Escape Reality - Dark Mirrors Blog

Embracing the Mundane

1/5/2021

Happy New Year! The first week after the start of the new year is always awkward. The holidays are over, the decorations are down, and it's just - winter. Blah. After the Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Year rush, normal life seems strange and dull. You're left with a nagging feeling of "what now?"

As dull and depressing as it seems, I think the time after the holidays is a good opportunity to embrace the mundane. How long has it been since you had a normal day that isn't impacted by the holidays coming up? Things are in such a rush especially between Thanksgiving and Christmas that getting through a day is overwhelming. Isn't it a relief to have the pressure removed? To get back to just life? I know it is for me. Having time to work on The Sentience Series is a treat, especially since I haven't had time to write since I published Alive right after Thanksgiving. Having time to read again is also a treat, because that all but stopped in the week before and during Christmas. The laptop and the Kindle were part of my daily life that I took for granted, until the business of the holidays took that away. Now, I'm glad to have it back.

What did you miss having time for over the holidays? Be honest. You don't really have to tell anybody but yourself that you're glad to listen to music other than Christmas music, or to watch "regular" TV shows and movies that don't have a holiday theme right now. You can privately celebrate that you don't have to go shopping this weekend, or have delivery people dropping boxes on your porch every day (or have to break down and take those boxes to the dump all the time). And the house may look empty without the decorations up, but you can celebrate in the fact that it's probably still clean and tidy after your efforts to prepare for the just-passed holiday celebrations.

I know it's a letdown, but this is the time to appreciate the little things. And perhaps that's the point of the post-holiday blues. Sure, it's hard to tighten the budget, the diet, and the time back to normal - but maybe the final celebration we should have is that of the ordinary, and how it blesses us. And that is a gift that's appropriate for all times, seasons, and circumstances.

That's all today. Take care, and have a great week.

The Final Gift of Christmas (Answers to Frequently Asked Questions)

12/28/2020

I hope all of you had a blessed, joyful, and Merry Christmas. As we prepare to start a New Year, I thought I’d grant you one last gift: answers to my four most frequently asked questions. So without further ado, here are my five most frequently asked questions:

How are you? You might be a better judge of that than I am. Everybody told me that the holidays were going to suck for me this year, but I believe that was a bit dramatic. The worst time was the weekend before Thanksgiving, which was when Dad’s birthday would have been. The week before Christmas was also hard. But the holidays themselves were ok. In fact, I think it was helpful to have an opportunity to step out of the normal routine and spend time with family and friends. No, it wasn’t as good, between missing Dad and COVID restrictions, but the best was made of it.

I think the greatest thing I got from this holiday season is the realization that my grief doesn’t compromise me, it’s actually given me greater awareness and perspective. I find I’m getting along with people easier, and communicating better. Plus, it’s really not that abnormal, as we all go through it multiple times in our lives. Really, it’s a reminder that I’m just as human as everybody else. Of course the grief does hit me, but I face it as it comes, and this new perspective is providing comfort at a time when people think I should be a hot mess.
But yes, I do miss the “what’s up?” I used to get before Dad got sick in May. Perhaps that will return someday.

Where do you get your writing ideas from? Literally everywhere. All of life contributes, from my personal experiences and people I know, to stories people tell me, to what I read and watch on TV and movies, to the news, to dreams – honestly, it’s impossible to discern what combination of factors go into any book or story I write. I can tell you what was happening in my life at the time that I wrote each piece that was an influencing factor, but I can’t tell you what specific combinations came together to create the plot, setting, and characters that make up each story. And really, it doesn’t matter. What matters is how these books and stories speak to each reader, where they’re at, and what they can gain from it.

Bonus answer: I'm also often asked "how does one go about self publishing?" from people interested in becoming writers themselves. I've posted a free ebook titled So You Want to Be a Writer at Smashwords, and an article on Ezine Articles titled "How to Self Publish and Promote an Ebook" that gives you all the basic information you need to embark on the adventure of becoming an Independent Author.

What’s up with the birds? My Granddaddy loved birds. He set up feeders in his backyard, and we’d sit in the den and watch the birds a lot when I was a kid. Then I did some “bird sitting” for some family friends who had a parakeet, and fell in love. Birds are just so happy and full of joy, spunk, and feistiness! Plus, they’re smart. It’s good to have “anipals” you can talk to (whether it’s good for them to talk back depends on what they say!).

