I have a renewed urgency to write, to get my historical novel manuscript for The Spanish Coin in the best shape possible, and secure the services of a literary agent to help me get the book published. Just three days after Christmas, one of my first cousins died after a 48-hour illness. Another one died this week. Three have died in the last 10 months. Life is short.

What made my cousin’s death in December different is that he was only five months older than I. Wally’s death was a wake-up call for me. I believe I will value each day in 2016 more than I did in 2015.

Carpe diem!