I ask you...HOW can you have a bad day when your body, heart, soul and tummy are full and happy?
I left the diner as the lunch and after-church crowd started streaming in and headed to our public library down the street. My favorite librarian greeted me and winked as she whispered that the fancy computer with the large monitor in the private room was available. So many nice people on on this beautiful sunny day!
As I got situated to prepare to write this blog, I realized something, had a light bulb moment if you will. I briefly interacted and shared moments with many wonderful people today at church, the diner and the library, but I haven't had one conversation. Not one.
I shook hands, said good morning, offered the people around me the sign of peace in church, gave the waitress my breakfast order, and when I dribbled syrup on my white tank top, I asked the same waitress for a bit of water to remove the stain. I thanked her, paid my bill, asked for a diner mug that I heard was on sale, thanked the cashier, said hello to the librarian, and thanked her for the heads up on the private room. I had exchanges, but no real conversation.
I did, however, people watch before Mass started, listened to conversations around me at the diner, watched people's eating habits, and wondered if my protagonist would say this or that and if so, how would she say this or that?
Welcome to the world of the writer :)
I edited, wrote and rewrote all this week. From Monday through Saturday, I sat at my laptop and only got up to eat, walk Ozzy, feed him and Pierre, and make chicken noodle soup in my crock pot. I took an evening walk with my Pug and rediscovered how utterly beautiful snow looks at night under streetlights. I saw diamonds and glitter all the way home. What a gift!
I guess you can figure out that this week, I didn't see many people and you'd be right. Other than a ten minute visit with a neighbor mid-week and a two minute conversation with another neighbor as we shoveled the sidewalks in front of our homes, I was silent. Me and my novel.
As a creative child who loved to write and draw, I was in my head quite a bit. However, I was also a social child with a younger sister and many friends to play with. I didn't isolate myself, but when I needed time to myself, I took it and loved it as much as climbing trees or playing Tetherball in our school playground.
Today, I'm much the same way. I love socializing with friends on Friday and Saturday evenings and try to save Sundays for myself unless I'm visiting with my beautiful daughter and son or visiting friends in Northern Virginia. During the week, I putter around my house during writing breaks and don't answer the telephone, but will answer texts if I see them. I play inside the house with my characters, my story line and figuring out who will say what and how will they look when they say it. I'm in my head and I love it.
Now, I'm no hermit, believe me and if a nice man asked me out on a date, I'd go (only on the weekend!). In winter, I take walks and in the spring, I get my hands dirty in my gardens or I fish on the river. I love the outdoors. Come spring, I'll be editing, writing and rewriting at my place on the river, combining many of my passions.
Is there such a thing as being TOO much inside our heads with our writing? Not unless you don't come up for air, get no exercise or fresh air, or if you repeatedly avoid family and friend's invitations to get together. We do need some down time, but I've realized that even during down time with family and friends, I'm still thinking about my book.
Hey, most people have jobs and honey, this writing life IS my job. I take this seriously :) So, my title is playful because we need down time, play time if you will, and hopefully, writing will always feel like play to me. Not that I don't take it seriously, now. I do, but the time I spend in my head is play time to me.
P.S. I can't find the photographer's name nor the title of the photograph. Sorry for that!
Peace and love,
Ellie
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