Growing Older..... C'mon Along!

In 1969, after completing formal training in psychiatry, I served as Director of Geriatrics at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, committed to advancing the body of knowledge about persons in late life, through research, program development, teaching and clinical practice. Simultaneously, I continued a life-long involvement in the creative arts, including instrumental and vocal music, writing prose and poetry, and life drawing and watercolor painting. I have continued to grow in both worlds as I have aged. It is now 2016 and I am eighty-four years old. I published a book entitled "Fragments" (2013), that included memories of my beginnings, some thoughts on societal, political and spiritual issues, insights from my professional life, and reflections on aging. The following year I published "...And Furthermore" that had additional memoirs and reflections. Both books included some of my poetry. The prose section in this book includes previously unpublished thoughts, the poetry section includes new work as well as poems published previously, and I have added a third section of selected watercolors and drawings. Although much of the book is personal, I hope readers may find it has broader application to which they may relate...c'mon along.