As the year comes to a close, thankfully, I begin my year end “oh, crap I need to make progress on that wip!” sprint. Admittedly, the rough draft won’t even be done by then, but that matters little to me at this point. There has been almost no motion in my writing over the last several months, excepting some half-hearted attempts at editing, and it’s time for that stagnation to stop. It’s quite literally as though a fog has lifted. Finally. Between the hormones, trauma, and loss over the last few months my mind now feels clear and capable. Getting back together with the ladies in my very informal writing group has also helped immeasurably.
To this end I am also looking forward to getting back to reading while juggling my Christmas baking AND crafting. [Nothing lends its self to crafty inspiration quite like an almost four year old always being around and the one car leaving every day with your spouse.] This all seems like rather uninteresting blather, even to me – but here are the pieces of goodness that have come about as a result of all these things:
1. My friend passing has recalled to mind how valuable life is. While it’s incredibly easy to get caught up in the day to day drama and bullshit there is still life. Nothing else matters. Not really. That’s what my wip was always meant to demonstrate – my thoughts/feelings on the value of a life and how its safe keeping can never be handed over to an unknown person. Trust is personal. And there is nothing more personal to me than the lives I value.
2. Electricity is a requirement for living in this world. It shouldn’t be. My mind became calmer, I spoke more to my son (who definitely did NOT get more quiet), and the necessities became obvious when there was no electricity. Warmth, food, water – these are necessary for life. And here’s where I get political: So why on EARTH do we wind up subservient to town ordinances while we pay taxes on our property that make it a pain in the ass to have a fireplace? This kind of goes back to number one – why trust people you don’t know with something as valuable as your life – or things that drastically impact your ability to maintain your life? [For those who don't know and just want to focus on the Big Bad Utility Company angle of the media - it took CT's governor FIVE DAYS to call out the National Guard to start cleaning up the Nor'easter mess. Utilities would have been easier to restore if the freaking trees were dealt with from the get go and with the aid of the guys who had the equipment all us taxpayers have already bought.] Believe you, me – all that is relevant to the wip. I also really like pen and paper. A lot. My next house will have a gas stove and a fireplace.
3. Sometimes survival depends upon a community. Form one. Be a positive part of it. Life can be difficult and lonely, sometimes impossible, if not for the aid of those around us. It’s not about reaching out and taking, but about reaching out and giving. Sometimes having a little less because you shared means you wind up with more.
4. Time is precious and totally worth being spent on good food, good friends, good books, and the quiet moments it takes to figure out exactly what qualifies as “good”.
Have you ever been unwillingly without power for a substantial amount of time? How’s your writing going? Heck, what kind of books are you reading?
It’s been so long and I really want to get reacquainted with all of you. Please share.
