The Academy Awards were interesting in a number of ways. The actual event was filled with humor sparked by co-hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. The winners were for the most part gracious and appreciative of the people in their support network — parents were frequently mentioned. Being the parent of an adult child, I resonated to that. The Hurt Locker "stole" the evening and in the process a female won the Oscar as best director for the first time. So, Americans as represented through the Academy this year showed the heart to honor and appreciate through film people who truly deserve our praise, support, and empathy. The evening was rich.

Without writers the evening could not have happened. And many different kinds of writers were honored. While we may not know the history of any of them, we know they did not get where they were last night on the basis of "a first piece of work." While love of their medium may have been the motivation for some, persistence was needed for all of them. This includes as well, the writers responsible for the gala that was The Academy Award ceremony.

Whatever writing you do, a lesson to be learned from the Academy Awards of 2010 is to "keep going with your writing." Don't give up. The writer of the screenplay of The Hurt Locker, Mark Boal, says he did not expect or even have as a goal the receiving of an Oscar. He won best original screenplay. Good things can come to those (writers) who do the right (write) thing.

I read an article in the news today about older people using marijuana for de-stressing as well as for medical conditions. The group consists primarily of baby boomers. At least a number of them had smoked back in the 1960s. As well, there are people in their 80s who are lighting up. And, when they can't get the marijuana from their physicians, they're getting it somehow.

It's interesting to observe that what was once frightening and/or marginal has become an accepted … mainstream… activity.

It used to be that writing was reserved for an elite group of people. The writers were considered a kind of artist. And, though they still are, writing has become more accessible to many people. These days, anyone who believes they can write can learn to write better… and/or more easily. That is, without anxiety. Anyone who does not believe they can write can learn to believe they can write. Both are challenges of different sorts.

I was struck by the elderly couple sitting next to me at lunch today. She was editing his writing. They were sitting close enough that I could make out some of what they were saying. I could make out enough to know he was in a learning curve with respect to his writing. Easily, they were in their 80s. It was inspiring to me to see their work together.

It's never too late to do something new, or re-engage something old. And, if writing is something that's been on the back burner, it's never too late to bring it forward.