Bastiat’s Window is a much-beloved project for me, but my essays have been few and far-between since my wife, Alanna, died on June 9. Apologies to readers, and especially paid subscribers, for the infrequency of posts during this period. My New Year’s resolution is to once again begin rolling out at least one post each week in 2026—and more when possible. Below, I’ll share some ideas that are likely to become Bastiat’s Window essays in the coming weeks.
For those kind souls who have asked, the shortage of writing hasn’t come from sadness, depression, emotional paralysis, or lack of ideas. Rather, writing time has been scarce because I’ve been relentlessly engaged in building a new life in widowhood through joyful, time-consuming activities. In the next week or so, I’ll post another essay describing some of these activities. Perhaps some readers who are facing loss will find my experiences helpful as they rebuild their own lives.
Another important change is making the task of writing much easier going forward. Writing for me is almost always a collaborative process, and my wife was my muse, fan, critic, editor, and de facto co-author. Without her external input, writing for me became more laborious and less enjoyable. Providentially, since early December, a beloved childhood friend whom I hadn’t seen in over half a century has begun filling those roles—inspiring me each day to turn my thoughts into written words. That happy circumstance, as much as anything, underlies my return to Bastiat’s Window.
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