It's at the Printer!

Another blog entry so soon? My coach will be surprised. I may be stalling, avoiding or maybe just allowing my roiling mind to simmer a bit but here goes the news of the day. When the Hill Came Down is at the printer and will be in my hands soon. I am anxious to receive it as I always am when a new book arrives. The arrival of my ninth book will not rival the excitement , joy and thrill of seeing my first book . A few days ago I sat in the same spot in the Shoppers Drug Mart parking lot that I had pulled into after having picked up my ten author copies from the post office nine years ago. I recalled ripping the box open and seeing copies of The Year Mrs. Montague Cried. I wept as I held that little book the efforts of a year of writing and the testament to the sorrow of loosing my beloved firstborn son. Such layers of joy and anguish, such accomplishment and heartache. I still hold that little book with awe , pride and gratefulness. Every book following brought its own feelings and I loved receiving them. This one has its own story ( on the page of course and in the writing process) and has its own personality.It has been a long time getting here and was interrupted by the state of the 2020 world we are living through but the wait makes it even more exciting.The launch may happen at a later date but more pressing concerns fill our thoughts and need our energy this summer. Maybe a fall launch will welcome this new book. In the meantime I will order a few and sell to interested readers. Welcome to the family, When the Hill Came Down.

A Night With the 82

A lovely June evening and Thai food on Kathy's welcoming deck was where the 82 Moms gathered to have their June closing . Other years we have met at Splash and sat around the table enjoying each others company as we prepare for our summer break. Now meeting once a month at each other's homes does not require a break but we have always had our June night closing, planning to get together again in August at Faye's pool and then begin our rotation again in September. Last night's get together was different and perfect.We met outside socially distancing and following best practices. We talked, caught up , laughed like crazy and allowed the bond we already have to become deeper and more valuable. After hearing an author on CBC's Q program interviewed yesterday I thought of writing a book about a group of mothers who gave birth in 1982. The author spoke of a friendship between two men who meet at a Dublin pub after years apart. I mentioned to the 82 Moms that I might have to write a book entitled 82 Moms. It will be fiction of course but life itself is stranger and more diverse than fiction or fiction mirrors the crazy range of what life throws at us. Last night eight women represented the twenty one children , twenty two grandchildren, the losses, the sorrow and joy, the challenges and triumphs that thirty eight years have delivered us.We shall see if that small seed of an idea grows into a book but either way I am blessed to have the 82 Moms in my life. Such support and camaraderie is a gift beyond measure.( the food is always good too) Each one of us faces challenges in the summer months ahead as well as many blessings and joys to embrace. Each one of us takes our own strength and resilience into the coming months but also takes the strength and support the group extends. We will meet again at poolside and reflect on the days that unfolded , the wins and the failures , the joys and the sorrows this life provides.And Ellen THANKYOU. You did not have to do that!

Home Again , Home Again

What a beautiful June morning. Up early and getting to the garden before eight o'clock. A quick blog entry to announce the joy of our hearts as we look ahead. Meg is coming home. Coming home to live and we are thrilled. Our granddaughters who we bring home as often as we can, who I write weekly letters to , who I talk to almost every day are going to be nearby. The cousins are going to grow up together, not a country apart.This is what we have wished for , waited for and wondered if it would ever come true.We have hurtles ahead but together we will jump over them. This summer season is a season of change and challenge. We are living in an uncertain time and so much is happening globally. But right here on the Walton Lake Road the future is bright and exciting.My garden grows patiently, waiting for moisture. My heart holds hope and optimism. My soul floods with joy and thanksgiving. In these uncertain, frightening times family is the foundation that grounds us and it is time for our girl to head back home. Now off to pull those nasty thistles from the garden and create another weed free row.Hard work, dedication, vision and tackling one weed at a time gets the job done and will serve us well in the next few weeks. So much for a quiet Covid summer. A former squash patch to aspire to.

We'll Meet Again

Dame Vera Lynn died at 103 today. Whenever I hear her sing We'll Meet Again I think of my mother. My mother gifted me so many old songs and I am so thankful for that. Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree With anyone else but me... My blog coach instructed me to write an entry this morning and my first thought was I do not have the time. I got out of bed early this morning because I had one hundred more pages to proof of When the Hill Came Down. I wanted it done and sent back to my publisher so it can go to print and I can hold it in my hands as soon as possible.I wanted to get to the garden for at least an hour and reward myself with a relaxing afternoon at my friend's camp. I wanted to fit in a swim . I had a short surprise visit from a friend who came for eggs and had the pleasure of sitting on the back veranda chatting for a few minutes. I had a nice message from someone with a possible literary invitation inquiry.I read through the ms and only found one mistake(don't hold me to that Elias) and was bawling by the end of it which means my work was done and I created what I set out to do when telling the story. Hopefully readers will agree. I read the acknowledgments which gives mention to the importance of Gladys and my Dad in the fabric of this finished book.My blog coach asked me to write some good things about marriage.Marriage like writing a book is hard work. It is not a fairy tale or a perfect painting . It is messy and difficult and frustrating and maddening. It is ups and downs, disappointments, compromise and confusion. It is joy and sorrow, laughter and tears. It is sunshine and heavy rain. It is still blue water and perilous waves. It is worth it. The results of all the hard work will be a legacy you leave your children and grandchildren. Love will triumph if you make the choice to let some of the other crap go. I am not saying that all marriages are worth slogging through . Some situations need to be escaped and I do not judge anyone who makes the choice to walk away from a marriage. But if perfection is the goal you will be disappointed. Sometimes days start out one way and end up another. Maybe only a few weeds will get pulled today and I will have to tell myself what I did achieve today will have to be enough. I seem to be rambling a bit but I got my ms sent back, wrote an entry, cried some tears , remembered Gladys and Dad and my mom, heard Dame Vera Lynn's beautiful voice and feel deeply grateful for it all.

Full Speed Ahead

Oh so much percolating in my head and heart. The months ahead hold challenge, change and adventure.I will provide details at a later date as things unfold.On this quiet June day I will spend my time pulling weeds, hoeing rows and tending to my large garden . I will hope for rain and be optimistic for the healthy growth of each green shoot poking from the earth. I will at the same time hold my worries, concerns and petitions in my mind and heart, believing things will move along as they should. This past season of isolation, trepidation, adjustment and introspection have altered our perspectives and focused our priorities. Together we will find our way through the months ahead and will rejoice in the harvest. Tomorrow night the virtual NB Book Awards Gala will take place. Hopefully technology will not let me down and I will be able to fully participate from the privacy of my office where the words are written and the dreams unfold.I am thankful Fear of Drowning will be given some attention and will take that as a reminder that ideas, vision, dreams and hard work pay off. I cling to that as we face uncertainty on the next part of life's journey.Burton and I cried last night remembering our family trip across Canada in 1996. What a blessing that adventure was. We loaded five kids into our van and took off on a month long road trip. Oh the wonderful memories we made. Heading out we had no more idea of what lay ahead than we will on this next venture but we headed out never the less. We faced each adversity, no tent, no gas stations, bad water at the great divide (poor Chapin),and forged ahead.What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. We as a family are strong even though some days I feel a bone aching weakness. So I vow on this day to tackle each day with the assurance and expectation that the strength we need will be given us but realize I need to remind myself of that quite often.That is what I've got Burton for. . So tomorrow night's venue is my office.All the best to the shortlisted authors and fingers crossed for Fear of Drowning and technology.