Nothing
Today, I woke up in giddy delirium. I have nothing to do.
Oh, don't get me wrong. My to-do list is immense. I need to switch out all the children's and my summer clothes for winter (I believe given the freezing, damp week we have had, that any hopes of a return of warm weather have vanished), assemble two sets of bookshelves, clean Demon Baby's room, vacuum upstairs and down, and assorted other housework . . . but I don't have to GO anywhere. I don't have to dress beyond my furry slippers, yoga pants, and sweatshirt. I don't even have to brush my hair. I can plop down with a cup of coffee and . . . write (in between household chores). No children need to be taken anywhere. Though I do have to put up with the whining patient who is now well enough to be bored but not well enough to go out in this weather (for any non-Facebook friends, I spent all of Thursday with one sick child at the hospital).
And that's how I know. I'm a writer. Because given the choice between . . . well, you name it--the sky's the limit--on a RARE "nothing" day . . . I would rather spend it in fictional worlds with fictional people, making stuff up . . . than anything else. I am sure I will play "restaurant" with Demon Baby. I am sure I will putter.
But in the end, I have a date with some characters. And nothing makes me happier.
Thoughts?
20 comments:
I'm visiting Kentucky this week so I'm getting a taste of the cold weather too. It was in the 70s-80s when I left Florida and it's in the 30s-50s here. Brrrr.
I haven't been on Facebook so I didn't know your daughter was sick. Glad to hear she's better.
I too enjoy the fictional world when I have some free time, of my own making or someone else's. Not really writing this week but I'm doing some reading and jotting ideas here and there. The Work (from this point forward to be known as The Work) is always on my mind, even when I might appear to be doing something else.
Jude:
Me, too. My mind often wanders to The Work. Or Works!
E
I'm on Facebook, sort of, and didn't know your daughter was sick. My immune system was never the greatest, but I'm assuming it's genetics. My brother and I both had multiple cases of chicken pox. So glad she's getting better.
We had cold here, briefly. Now it's back up to the 90's.
Time to write is so elusive sometimes. Which is why I'm on Facebook, but don't keep up with it.
Oh, I'm sorry! I was feverish this week, so I only glanced at Facebook a few times a day and missed it. I hope she finishes recovering quickly!
I love days with no errands. We ran a bunch today, but still: it's a 12-hours-in-the-bookstore day. Heaven. Bliss. Totally the best. Lots to write, then lots to read. :-)
I'm so happy for you that you have what to a lot of people would seem like a "normal" day. I hope BG feels better soon.
I actually have social plans in the near future -- shocking! A couple we met last year is back for a couple weeks so we'll be hanging out with them a bit.
I have a party to attend tonight, but I slept until 10am. I'm usually up at 5am. I just thanked my husband for running to the grocery store (since I forgot about the need to bring wine and appetizers to the party) and the bank, cause I wanted to stay in my nightgown all day. My daughter dropped in and we lounged around on my bed and gabbed for three hours. IT's sunny and 70 degrees -- couldn't ask for a more enjoyable day - but - for a few seconds I winced at my girl showing up. I had been looking forward to a couple hours in the mountains of 1859 Colorado Territory with Anna Jane and Mountain Charley. Ah, but they'll be here tomorrow, and my beautiful daughter won't be. All things sort themselves out in their proper priority.
I knew going to sleep last night that I was going to treat myself to a day of reading and writing whatever I wanted in whatever order and combination seemed right at the time. When I woke up I made coffee and got back into bed with a new book. As I was reading, a new character and scene knocked on my brain.
"Come back later," I said. "Can't you see I'm reading?"
"I don't think so," she said.
I got out of bed and grabbed a notebook and pen. I jotted down a sentence or two and went back to reading.
Then I put down the book and picked up the paper and pen and hand wrote about 7 pages. My hand hurt. I poured more coffee and sat at the computer and, as I'm sure you'll understand, I was possessed by a bunch of people I was just meeting as they arrived on the screen. I wrote 2500 words of a story and I have no idea where it's going - let alone where it came from. I don't even know what's next - if anything. But I'm glad they're all in a word doc now, because it was obviously getting crowded upstairs.
There is no way someone who is not a writer would understand what happened today. So, thanks for bringing up your day of nothing and I hope you're enjoying it.
Sounds like bliss. Enjoy.
Sarah:
Of my four kids, she is the one who seems to get sick a lot . . . I presume it is genetics too.
E
Natasha:
That sounds like my idea of bliss too!!!
E
Melanie:
Yeah . . . "normal" doesn't happen all that often around here.
E
Beth:
I get that way over the phone rining. I generally don't like to interrupt writing time for the phone (and usually don't--but for my daughter or mom, or best friend, I will).
E
Amy:
How totally cool!!!! I love when things like that happen. Inspiration!
E
Mark:
Yes . . . followed my bliss a bit today. I even took a nap. I have a feeling the apocalypse is upon us. That NEVER gets to happen.
E
I love PJ days more than life itself. Not enough of those. In fact, I can't think of one in the next month. But I sure appreciate them when they come.
Starbucks:
PJS = Bliss
E
Hey Erica, glad to hear your baby girl is getting better! And P.J.s for me are "normal clothes." I swear, I'm wearing a pair I recently bought, and couldn't be happier. Got them for 50% off too, so I really Love them. lol One of the things I like about fall/winter; the cozy stuff I can wear.
And the days with no place to be are heaven! Worked on my laptop today, and probably will get some reading time in too. Great day all around.
I love days like that - such a wonderful feeling!
Glad that your daughter is on the mend!
LaDonna:
I bought a new sweatshirt on sale yesterday. You would have thought I bought some fab outfit. LOL! I was delighted.
E
Nadine:
Thanks!
E
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