A Coming-of-Middle-Age Commencement Address: The Intersection of What If and What Next I published my first novel a mere six days after my eldest child graduated high school. The metaphor is not lost on me. In fact, the juxtaposition of these milestones helped me process my feelings about both in a way that was healthier and more productive than simply eating a gallon of Breyers Strawberry ice cream (my original post-graduation plan). Instead, I’ve been