I’ve missed you. In November of 2021, I turned in my Family Matters column, and in all honesty, I didn’t know that it would be my last one.

My plan had always been to keep writing it with my final one being a tribute to my mother when she passed. The great news is she’s alive and well with no signs of slowing down; but I did scare a few of you. Some reached out wondering if she had died or if I was sick, or simply to ask why I stopped.

I wish I had a good reason on why I stopped writing it. After I turned it in, the person/editor that had been handling my monthly contributions informed me that he was leaving and that he, if he could, would tell me who the next person up would be. To this person’s credit he consistently responded that he received the column, and always promptly returned emails; but that’s not the reason I stopped.

The year prior, I had three childhood mentors pass away and a former student die as well; but that’s not why I stopped.

I had moved yet again after selling my home to my now son-in-law; but again, that’s not why I stopped writing Family Matters.

I stopped writing Family Matters because I was at a loss of what to write about. My children were grown, pretty much all done or nearly done with college, and I just didn’t see the path forward. I just faded away into the last year and three-quarters of chaos.

Fast forward to July 2023 and the universe started “speaking” to me. Not in a literal way but people started commenting on my columns, sharing them again online, and stating that they missed them. That’s when I realized that I missed them as well; but more so I missed you, the readers.

Since November 2021, a lot has changed in my life and I know that my tank is full of new stories to share, new adventures to embark on and get your feedback on. I moved, once, twice, three times the charm, (hopefully), and now work 98% of the time remotely.

During those missed months, I “went big” with my career aspirations, I ended up being an administrator for an assisted living company in Wisconsin; that literally nearly killed me. I left that job and lived on my savings and part-time jobs to try to reboot my life; and I feel I have. I have two grandchildren now, one by my youngest and her husband, and one by my namesake middle child and her husband. My eldest is in grad school; and the list goes on. The question to you may be, why the change from Family Matters to something else? It’s because I’ve changed, yes of course my family still matters; in fact, they are my inspiration to keep going and to keep trying to do different things.

As you can see, I have new content; consider this reboot submission a tease, the stories of the grandbabies, the daughters, my life, career, (what’s left of it), and trials and tribulations along the way will all be shared over time. I’ll also share my other works, my podcast on Swell, my website, and any other writing adventures I’ll be taking on. You’ll hear about it all monthly to start, and we’ll see where it goes from there.

Again, the title change of this column is a reflection of my change; I’m now living frugally, (code for I’m broke), and have started a hobby farm “somewhere outside of the western UP”, (just keeping it private), called Gramps Farm. We’ll see you again soon, contact me via email at foremanbrian4@gmail.com with any questions.

Brian Keith Foreman is an organizational psychologist teaching remotely, a supervisor at Teaching Family Homes, and a freelance writer and public speaker living in the north woods of Wisconsin, a stones throw from Gogebic County. His podcast on Swell is located at swellcast.com/bkforeman69 and his website is www.briankeithforeman.com. He is the proud father of three, Hannah, Briana, and Bethany and the grandparent of Olive and Thaddeus.