What kind of gun should I get? This question comes to me from time to time from women who have gone through a life transition, or have had a scary personal experience where they feel they need to be more proactive about protecting themselves. Honestly, it's best to go to a firing range and pose this question to the good folks working there. Guns/firearms are not a casual interest. If you’re going to buy one, you need to be committed to learning all you can about how it works, and how to operate and store it safely. Try firing various guns to see what you like and what you handle best. And while it’s an investment of time, I’d also suggest getting a Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) as well. That will give you the education and confidence you need to have and handle a firearm properly.

So Merry Christmas all! I hope this final gift of Christmas is an interesting close to an interesting year. You all stay safe, take care, and have a Happy New Year.

Bye!

Merry Christmas

12/21/2020

I wanted to take a moment before this Christmas week takes off to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas. It's been a challenging year, and I pray we can find peace and meaning in the celebration of Christ's birth. Surly, it does hold more meaning for me this year, as I'm sure it does for us all. I think we all "get it" a bit better this year.

I know celebrations are low key this year, but hopefully we can find new meaning in the season. May old traditions keep us rooted, and new traditions bring us fresh realizations in this season. Really, we need both to fully embrace the meaning of the season.

I also hope you're able to enjoy company with family and friends, either safely in person with small gatherings, or online. At least we have technology to keep us in touch and together.

Everybody stay safe, and take care. I wish you a blessed and joyful Christmas. Thank you for being my friends.

All the best, and God Bless,

Sherri

Baking Cookies - And Other Ways to Deal With Holiday Stress

12/17/2020

It always happens this time of year. Sometime between the second weekend of December and mid-month, the complaints and social media posts and they all say something like this:

Forget it! I'm not going out! I'm staying home today and baking cookies!

I used to not understand that. It seemed silly to me. What on earth does baking cookies solve? It seemed like an avoidance tactic to me. Now that I'm middle age, I think I understand it better.

Being a grown up during the holidays is hard. There's a phenomenon that sets in sometime around mid-November every year that I've dubbed "Christmas Brain." People are distracted by their personal life, and they don't want to work. Mind you, they want things done by Christmas. They just don't want to be the ones to do it - they want YOU to do it. I often tell people in December to watch yourself, because everything seems to come in half baked this time of year, if you know what I mean. Nothing is simple. People want to do the minimum, and still get maximum results. Unfortunately, reality doesn't work like that. And it usually winds up in frayed nerves, hurt feelings, meltdowns, breakdowns, tears, anxiety attacks, arguments, and lots of hurled insults telling everybody things about themselves that they don't know.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

This is my blog, so it's a safe space for you to be real. We aren't kids anymore. This isn't school, where you got 2 weeks off, or even college, when you took finals in early to mid-December and got a blessed month off of classes. This is adulthood, where it's your responsibility to make the magic happen, and ensure that the holly-jolly Christmas is a success for us all. Being the magic maker is stressful. It's a lot of work, a lot of responsibility, and that's on top of the already full life that you have. Add a pandemic that's turned life upside down over the past 8 months, and it's a recipe for disaster. You notice that I didn't do my annual blog on dealing with grief over the holidays? I didn't forget; I just felt it would be overkill this year. We're all grieving. Whether you've lost loved ones, jobs, your own health, economic stability, or just your way of life, we're all grieving in 2020. Nobody has escaped this pandemic unscathed. If the real world consequences haven't gotten you, then fear has. So for starters, let's all let go of our pride and admit that 2020 has damaged us all, and we're doing the best we can with the pieces of reality. We're still figuring it out. That's ok. We're going to have to lower the bar this Christmas. We just can't reach the expectations we have before.

There. Now wipe your tears, get up, get dressed, and let's face reality together. You still have to get through this week of work at least, and maybe part of next week as well. You can do it. What you have to do is divide and conquer. Compartmentalize your life and stop this insanity of multi-tasking. When you're at work, work. When you're at home, deal with personal things. Apply a bit of "mindful meditation" and focus on what's in the moment for you. Enlist help if you need it. Admit what you can and cannot accomplish, and develop a plan to keep it moving.

