On Being Humble

Naturally, since this is about humility, I'm not going to go on and on about my own humility. Instead I'm going to get 'round the back way, and give you a story of humility that I was in the middle of, that's not to say the actual center...but I digress. There is no easy way to talk about humility, because once you become aware of the concept, your mind does a circus act trying to be humble without thinking it is, thus ruining the neat little house of cards you had set up.

I was at a bridal shower today, along with my daughter. It was the second one this season we had attended and at the first one someone took the ribbons and bows off the gifts and made that fancy little paper bridal bouquet that brides like to use for their rehearsals. If you've never heard of this, don't worry. I never used one for my wedding and I'm still legally married. Although there is that matter of the official copy that we never sent to the... oh, never mind!

So, since my daughter and I are really 'into weddings' (she makes custom garters, and  I am a wedding coordinator) I volunteered us to make that little do-hickey. We had seen one done, and I was pretty sure we could do it.

Someone brought us some tape and scissors, and the plastic plate with holes already pre-punched. We were in business. Well, we fussed around with loads of tissue, and became a bit uncertain as to our ability. Actually I was feeling a little like Jane Austen's Mrs. Bennet as I had been the loudest to tout our willingness and advance my daughter as a 'wedding specialist'.

Just then a woman from the party came up behind me and asked, "Would you like me to make some tissue paper roses for you?"

I think instead I heard, "Would you like me to do the creative crafter's equivalent of the Heimlich maneuver?"

Gratefully we told her, "Yes, please." She taught us how to make beautiful rosettes with tissue paper that transformed our feeble attempt into a true art form. Truthfully, it was my daughter who did all the work, while I sat by admiringly. Then she sat on the grass, hidden from anyone else, continuing to make paper flowers while we got all the accolades for having made a wondrous thing of beauty. I looked up, and she was gone.

That, my friend, is humility.

Energy Drain

Do you know how much your attitude drains or pumps up the energy of others?

I don't, but I do know how others affects me.

I had a couple incidents that totally drained me today. They hit me unexpectedly and after a couple of these, I was ready for a nap. so I took one, and everything felt better. Surprising how much we rub off on others, and how catastrophic and even simple disappointing events wreak havoc on our psyche. Can you even imagine what our fellow humans are experiencing in Afghanistan, or even San Bruno for that matter?

The plain fact is that no man is an island. It simply is not possible to make a meaningful decision that does not affect anyone else. So much for "I can do what I want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone." Our very attitudes create waves.

If our positive and negative energy were visible, it would look like some sci-fi warfare blasting back and forth and spewing out waves of mental ammunition.

Guard that energy carefully.  The world depends on it.

Wound Up

waiting for the show to begin

I guess I am having the new teacher jitters and I'm not even a new teacher...

You know that skidding response you have when something you've hoped for and looked forward to for a long time is almost upon you? Yeah, weird, huh?

Chalk it up to being human.

I'm going to read a mystery and go to sleep. Or is it go to sleep and read a mystery?

After all tomorrow is always a mystery, isn't it?

Gina's Skinny Recipes: Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken

 This looks real good, and I'm trying it out this weekend. You too?

Gina's Skinny Recipes: Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken

A Window into My Head

Well, I heard back from the agent. A polite and prompt 'no'. In less than 8 hours.

Having gotten past this milestone, I feel almost experienced, and certainly better for having done it. I have several hundred to go perhaps.

I realized in the middle of the night that I had listed my website on the query and wondered what it would look like to an agent. More of a chopped up and simmering soup pot of ideas that are swimming around in my head, than an author's website.

Perhaps I should become more focused...

Maybe the Pope will consider Protestantism...

Maybe I'll be able to finish the next novel now. Maybe I'll blog like there's no tomorrow.

Maybe YOU will find yourself as the subject (or in a picture) in my next blog.

It's time to go for broke. I'm hittin' the open road. Publish or Bust.

Query

Well,
I did it.
I queried the agent I've been wanting to query for about six months.
Not sure what pushed me over the edge.

In the end I had to tell myself, "Oh well. You're not perfect and neither is your manuscript, so what kind of utopia are you waiting for?"
I didn't answer myself.

I just typed out the best letter I could, looked over my manuscript again, with the same jaded eyes I've always had, and pushed the send button.
It was easy, and it was hard. But it's over.
And I look at my watch and realize I've had to change the date because it's a new day.

It certainly is.