Spaghetti

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I base much of what I do on a reason, maybe not a good one, but it comes from a memory, advice or experience.   The best times are when I do something for no reason at all.

When I was younger, my family declared I was a finicky eater. (As an adult, I’d say I was discerning).   I didn’t like my mom’s spaghetti sauce. Every time she made the dish, I’d remind her that I just wanted plain spaghetti. She would nod and proceed to wash the sauce off.  I was young and watched silently until the time that she exclaimed in horror, “Oh, Abbe, I just washed your spaghetti down the drain.” In my smallest voice I replied, “Mom, why don’t you make me some without the sauce?”   

In my innocence I discovered, a hole in her thoughts.  She had repeated her recipe of combining the noodles with sauce for years. It never occurred to her to find a simpler way to accommodate my request.  My mom hugged me and boiled water.

Recently I learned of a new way to make corn on the cob.  Reed, a farmer in the valley, brought hot corn on the cob to a family reunion.  He simply husked the corn, filled a cooler with hot water, and let the corn cook as he traveled to the party.  The corn remained hot, and the kernels perfect—not hard or mushy. His reason was practical.

I discovered another trick from my sister-in-law who cans pickles. She takes the box of cucumbers and dumps them in the washing machine and puts it on the gentle wash cycle.  No soap but the water takes away the grime, the spikes and saves a ton of time. Her reason was to expedite the process and she bought an old washing machine for the cause.

As an author, I hold these snippets in my story bank, waiting for the perfect character. This is where I can show the depth, humor, and quirks of a life.  We all need these quips to keep us grounded. 

I usually have a cloth rubber band around my wrist, a habit I acquired when I became a mother.  My girls often lost theirs just when it was their turn on the soccer field. Now I keep the rubber band for security.  My past employees often came to work at my restaurant not prepared. I’d whip out the hair-tie and send them back on the floor to prep food. My old habit comes in handy.  When the weather turns hot, I rely on the rubber band to pull my crazy hair into a ponytail. Reasons change but not habits.

After I retired, I changed my time that I set off to swim.  Who in their right mind would leave the house at 5:00 am to exercise?  But a creature of habit finds change difficult. I compromised and discovered a new world.  Instead of just laps, I added water aerobics. I find myself laughing with all the women and a few men.  The instructor works us hard and I’m relieved when the class is done, because I’m left with an empty pool and just myself lapping the lanes while I pretend, I’m a mermaid.  

This minor change in time allowed for other discoveries.  The pool is the same, but in fact my Monday experience allows for new friendships, different patterns.  I even drive down different roads to avoid traffic. Still, I keep to my schedule on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Changing a habit is hard.

Summer is gone but here the Pacific Northwest, September is a gift.  They call it Indian Summer when autumn should be knocking at our door, but the weather is unseasonably warm, the sun shines. We get a second chance.  Our tendency of assigning names that might be offensive strikes me as another habit. Some call this time the gossamer or the goose summer. Others say it’s the time for spiders where their glossy webs are seen in the early mornings.  Coining a new name for an old habit will take time. I’ll start today, celebrating for no reason at all.  SSG– Summer’s Second Gift.      

If you look carefully at the characters in my novels, you’ll discover many of my observations of daily life.  I assign the quirks to them and give my idiosyncrasies purpose. My reason—to ensure that my craziness will endure.

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Poem

Sun’s Flower

Call me shy
Asleep with my thoughts.
Not quite ready to open
My petals.

Folded tight in knitted embrace
I dream of sun’s shine.
Warmth to melt what locks
My heart.

Give me time
Within the still moments
To savor the innocence
My seeds.

Call me wise
Awake with my reflections
Eager to reveal gems
My tenderness

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Social Concerns

Over the years, I’ve distilled my giving down to two main causes: Health and education. Without either a person doesn’t thrive.

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I had my first meeting with the board and volunters of IRIS this week. Immigrant Resource and Immediate Support. We are planning a fundraiser at my home for the spring. Stay tuned for more information.

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Writing and Reading World

The business of writing unfortunately leaves my brain weary. I’m busy uploading data to my distributor for the launch of Founding Stones. Lead time is about four months before the release. Reviews are coming in and I’m planning pre-sales and book talks.

One of the task I must complete is noting three novels that are comparable to my writing. This is where you, the reader can help me. Send your suggestions along.

I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, all three of the novels in the Generations of Secrets Series will be in audio. Tavia Gilbert begins narrating River of Angels, this week, Color of Lies, will follow. We are targeting the audio of Founding Stones to coincide with the book release in early 2020.

As my left brain works on logistics, my right brain scribbles down poems, short stories, and snippets like this one.

I will let you know when you can pre-order Founding Stones. If you’d like me to speak with your book club or know a bookstore that would like to host me, let me know.

Reading World
I just joined a book club, the Salish Sea is the local name and is part of the Pulpwood Queens Book Club, started by Kathy Murphy. Kathy is an artist, author and innovator. Her own book is titled, Beauty and the Book.

Our book club members are all writers. I look forward to our insights in terms of prose, plot, character development, and setting. We are presently reading Barbara Kingsolver’s book. Unsheltered. I’ll let you know my opinion.

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Quotes

Inspiring thoughts from others, that move me to action. Here are two thoughts that caught my eye.

My stories run up and bite me in the leg – I respond by writing them down – everything that goes on during the bite. When I finish, the idea lets go and runs off.

~ Ray Bradbury, science fiction writer
(1922 – 2012)

A writer and I believe, generally all persons – must think that whatever happens to him or her is a resource. All things have been given to us for purpose, and an artist must feel this more intensely. All that happens to us, including our humiliations, our misfortunes, our embarrassments. All is given to us as raw material, as clay, so that we may shape our art.

~ Jorge Luis Borges, writer
(1899-1986)

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