Finally, take a time out. If you can't take a day off or are an essential worker who can't work from home, claim this evening as yours. Pick up your favorite take out (yes, on a weeknight), scrap the workout and evening chores, and veg out behind the TV watching reruns of Seinfield, That 70's Show, or whatever sitcom tickles your funny bone. Weather permitting, wear comfortable shoes tomorrow and take a walk outside on your lunch break. I had to put the truck in the shop this morning (which is about 1/5 mile from my house), and I think the walk home in the cold and quiet did me more good than anything else I've done lately. This weekend, take a day off to go to your favorite secondhand bookstore and stock up on some good reads for the winter. Or go out and buy a present for yourself that you know nobody else will give you for Christmas. Or by golly, bake your cookies. It's ok. The point is that if this holly-jolly Christmas magic is going to happen, then you need to take a break. So give yourself permission to do whatever restores your soul.

And there is one more thing I recommend - open the calendar app on your phone and scroll to December 2021. Now, one day between the second and third weekend of the month, put "Mental Health Day" as an all day task. Take the day off work, or schedule a Saturday or Sunday where the only item on agenda is whatever you want to do. Make it a recurring task every year. Because the most important way to prevent the holiday meltdown is to know yourself, and to play your life accordingly. So note how you feel today, and plan how to take preventative action from the holiday breakdown in the future.

I get you, folks. I'm not saying shame on you, because this hasn't been an easy week for me either. I'm speaking to you from genuine experience. Yes, I've learned better about baking those cookies, even if I'm not much of a baker myself. The point is to do whatever sooths your soul, so you can come closer to finding the peace you need for that holiday magic today, and every day. The madness won't stop until December 26, folks. The secret is to find your way to weather it and make it through the storm of insanity that strikes every year when all of us have had enough.

That's all today. Take care. Have a Happy Friday tomorrow and a wonderful weekend.

Bye!

Your Best is Good Enough

12/8/2020

I see it every year in early December: people stressed out and frazzled over creating "the perfect Christmas." Without fail, the pressure mounts to make it a memorable holiday. I thought COVID-19 might tamp down some of that in 2020 but oh no - that expectation is still alive and kicking, despite the fact that the world isn't what it was even a year ago. It might not be the same, but by golly don't we at least have to try to make it a perfect, full, Normal Rockwell style Christmas?

No, actually, we don't. In fact, that's recipe for disaster that will guarantee that you have everything BUT the perfect Christmas. Today I'd like to cordially invite you to let go of that nonsense and accept a fact that's always been true, but I hope will sink in this crazy holiday season: your best is good enough this Christmas. Heck, your best is good enough always. You must accept this, or you'll drive yourself insane and for what? Memories? But the holidays come back around every year. Trust me, you'll have a chance for a redo in 2021. And 2022. And 2023. Lord willing, as long as you live, you get redos on the holidays.

I know, you never know who won't be here next year. I didn't dream a year ago that I'd be spending my last Thanksgiving and Christmas with Dad, but here we are. And I'm making it a day at a time. Some things are the same. Some aren't. This is life. But one thing is constant: I'm doing my best, and it's good enough. It will have to be. You can't get anything else out of me, and I'm not going to wear myself out over it. It's not worth it. I learned last summer what was worth it and let me tell you: I found that a lot of things I worked myself up in a tizzy for were wasted energy that I should have spent enjoying the blessings I had.

So with that hard lesson firmly in mind, let's admit a few things. No, Christmas 2020 won't be like every other Christmas we've known. It's been a bad year, and we're all grieving some sort of loss this holiday season. Whether it's a person, a circumstance, a job, a thing, or just the way of life we were used to, we've all lost things this year. It's a universal truth. So why don't we be kind to ourselves and trash the unrealistic expectations for once? You don't have to have it all or do it all - heck, it all isn't all it was anyway! Start with the basics: what's most important? Ok, do that.

