Introducing "Nola Nate"......

Back when I was a student in high school English Literature class, I can remember our teacher telling us the story of how a little known aspiring writer named Samuel Langhorne Clemens wrote a story that became famous under the ‘pen name’ of “Mark Twain” , and thereby guaranteed himself a permanent spot among the literary greats, with a name other than his very own. So it was with that story in mind that I decided to use the Blog post name of “Nola Nate” (a play on words which simply means a native citizen of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana);  which is my hometown and to hear my wife tell it, the place where my heart, mind, and soul STILL resides, while my body remains here in a little town just outside of Bloomington, Indiana.  New Orleans was and is a major influence in my life, and there is a famous saying among its people that: “You don’t know what it means, to miss New Orleans” (which essentially is saying that you don’t truly appreciate New Orleans until you’re NO LONGER there) . In what I hope happens to be a long and interesting history for the future of this Blog, I will try not to include the mention of my beloved hometown TOO much, with the understanding that it is part of everything that I think, say, and do ; a part of every single fiber of my entire being -------- As I began this pursuit of obtaining that old high school dream of one day becoming a professional writer (now some 25 plus years later from when I actually first dreamed of it happening), I do it not only for myself ; but for that place so near and dear to my heart , that place that I still refer to as HOME……………………..