FRIENDS, FRENEMIES, FAMILY AND STRANGERS.

There, I think that covers everyone!

MAY I HUG YOU has passed it “use by date.”

It is time to hit the pause button, step back and regroup.

It has been a great and grand ride. Starting with my –

• Adventures of Hugging a Stranger a Day;

• Morphing into something deeper after my Jabbok Moment;

• Continuing into all manner of stories.

Some were deep, some not. Some written to encourage. Some to reflect. Some to amuse. Some, well, just because.

But I’m tired. With MAY I HUG YOU I carry a responsibility. At least, I feel as if I do.

I will no longer be publishing new stories in MAY I HUG YOU.

The website will eventually become dormant, an Old Lady taking a well-deserved rest.

Instead I will be writing on a platform called MEDIUM.

None of the responsibility of having to produce three times a week. And the possibility, if I’m very good and work very hard, to establish a Starbucks Fund.

I can write as much or as little as I want.

The publications on Medium do not accept previously published articles. And I do not need the pressure to continuously produce new stories in two places.

The link to Medium will appear on Facebook and on MAY I HUG YOU. Click on it and the story will open in the Medium website.

Once there, you have an opportunity to “cheer” me on.

There will be a small icon of clapping hands on the upper left-hand side.

Hold it down and the figures will add up. Maximum of fifty claps per story. So please clap away!

There’s also a small box below the story where you can respond. Please do. I will respond back.

Here is where I, unapologetically, ask for your e-mail address.

In the top left-hand corner on my MAY I HUG YOU home page there’s a small screen. Please complete that.

I do not have a grand giveaway to offer you in return for your e-mail address. I plan on a monthly newsletter and some of my personal photos.

It’s an opportunity to stay in touch. If you want. Hopefully in time to come, there’s that book screaming to get out.

I WILL NOT SHARE YOUR E-MAIL. THAT’S A GIVEN.

It will take a while to set everything up. In the meantime, I’ll publish stuff from long ago while I work on streamlining my new venture.

My writing has evolved in ways I never thought possible. I still see lessons everywhere.

Some I choose to write about. Others not so much.

I write more “from the heart.” At times. Not always.

I dig deep into seventy-five years of living.

And I don’t always like what comes to the surface.

A final confession: I want more ME time.

• For Bible Study.

• For gardening.

• For knitting.

• For reading.

• For exercise.

• For taking out my kayak and enjoying the solitude and healing that Nature brings.

Finally, please bear with me while I sort out the gremlins which, no doubt, will appear.

CYBER HUGS AND BLESSINGS ALL.