6/27… Interruptions! Goodness! Suddenly, contacting realtors and contractors in Harpers Ferry, WV, is consuming days and blogs!! I finally have these people in time slots for meetings the first week of July so I’m back on track for at least a few days! I have a surprisingly new direction for some YA novels, targeted for middle and high school kids. More on this later, but I’ve got to get busy on this before we take off for WV this weekend. I’m excited but seriously challenged by the themes of these new books…. With God, all things are possible!
The Gift of a Story
So today, I finally sent out all those books to the dozen people who requested them. It took well over an hour – much longer than I’d thought. Can’t wait for the comments to start rolling in. I’m determined to be tough-skinned because not everyone likes everything about all you’ve written. You can learn from all comments – if you’re willing to listen… and not take comments personally. Won’t I be surprised if the comments are easily digestible?
Time to Hit the Books!
One week later and we’re back home, leaving a cleaner cabin in Harper’s Ferry, WVA. It’s down to business now. I’ve promises to keep and a dozen ebooks to gift people back at school. It’s either the suspense/mystery about Alexa Silven or the YA comedy about high school drama. Different tastes abound. This is good, though, because they REALLY want to read my books. Hope they’ll enjoy them!
WV, Day 2
It’s not the 50+ yr.-old cabin that’s the most alluring reason for coming to Harper’s Ferry, WVA. It’s that my husband, John, both sons (Dan & Mark), and Dan’s wife (Emille) are here for the few precious days we have to clean all these windows and back deck, fix the broken down front fence posts, and clean out the weeds in the front yard. Sounds just about as unexciting as it is, I’m sure. But it has been exciting to see all this get done in just two days. Man, this crew can work like lightning! Everyone worked hard from sunup to sundown two days straight. Emille worked right alongside the guys and it was so impressive to watch them, like a well-oiled machine. Me? I cleaned the munge from the deck railings and took care of the cooking and cleaning. We weren’t working alone because John’s brother Steve, wife »
Trip to D.C., Day 1
The highlight of the day and my writing career happened after the funeral. My writing partner and son, Dan, and his wife Emille went to the Library of Congress with me to hand deliver the last three manuscripts for copyrighting. We followed the yellow brick road in the underground tunnel to the Madison Building. Helpful employees kept us going in the right direction to the Copyright Office where we gave our submissions to the clerk. Love the Alexa silhouette Dan made! Lots of fun photographing it everywhere! Dan has really creative ideas and made this whole event memorable while my husband and son, Mark, kept circling the block waiting for us to emerge victorious.
Trip to Washington, DC
Wednesday morning and we are up at 5 AM and on the road to DC by 5:55. It’s good that we are due at my husband’s mother’s funeral by 1 PM tomorrow. Interesting that she died exactly one year ago and Arlington has finally slotted her internment. We also have to help prepare their cabin for sale. I am motivated to get us past Richmond, VA by 6 PM tonight. (And I did!) It was almost like running away from the mixed emotions and sadness I’m leaving behind. Acclimating to a different course, a different purpose after 29 years of teaching is a bit confusing… I’m in a tailspin. But I know God is in charge and won’t let go of me.
Countdown: 1 Day
Today, we had to help process all the Seniors who’ve returned to settle any debts or obligations before being allowed to walk. I handled the request forms for final transcripts. Good to see them one last time. Monday was Memorial Day and today is my final day as an OCPS teacher. I volunteered to substitute for a teacher who suddenly rushed to the hospital with contractions. I know she’s more than ready to have that baby. It was wonderful to meet her students – they’re AP (advanced placement)- and so polite and interesting. One of the best principals I’ve ever known just came in and placed a bracelet on my arm. I’ll cherish it. Acts of kindness should be cherished, especially in this world of insanity.
Countdown: 2 Days
OK, it’s official now – the Seniors are gone and I’m stuck here submitting grades. Even a bad day with them is more fun than this. It feels good, though, seeing how many of them are really graduating (all of mine) and mostly all of others’ classes. Good job.
Countdown: 3 Days
Third and last day for Seniors. The Administration has created an inflatable version of the fair scene at the end of “Grease.” I’m manning the inflated Olympic Sports station. Three hours in the Florida sun wearing a Gator baseball cap and drinking a bottle of water. Watching them, stuffing it all in my memory for future recall. Things I don’t want to forget. Three days to go.
Countdown: 4 Days
Second day of final exams so I don’t see every class every day. It’s hard to realize that I’ll not only be losing them to graduation, but I’ll be parting with the last classes of my high school teaching career. Sadness mixed with anticipation… what a mixed up mess inside my heart. In many ways I’m experiencing the same things they are. We’re all getting out of high school! Think of it as graduation day for me, too! Four days to go.
