Still Rambling at Sixty-Nine

When Ian W. Brown retired in June of 2020, the Covid 19 pandemic was running rampant. The isolation that resulted from abrupt social distancing provided him with ample time to contemplate a life of doing archaeology in an academic setting, and how this came to pass. In sixteen essays he muses upon growing up in the late 20th century, touching upon subjects as wide ranging as "Home (A Short Story)," "Early Work," "Confessions of a Book Buyer," "Academia (I never Planned to be a College Professor)," "Games and Sports, a Preparation for Life)," "Life's Incidentals: The Drive-In Theater, The Circus, and the Fair," "The Point of Dancing," "What Do I Believe?" and many more, ending with his personal assessment of "2020-The Year of the Pandemic."

George C. Rable, noted Civil War historian, says in his Foreword to the volume, "There is far less ego in these pages (except for his descriptions of early sports triumphs) than would be expected. Ian generally keeps his lamp well hidden under the proverbial bushel while fondly recalling many individuals who aided his journey. His wit is sly and sharp but never demeans other people and is often self-deprecating. As his friends can attest, Ian elevates rather than denigrates... And through this work, there is a becoming and genuine modesty, a recognition of limits to both knowledge and experience but a relentless drive to find meaning in life whether figuring out why he never cared for circuses or wrestling with the mystery of death. From the thoughtful introduction to the wonderful picture at the end, Still Rambling recounts a life well-remembered, well-recorded, and well-lived."