of doubts & dreams - samuel r. delany

story: cage of brass - samuel r. delany

poem: now winter nights enlarge - thomas campion

essay: on juvenile tastes - c.s. lewis

story: death on the nile - connie willis

poem: the three kings - muriel spark

essay: brother can you spare a hyperlink - paul di filippo

story: the food farm - kit reed

poem: dawn revisited - rita dove

essay: plutonium for breakfast - robert silverberg

story: tupilak - terry tafoya

poem: ordinary life - barbara crooker

essay: a labor of love, and thumbs - kathi maio

story: the mist on the moor - diana l. paxson

poem: the con job - charles bukowski

essay: the thisness of what is - diane ackerman

story: section 7(a) (operational) - lee child