The last new beginning of this blog had wonderful intentions – but – as most people already are aware – sometimes life happens. Yes, life happened and maybe sometime will be the right time to talk about that – but – this is NOT that time.

This is the time for ONE MORE NEW BEGINNING and I fully intend to continue to make at least one post every other day. Hopefully, life will allow me to keep that schedule.

As many people are aware – one of the things high on my list of things to do once I retired was to write a book. Well before long (at the end of this December) it will have been two years since I retired – and – the number of books that needs to be written is now up to four.

It was my intention for my first book to be Human Beings Anonymous – a twelve steps book for people who mistakenly believe that they are able to live without any addictions. Early in the process I realized that this book – which does indeed still needs to be written – and soon – is not possible to write without me first telling my own story – a story of life filled with twists and turns, steps forward and backward, attempts at self sufficiency followed by lessons of realizing that I am not in control. I am still a firm believer in the power of the twelve steps – because they are a very important part of my continuing path toward wholeness and healing.

But – first I need to tell my own story. This post begins the journey of writing that first book so that I might be able to actually write the second one.

First, however, a little background is required.

In 1962, Stephen Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum won several Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Author of a Musical. Later, the show was made into a successful movie starring Zero Mostel, the original lead in the Broadway production.

Inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (251-183 BC), specifically  “Pseudolus,” “Miles Gloriosus,” and “Mostellaria,” the musical tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. The plot displays many classic elements of farce, including puns, the slamming of doors, cases of mistaken identity (frequently involving characters disguising themselves as one another), and satirical comments on social class. The title derives from the line that vaudeville comedians often used to begin a story: “A funny thing happened on the way to the theater” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Funny_Thing_Happened_on_the_Way_to_the_Forum).

With all of this in mind – and with deep admiration for the work of Stephen Sondheim – I have decided to title my autobiographical book A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Pulpit. As time moves along you will discover that the plot elements described above have all contributed to my life story.

In my next post I will describe the beginning of my life in the beautiful Cookson Hills of northeastern Oklahoma, and then our journey will continue.

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