Kalyn Hoggard | Monday, 23 February 2026
I suppose this entire display would be easier if I just looked to the other end of the couch and told my wife these things face to face rather than pretend, she is my editor, write this to the other reader out there in the world, (Mom, I had fun) and give it to Paul to share online (Looper 4 life). But hey I get a kick out of it, and I hope you did too...
I really enjoy this odd interaction with myself that is disguised as letting other people into my world. It’s cathartic. That is a big word that is supposed to make you think I am an educated man, and guess what… I spelled it right first try. But I mean it.
I don’t think I’m a writer, but I’m a sucker for a good story and I love attention to some degree. I wouldn’t act like the clown that I am if I didn’t. (Maybe we all like to be noticed from time to time) It was fun sharing my stories. I got to be nostalgic about things when I tried to remember with my words instead of the images in my head from my youth. It’s a deep therapeutic experience. I do recommend it. I might not suggest that you publish all of the stories that you can come up with, but also you do you. I certainly held back. Ask me what really happened sometime. I will not know what you mean, and if you catch me at the right time, then I might even give you the after I die version. I would love to do that.
I am weird (no doubt) but revisiting fishing stories about my grandparents made me think of them, and oddly enough gave me another chance to tell them I appreciate those memories. I am typing into the void after all… maybe they do hear it.
I may given spoken word a chance. I feel like the gift of story telling comes in many forms. My dad is a great storyteller. I always have loved it. I’ve heard some of his stories a hundred times by now, and I can’t ever get enough. What dad does is funny. It really never has been the story that he tells that is the most entertaining part. It's how he tells it. How he genuinely enjoys sharing this story, how he is going to get as tickled if not more than you do at the funny parts, and he doesn’t care. He can share an emotion well, and I think I have earned a little of that throughout out my life. So, what should I do? I think writing ad infinitum is probably a great idea, and as long as I can pump out ok content, I think Paul would be happy to have it. Unfortunately, the stories that are left over at this point are few and many of them are the type I would not share publicly. Look forward to a book, but I won't write one.
Maybe I go back and reread some of this word vomit I call an FP and work on it. My goal has always been to sound as much like me as I could. I know I can’t write well, but storyteller… I practice, and often. My wife, bless her heart, has heard some of my story's way too many times, and she edits my writing. I’m waiting for her to tell me, “Well I know that shit didn’t happen. Do you want me to remind you of the truth, or do you know?” Hasn’t happened yet, but she likes to indulge me. I am thinking about just telling the stories on audio and making it available somehow. I know people are trending toward not actually reading anything more than a caption anymore. Hell, I can be guilty of that from time to time.
Maybe it's ironic that while writing I was trying to find my voice and now that I think I have found it, I realize I want to just talk to people about stuff. The oldest of methods for sharing information and emotion. Spoken Word
Thank you all for listening.