Buy this book! Read it! Enjoy it! Or else!

 Years ago, I found myself unemployed, again. I wasn't able to find anyone willing to hire me, so I decided to try and find a way to generate my own income. I found I wasn't too bad at putting words together, so I decided to become a freelance writer.

For the next five years, I wrote for local businesses; brochures, ad copy, manuals. I didn't make a lot of money, and I eventually gave it up to become a restaurant manager. But, I did make money, and at that time, that was all I needed to do.

One result of that exercise was a soft spot in my heart for anyone who tries their hand at wordsmithing. One such person is my friend, Will Siss, teacher, reporter, beer drinker, author.

 

I was surprised and pleased to see that Will had written a book on Connecticut beers.

http://www.amazon.com/Connecticut-Beer-American-Will-Siss/dp/1626197938/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430546112&sr=8-1&keywords=will+siss


 As with many books of this type, it was probably out-of-date before it came out. But, it gives a nice overview of the brewing scene in our state, which is surprisingly healthy. I've read it, and I'll recommend it to anyone.

What Are We?

I just cut the cord. We sent the cable boxes back, hooked up an internet streamer, and installed a bunch of free channels. We save almost $100 a month. Admittedly, there's a bunch we can't watch. It's hard to find a baseball game. But, there's a lot I wasn't even aware of.

Among these are science shows, and one of these posed a question that is really sticking with me. What is consciousness? What is it that makes me, me? How do you explain the feeling that I'm in charge, and not just reacting to stimuli? How do you define, or describe, an inner life?

For most religions, it's easy. You simply separate the physical from the spiritual. The spirit, the soul, is where all the "me-ness" is. It's harder for science, because you can't find anything to grasp, or measure.

I know why this is on my mind so much. My dad died a little over a year ago. Where is he? Is he gone forever? Is he in heaven, or that other place, or some undefined afterlife? What happens when we die? What happens to "me"? What has happened to all the "me"'s who have ever lived?

There's also my own age. I'm 63. So many really famous and talented people passed away well before that age. I might live for another 30 or 40 years. I might be gone by the time you read this. Where will I be? Will I be?

I don't know. There are no answers, only questions. I guess I have to be OK with that.