I realize that this somewhat cryptic title may not be the most upbeat, but it’s a bit of a provocative way to think about what I just did.
In fact, this was a unique, touching, and honestly, important honor for me. I have just donated most all of the materials, papers, flotsam, and jetsam, that are the artifacts of my 40-year career. It’s a physical highlight reel of what came from my life’s work. And I’m proud that the archivists at the Smithsonian associated Center for the History of Psychology housed at The University of Akron felt that the materials are worthy.
I also must say that it was a bittersweet (and odd) process to look at and sort through my work in such a retrospective fashion. I suppose that I thought I would need to hang on to some files and materials as a foundation for a yet unknown future project that will never happen. Or that my adult children would somehow find value or warmth in pouring over vast amounts of the work that, honestly, took my time away from them (thanks kids, if you are reading this).
