About Me — Napoleon
I never had the courage to introduce myself until today
My story
When I started here, I didn’t know what I wanted. So, after a few stories, I quit. Like the many times, I started a blog, a website, or a project.
I walked away until in 2020, I received an email that I got paid — $1.41 for a story that I shared many moons ago.
And like everyone else in 2020, I decided to be a writer while not knowing what the future holds not only for me, for my sick mom, and for the world.
Who knew in 2021, my mom would die? My “forever question” of “What’s next?” was a question I had to face for real after seven years of being one of my mom’s caregivers.
Of that seven years, not every day was a great day between me and Mom but in her last twenty-one days, everything worked out between us, between her and my siblings, and between her and God.
In a few days, it would be two years since she died. I miss her every day. But somehow I found myself living a life after.
It was the words I said to my partner last night, I found out that there will always be — a life after.
About me
Are you ready for a wild ride? Because that’s exactly what you’re in for when you read about the life and times of a 54-year-old, ex-cruise photographer, current Medium-writing, and fur parent.
My name is Napoleon.
In the beginning, I tried to hide under a pen name — “Xin Xin” and I am presently living in the lovely islands of the Philippines, where the number of islands changes depending if it is low tide or high tide.
As a full-time Medium writer, I take pride in being able to say that, not because I’m special but because I really worked hard for it. This is what I want to do in the remaining days of my life — to write.
At 54, (soon to be) I would rather be at home with Phi and Crocker, than work for a company, it was one of my “What happens next?” while mom was still alive.
Who knew I would be writing?
And it isn’t easy, right now it feels like I’m back to where I was in 2021 when I almost quit. The stats are way down, from a very impressive November 2022, which allowed me to celebrate Christmas 2022, with a little more money than what I had in 2021 and the many years before that.
Here’s my most-read story, I made over $1,800 from it. Proud!
A few times I became a member of the comma club. Yes, earning a thousand dollars a month is possible here. Again, it isn’t easy, but nothing is impossible. I have made a name for myself (off the radar) on the platform with my unique stories.
My goals on Medium include continuing to improve my storytelling “powers” and eventually writing a book about my beloved fur babies, Phi and Crocker.
In my personal life, I am partnered with a linguistic professor at a university and am proudly gay. I am also a well-traveled individual and have been to over 100 countries, with some of my favorite places being New York and Europe, only because I was once a cruise photographer.
What makes me unique as a writer is my ability to find humor in even the sad parts of my life, and my well-traveled perspective allows me to bring a unique voice to the topics I write about, such as celebrity gossip, crypto, business, finance, politics, and relationships.
I had a few heartaches.
I have had some pretty wild experiences in my travels, including a threesome on a beach in St. Maarten. Yikes!
In addition to my love for writing, I am also a proud pet parent to Phi and Crocker, my two rambunctious and lovable dogs, who have taught me so much about life.
As a writer, I strive to come from a place of love in my words and to make my stories fun and easy to read for all audiences. I am incredibly grateful for my readers and the connections I have made through my writing.
So, there you have it, a little bit about me and the stories I like to share. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them. Remember, if I can do it, so can you.
As the late, great Nora Ephron once said, “Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.”
So, go out there and be the heroine of your own story, because you never know where it might take you.
Thank you for reading.
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