An Open Letter to the Editor of the Slo Coast Journal
from George Zidbeck and His Two Co-conspirators, Squire Z. & Abe Z.

by George Zidbeck

Dear Editor:

I begin this letter by thanking(!!!!!) you for allowing me the space, since February of 2010, to publish a monthly column that featured wildlife observations, essays, editorials, and a mish-mash of advice plus bits of memoires.

Why the withdrawal? No need to fill the hopper with an extensive listing of one reason or another. The major motivations below suffice:

1. The mental pulsations to write my 7th book gnaw away at my psyche. Theoretically, the Great Expanding Universe originated with a BIG BANG. I'd like my gray matter asteroid — however minute its mass — to end with the pop of a published book that reaches a market of at least 20,000 sales.  Why that number? Deep in my obdulla oblongata lies a recollection that a publisher has to sell that many books to reach a profit level. (Please don't ask the amount of my royalties from the self published, six volume family saga.)
2.  Since my widower status three years ago, I find the need to clear the clutter of extraneous 'stuff.' Yes, countless items went into local non-profits, but the drawers and closets remain. Oh yes, don't forget le basement is engorged with a wide range of things. If you know anybody who collects steins and kitchenware, particularly cutlery and china, send them my way.
3. Lastly, yet important to me, I'm into the beginning lessons of learning the banjo. Before the twilight of my lifetime goes dark, I want to plink a few songs a la bluegrass. I quickly determined that the discipline that attaches to learning an instrument is akin to the apprenticeship attaching to a journeyman tradesman.

Note from Editor: George's presence will be very much missed by his readers and the Journal's staff. With any luck, perhaps he will return one day. Meanwhile, the Archives carry all of George's past articles of "Observations of a Country Squire" and "Dear Abe." Check them there.

Write to Dear Abe or the Country Squire

News and Commentary
—Are Politics in Our Food Bank Programs? by Elise Griffith—Brune to Students: Occupy the Sierra Club by Andrew Christie
—Flyer Promoting Irons Recall Falls Flat by Jack McCurdy
—Power Plant to Close: What Next? by Jack McCurdy
—San Luis Obispo Rejects Faulty NRC "Waste Confidence" by San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace

Town Business
—Community Events
—Morro Bay Library by Robert Fuller Davis

Slo Coast Arts
—Atascadero Writers Group
—The Elements of Life by Lucille Bosco
—Frustrated Local Writer by Rose Marie Zurkan
—Genie's Pocket by Jeanie Greensfelder
—Great Shots edited by Jerry Kirkhart and Steve Corey
—Mostly Music by Dawn R. Starr
—One Poet's Perspective by Jane Elsdon
—Opera SLO by Kathryn Bumpass
—Practicing Poetic Justice by
Deborah Tobola
—Shutterbugs by Cheryl Strahl

Slo Coast Life
—Ask the Doc by Dr. Robert Swain
—Best Friends by Dr. Malcolm Riordan
—Beyond the Badge by Richard Hannibal
—Coastland Contemplations by Michele Oksen
—Northern Chumash Tribal Council by Fred Collins
—Dear Abe by George Zidbeck
—Double Vision by Shana Ogren
—Feel Better Forever by Brian Dorfman
—Observations of a Country Squire by George Zidbeck
—A Roe Adventure by Roe Yeager
—Surfing Through Life by Paul Finley

It's Our Nature
—A Bird's Eye View by Mike Stiles
—California State Parks
—Elfin Forest by Jean Wheeler
—Go Green by Lawson Schaller
—Marine Sanctuaries by Carol Georgi and Karl Kempton
—One Cool Earth by Greg Ellis
—Whale Watch Adventures by Rouvaishyana & Captain Kevin

The Business of the Journal
—About Us
—Archives
—Stan's Place
—Writers Index