The Land of Story.

The mapping of the brain is becoming more and more precise.

In the latest revision the label “story” was added.

Yes, the brain has allocated territory to the human habit of storytelling and story-listening.

Why? Brain real estate is valuable.

How do stories justify themselves when it comes to the bottom line, survival?

Stories organize the random chaos that is life into something coherent, manageable, hopeful; something worth the effort.

How? Story snips the endlessly unspooling thread of life into something shorter: it begins here, it ends here. And in between a problem is raised—and solved!

Grateful.

It’s not that I am ready to die.

Or even to be old.

But I accept that there is a certain fairness to both these outcomes.

I have had a wealth of days, and far more than my share of kindness and lucky breaks.

As a kid I had the luxury of believing all families were loving and durable and did their darndest to protect, teach, and give a child an advantageous start.