If you have no idea what I’m talking about, check out the previous post.

July 3, 1937

I am numb. Not sure I can put two words together.

July 24, 1937

The flood came.

I went to town with Johnny to get supplies for the week. It was hot, and I was a touch weary but tried not to let on. When we were done we went down the street to McLemore-Bass for ice cream, like usual. And like usual I smiled as I walked in, the bell on the door ringing. It always smells so good in there.

But something was wrong. I stopped.

Then I remembered for the 1,000^th time. Mitch wasn’t there, and he wouldn’t ever be there again.

Johnny noticed even before me that I wasn’t moving past the doorway. When he turned to look at me, I saw his smile turn to a frown. He looked worried. I didn’t know what he was looking at until I looked down and saw tears dripping down onto my shirt. Big, fat ones. I gritted my teeth…I would not cry right there – in the middle of Abilene, for Pete’s sake.

I waited until we were in the truck and on the way home before I let those stupid tears have their way. And it hurt so bad that Mitch wasn’t there to wipe them away with his ratty blue kerchief. He always said it was his good luck charm.

Josie is starting to share with me some of her personal journal entries. These notes are from the time before the novel begins, and they won’t be included in the final story. The entry below gives a sliver of a glimpse into Josie’s teenage years.

July 2, 1937

Going to the Stamford Rodeo tomorrow with Lindy and her folks. Will see Mitchell ride his bronc. He’s so excited, and I’m proud for him. Trying not to think about the danger. Will he be nervous? Some are saying that there could be almost 70,000 people there. 70,000 – mercy! I’ve never seen that many people in one place. I’m hoping I can talk to him before he rides. But if not he knows I’m rooting for him. And I can give him our secret signal.

I can’t believe we’ve been sweet on each other for nearly two months now. We’ve been pals for so long. It’s still a little odd to think of him that way. Best not to dwell on that too much. Better get to bed. Gotta do my chores before I can leave for Stamford.

The sky spreads transfixed on its canvas,

painting itself in broad strokes while

The shadow trees reach long fingers across the road

It’s the first day of spring. How are you celebrating?  Cupping your ear to catch the strains of warbling birds? Leaping with open arms through lush meadows brimming with daisies?

I am quite fond of spring, but tonight I’m ushering in the season in an even better way. Nothing says spring like curling up with a mug of hot chocolate and enjoying the snap, crackle, and pop of the fireplace. Mid-twenties tonight; some people I know got snow today.  Unusual, but I’m not complaining.

After a full week like this one was, I can think of few things better than relaxing in front of a fire. Don’t let it scare you that some consider me of the pyro persuasion. (I’m the queen of campfire “Let’s see how this burns” experiments.)  But at home I’m content to soak in the sight, smell, and sounds of the flames. My tense muscles release their grip, thoughts unwind, and all is well in the world.

Isn’t it amazing how simple things can whisper in our ear, gently beckoning us to pause and make friends with the moment?  And it’s different for everyone. Maybe it’s the sunset we rarely notice, the sound of a friend’s voice, or the scent of the neighbor’s daffodils. Sure, it may sound corny…but we each have those little things that, in the space of a few seconds or a few hours, can bring us back to a pleasant reality – if we take notice.

I’m fortunate to be able to bask in the glow of one of my “little things” tonight. …What are some of yours?

Behold (picture my grand, sweeping gesture): five gifts that will not soon be forgotten:

Toys

1. Punjabi Prison Match Ring – Teaches the finer points of conflict resolution to those sweet tots looking for a rumble.

Home & Garden

2. “The Zombie of Montclaire Moors” Statue - Nothing reminds your loved one of the joy of living like sipping a beverage on the back porch and seeing a dead person climbing up from the petunias.

3. “Bigfoot, the Garden Yeti” Statue – Need cuter, furrier creatures in your yard?  Look no further.  Comes with complimentary paparazzi visits.

4. Alien Gnome Bandits Garden Accent – When your standard garden gnome doesn’t cut it anymore, these buggy creatures will gently haul him off to a “large farm, where he has lots of room to run and play.”

On the Go

5. Underwater Cellular Phone System – We’ve all been there: your loved one is into his/her daily scuba excursion and wouldn’t you know it? They forgot to return that call. Or maybe they want to have that pizza delivered hot and fresh when they get to shore. Here’s the answer.  Only caution them to order the pizza clearly, not “bwuppuuwroni wi swwausage.”

So there you have it. Aren’t you relieved to have this burden off your shoulders? You’re welcome.

Welcome back. Thanks for your patience.

My wonderful Information Technology advisor (aka my husband, David) has gotten the site resettled, and we’re good to go!

Which is your favorite month of the year? Of course, January is everyone’s best-loved month, right?

Okay, probably not.

Ten or 15 years ago January was last on my list. Back then I didn’t like cold weather, and January just seemed like a bleak, blustery, colorless month that had to be endured. I wondered if a person could get in on the bears’ hibernation deal.

What changed? Maybe it was when I got married in a January wedding. Suddenly there was a permanent bright spot on the calendar that time every year. Also around that time I launched into my transition from a hot-weather loving/cold-weather shunning girl into quite the opposite.

Whatever the reason, I now really like the first month of the year. While not my absolute favorite, it does have its charms. Yes, after Christmas and New Year’s, life resumes with the hustle and bustle of daily routines. …But overall, there seems to be a quiet simplicity that hushes the land. A brisk stillness that can be seen in bare tree branches and blankets of snow. It’s as if nature has paused for a moment.

It’s a welcome chance for me to pause as well, reminiscing with a smile about the holidays, being grateful for countless blessings, and feeling hopeful about the time ahead. Maybe that’s also why I’m drinking hot chocolate more often–it’s a chance to warm up and take a moment to stop and just think…often a rarity in our busy days.

(At least that’s the reason I tell myself as I take another sip.) =)

Sunny showers of falling leaves

–nature’s confetti dancing on the breeze,

celebrating the ripe, old year

that’s not quite ready to surrender

It stands for National Novel Writing Month.  Every November 1-30, novelists wanting a push to crank out first drafts gather at NaNoWriMo.org, register, and set a personal goal to wrestle into existence at least 50,000 words of a novel. The idea is to simply generate quantity, not quality, so that by the end of the month there’s raw material to shape and improve.

Of course, I’ve had no problem getting out my first draft of my novel.  (Those of you who know me well are stepping back, waiting lightning to strike me.) Sigh.  Alas, I’ve been slower than Christmas writing this novel.

I need deadlines.  So…I’m going to dive in to NaNoWriMo this year.  I can think of a million reasons why this is a horrible month to challenge myself with a goal like this, but when is there a good time?  The last few weeks I’ve missed concerted writing, and this is a great way to jump start me.

Will I meet the goal?  Who knows?  But this girl’s sure gonna give it her best shot.

Cheer me on or heckle me for lagging:  soon I’ll try to add a widget on this blog so you can see how far I’m getting.