Monday, Jan. 24, 2005
3:30 p.m.

We took Emil to his new school this morning to have a look around, and as we drove into the parking lot Scott noticed (I am oblivious to most things outside my own head half the time) a small flock of mallard ducks that had landed on the roof of a house across the street. Now that's rare ... so we had to stop and snap a photo. Sorry it's not a close-up. At least it's evidence that I'm not imagining things.

The new school looks pretty swanky and Emil is looking forward to attending. His first full day will be next Tuesday.

***

A couple weeks ago a newspaper columnist tripped over this journal and contacted me to see if I'd agree to be interviewed. I said sure and we had a nice chat by telephone. He'd done his homework, had read enough of the journal to ask pertinent questions about what it is I've been doing in these pages for the past two years. One of his queries was "Why do you do it?" -- the question online journallers probably most ask themselves, too. I didn't have a definitive answer, other than that it seems a natural extension of what I've always done since I was a wee brattie, and that is to write letters and keep journals. The web is just another tool to add to the ease of communication, that's all.

Last night I was reading over at The Write Haven and came across the following list. These seem as good reasons to journal as any, whether privately or online, so I'm taking the liberty of re-posting them here ...

The Physical Benefits of Journal Writing
Studies conducted at Southern Methodist University, Ohio State University, University of Texas at Austin, and North Dakota State University show that the practice of writing provides both a sense of well-being and health benefits that include:
• Pain reduction.
• Immune function improvement, including raised T cell counts.
• Resistance to minor illnesses such as colds and flu.
• Relief of physical stress shown by lowered blood pressure and heart rate.
• Generally improved physical health.

So write, it's good for you! Write some more!