“Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides.”

- Andre Malraux

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Forgive me, please.

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Never -- in all the issues I have created now -- have I struggled like this with my opening letter.  I'm struggling so much, in fact, that I'm going to ask a rather unusual request of my contributors and my readers, alike. Would you please allow me to return to this in some near-future time when I have properly put my thoughts together here?

 

What psychological block is keeping me from talking about secrets? What must my mind be protecting with such ferocity that it is keeping me from putting words to page? What secrets must it be afraid will spill out?

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Could it be that time in 2nd grade when Tracy's charm bracelet went missing and no one knew where it went (or so we claimed)?

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Could it be that moment in high school that only a handful of people know about?

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Could it be something more recent?

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I'll return -- I swear to it -- with thoughts on secrets and with  distinct words about the contributors to this issue, the most extraordinary people who, unlike me, found bravery and created.

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I will not delay this issue for them a moment longer.

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Thank you for your patience.

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Nikki Gonzalez