Start Here
A guided tour of Micron: stories, scars, side quests, and soul.
If you’re new here, welcome. This is a strange place—on purpose.
I’m Ron Stauffer: writer, father of five, former (maybe current?) Mennonite, autistic, opera-singing, scuba-diving freelancer trying to live truthfully in a world that is full of noise and WAY TOO LOUD.
Micron is where I say the things most people don’t. Sometimes, it’s funny. Sometimes, it’s painful. Sometimes, it makes people angry (I’m often confused when that happens because I never try to make people angry).
Always, it’s honest.
This isn’t a blog. This isn’t a brand. It’s a place where I think out loud, and you can listen in if you want.
What You'll Find Here:
Midlife truths: marriage, parenting, money, and the mess of almost turning 40.
Neurodivergence & faith: autism, deconstruction—AND RECONSTRUCTION—and the rediscovery of old, special things.
Work, freedom, and burnout: freelancing, disillusionment with Corporate America™, and trying to just get out of bed in the morning.
Grief, trauma, and weird memories: raw stories no one talks about but should.
Travel & wonder: scuba diving, wandering, remote work, getting lost on purpose, and finding ways to do something every day that scares me.
A Few Posts to Start With:
#1: Yes, It’s a Midlife Crisis. So What?
I didn’t shave my head, get a tattoo, or cheat with my secretary, but I hit a wall so hard I ended up crying on the floor of my office and ended up in the ER. This is what a midlife crisis actually looks like from the inside.
#2: Your Brother Is Dead: The Call That Changed My Life Forever
The phone call that shattered my world. This is pretty raw and personal… It’s about grief, shock, family, and the questions that never get answered.
#3: So, Apparently, I’m Autistic? A Life-Changing Diagnosis at 37
At my wife’s request, I took a five-hour evaluation. The result? I found out I’m autistic. This is what it’s like to be diagnosed late in life—and to finally understand why you’ve felt like an alien your entire life.
#4: My Marriage Is Not Like Yours (And That’s Okay)
I bought a house without telling my wife. People said it would ruin our marriage. It didn’t. Here’s what I’ve learned about love, risk, and trusting that your relationship is allowed to be different.
#5: Snakes Are My Emotional Support Animal. I Used To Have 13 of Them.
These smooth, cold-blooded, scaly creatures are my favorite animals of all time, and they make excellent pets. You should get one too, or two, or three, or more…
Please, Say “Hello”
You don’t have to agree with me. You don’t have to read everything I write.
But if something you read really affects you, please tell me. Leave a comment. Send me a message. Just let me know that you exist.
I post once a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. It won’t always be neat and clean or even “socially acceptable” (I’m autistic, remember?).
But it will ALWAYS be real.
Welcome to Micron. It’s weird here. You’ll fit in fine.
-Ron