Field Notes is where I post short, observational pieces about the week behind me—work, home, heritage, and whatever else insists on being noticed.
Since returning from Portugal, life has been moving at a relentless pace. Still, my commitment to this blog—and to refining my craft—hasn’t wavered. So here I am again with Field Notes #6.
Lately, I’ve reached an exciting milestone: two of my pieces have been published across multiple platforms, including newspapers and editorials. It’s a meaningful step toward my goal of sharing one hundred stories with the world—and I’m now nearly halfway there. Writing through the demands of everyday life is always a balancing act, but that’s part of the process.
This season has also brought its fair share of pressures. Between taxes, car insurance, and even replacing a roof, it’s been one of the more financially demanding times of the year. At home, things have been just as dynamic—pending changes on the horizon, a steady flow of guests, and most recently, hosting a group of friends from Madeira for nearly two weeks as they worked on a documentary and a series of vlogs.
During their stay, I helped coordinate interviews and acted as something of a Sherpa around the city. Being behind the camera alongside these filmmakers reminded me that storytelling isn’t just something we do—it’s something we return to. I’ve often said that I write when I feel moved to do so, and moments like these tend to stir that instinct deeply.
Time on set reconnected me to my culture in a profound way. It felt like history unfolding in real time—threads of heritage, resilience, and saudade woven into every frame. To contribute behind the scenes was, in its own way, an act of preservation. Our history, our language, our people—there is so much there, waiting to be told.
Immersed in that creative energy, I was reminded just how much the stories we carry matter. Seeing them captured through film has only strengthened my drive to keep writing, to keep exploring, and to continue giving voice to where we come from.
With that in mind, I’ve decided it’s time to move forward with an anthology project I’ve been sitting on for quite some time. An official announcement is coming in the weeks ahead, but for those interested, the ebook is already available on Amazon. I’m currently gathering reviews, so if you pick up a copy, I’d truly appreciate your thoughts.
For now, the biggest takeaway is this: nothing moves unless you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone. What you commit to in a single week can shape the trajectory of your life. With so many seeds already planted, I’m looking forward to what will grow—and to sharing that harvest with those closest to me.
Photos From the Field.
Field Notes.
Fragments from a Portuguese descendant learning where he stands
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