On the eve of my 70th birthday, I decided to build a personal website. And why?

I decided that at this arbitrary 70-year mark, I wanted to tell a story without many words, a kind of visual autobiography. We are, after all, the sum of our experiences and thoughts. What could I assemble in a website that would paint a picture of who I am, what I believe, how I think, how I live, how and what and whom I love?

At 10,000 feet, the picture was blurry. But, as I endeavored to identify my favourite photos (out of thousands), my favourite music videos (and the list will keep growing), and other videos and reels that entertain and inspire me, the picture became ever clearer.

I’ve laughed, I’ve deliberated, I’ve pondered, I’ve relived moments, and I’ve even cried over losses that threatened to become vague memories. I’ve been frustrated at times by the process of turning images and memories and preferences into a set of code (with the help of AI!) that makes it possible for this site to live visually and to breath online.

The process has been time consuming, cathartic and fun. But most of all, it has allowed me to take stock of my life, and to be grateful.

My life is, indeed, a playbox.