It’s a good Friday out there! The Babe says it’s really hot, the dogs do not want out. It’s a mid-morning nap on the couches for them. Works for me!
We had early mail call this morning, too. All for me, and not a bill in the stack! Adding music to my collection always makes me happy. Two new favorites (along with all my established favorites!) are Dayna Jones and Ray Scott. Dayna’s music is so uplifting and makes me feel happy. Her voice is beautiful. Strong and gentle at the same time. Trust me, she does it. South Dakota has another great product. (The Babe is from Sioux Falls). You can’t go wrong.
Ray Scott has many great stories and I enjoy them in the background while I write. Stories in songs are similar to stories in books, yet very different. The story a song tells is often shorter than four minutes, yet can tell of a lifetime. A story in a book or a song can give you pictures of events in your imagination. Movies often spoil that for us, in my opinion. I love imagining a story in my mind. Or a song. His songs are great for that.
Writer’s Digest is a publication I enjoy as a writer. I have so much to learn, and I know that. I’m hungry for wherever I can learn more and more. I do believe I’m headed in the right direction. I have a lot of good guidance from a lot of new friends. Support is so great in creative communities. With my experiences with quilters around the world, I have seen how generous quilters are. They want to swaddle everyone in a beautiful quilt made just for them. They are such givers, I love to see it!
We had the absolute joy of celebrating Gavin’s birthday last night. He won’t be eight until Tuesday, but family was in town and it was so fun to see him play with his cousins. There was no more happy look than a boy who just got a brand new bicycle. It’s a great story, about the bike. There are no 24 inch bikes available in Omaha. None. Everyone has bought one to ride during the pandemic. With that in mind, our son in law did a commute out to Denver for his job on Monday. They don’t want the employees flying, they feel it’s safer driving between location. I have to agree with that.
I-80 stretches west, into the plains of Nebraska. With Lexington, NE in his sight, he spied a WalMart. Stopped in, and found the very last bike for a boy in the exactly right size. Things like this are no coincidence, you know? He sent a photo to his wife, and he bought it on the spot. Anyway, Gavin is in seventeenth heaven. Or at least in eighth heaven for now. It made my heart happy. Don’t we all need our hearts to be happy right about now? Good job, Dad!
It won’t be all fun and no work this weekend. I can listen to my new tunes and do some planning for the next two months. The Babe is on board. He’ll pick up my slack if I’m not available to do some things around the house. My days will mostly revolve around writing, analyzing, learning, and making progress. I am looking forward to having to work against deadlines with Sam, my writing coach. It will be another adventure to share with you.
I’m reading a book right now called “Personality Isn’t Permanent.” I’m a perfect example of that. I became someone who was hiding inside myself for many years. I did not know she was there. The more of her who emerged, the more surprised I was. It took many years for me to stand up for myself. It’s no problem for me now with some people. Others, I’ve still got work to do. But not as much as thirty or forty years ago. It’s a work in progress.
The older I become, the more I love living. We make mistakes, and they are no longer so devastating. No one who truly loves us criticizes us for them. After a time, with the distance of hindsight, you can identify your own rock bottom. Drugs and alcohol don’t necessarily have to be involved. If they are, I think the bottom is deeper and more prominent. Getting out is what’s important. If you slide back in any way, you can adjust your direction. Just keep showing progress, however tough it is. Apply this to all aspect of your life, and I believe we will all have a good one.
This kind of growth happens for my character, Katie. She is much stronger than anyone ever thought, including herself. You will see this in her story. Someone told me once, “You have to watch out for the quiet ones.” That was me, one of the quiet ones. No more. Stay tuned for more information about our writing adventure.
As always, I appreciate your time spent reading my blog today. Stay safe out there, wear your mask, wash your hands, be kind, be thoughtful, and be a good example. Help our world become a better place. See you tomorrow!
Kathy Raabe 