But in the last 2 years, the jobs I’ve been in can be gone with a wave of a power person’s hand. If I annoy a superior (of which there are many), I could be out of work. I feel much less secure and am aware of the need to be much more discrete and political than in my classroom days. It’s almost like I’ve been forced to become far more adult than I ever wanted to be.

Honestly though, there’s no harm in blogging for non-introspective reasons; I’ve enjoyed what you’ve had to say since subscribing a few months ago. You’re right, lots of people started reading because they enjoyed some nugget you had to share, but let’s face it, after enough writing, and a few dozen subscribers you start to think about writing for your audience. Don’t blame yourself, blame your high school composition teacher; I’m sure he or she helped play some part in focusing on what your audience wanted to hear.

Now that’s the old Dembo we love and miss!