Thanksgiving was scaled back this year, but it was still nice. Will we remember it in five years? Maybe, maybe not. And that's another thing about the holidays. We stress over making them perfect, but when we look back, doesn't everything jumble together? It does for me. The only holidays that I remember by year are when somebody died in December, and nobody wants to go there (so we won't). Suffice it to say that the warm holiday memories rarely have a specific date that remains in mind. You remember "that time" but can you name the day of week, date and time? Maybe you can. I can't. Some more recent things stick, but they fade in time. I can't tell you the year I got my first Kindle, from the year I visited a Masonic lodge with Rick for the first time, from the year we saw the lights at the zoo, from the year we had the Sunday School party at that fancy Italian restaurant, to the year we hosted the Christmas party and Zack tried to eat our friend's cake, to the year the CW had their first crossover event with all the superheros, from the years they released The Lord of the Rings and the Star Wars movies, to the year that people actually came to our house to celebrate Christmas - you get the point. We enjoyed them all, but we didn't do them all in one year. It's been building up over a lifetime.

And so it shall continue. If this is a simple Christmas, then so be it. I'm sure some good memories will come from it. Perhaps scaling back will make you realize what you appreciate most. Perhaps it will help you see the meaning of the season better. Perhaps letting up on yourself is the perfect gift that you truly need this year.

Lord knows, I'm not trying to be a humbug. Actually, it's the exact opposite: I'm encouraging you to fully embrace the blessings that remain in this crazy year as they are, not as you think they should be. One universal thing we all want for Christmas is peace and joy. Well, guess what? You can have it. The thing is, you can't force it. We think we have to work for everything, but peace and joy are gifts that we can only receive. And you receive it by accepting and appreciating the blessings you have.

You can't make Christmas; you can only accept it's true meaning in your heart, and live it in the truth you have.

That's all today. Take care, and have a great week.

Bye!

A New Release!

11/29/2020

I'm happy to announce that I've released a new book! It's titled Alive - Slice of Life Vignettes, and it's a compilation of sixteen short stories, and it's available on Amazon and Smashwords. Lord willing, it will get accepted in the Smashwords Premium Catalog soon, and will be available on Barnes & Noble and Apple iBooks soon. The "Thanksgiving Eve" story I shared in the last entry is in it, as are several others in the genres of science fiction, mystery/suspense, paranormal, and general fiction.

Why now? It's simple: I felt bad about not releasing a book in 2020, and decided to do something about it. I read something recently that encouraged writers to release their short stories on Amazon and I thought, why not? I've done it before with The Eleventh Hour and Lost and Found. I've been working on short stories this year and had more stories available that I felt were publishable, but not likely to be accepted to literary magazines or websites. Since anthologies seem to be working out for me in this area, I thought why not release my own? So I did yesterday.

I have also been working on The Sentience Series this year. Lord willing, I plan to release Domino - Book One of The Sentience Series, in March or April 2021. Its on track for that, and I pray it will work out. But 2020 has been a hell of a year, and I wanted to offer readers something right now that I hope will bring them joy and inspiration. I'm happy about Alive, and hope you enjoy it.

In other news, we had a nice Thanksgiving, and the holidays are off to a great start. Everything is scaled back due to COVID, but we're still working it out, as we have been with all things since March. I pray you're able to find peace and joy in this season despite the crazy world we're living in right now.

That's all today. Take care, and have a great week.

Bye!

Thanksgiving Eve - A Fiction Journal Story

11/20/2020

Welcome to the final "normal" Friday of 2020! Next week is off to the races with the holidays, so today is really the last ordinary work day that we'll have this year.

Such as that is in 2020.

Every year, I typically share a Thanksgiving Eve story in this blog. However, with COVID and remote learning/working, it occurred to me that the scenario I try to capture in that story would more likely be taking place today than next week. So why not adjust and share the story early as well?

And so, without further ado, here is your annual fiction journal story titled "Thanksgiving Eve." I hope you enjoy it.

Stay safe all, and I wish you a blessed, joyous, and very Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Eve

“The daily deposit is done, Mrs. Lanier,” Penny said. “Is there anything you need help with?”

Casey looked up from her computer at the secretary shifting from one foot to another. “How does traffic look out there?” The front office window of their small loan company was off a frontage road overlooking the Interstate.

“They cleared up that wreck from this morning. It’s not backed up anymore, but it’s heavy.”

Casey glanced at the clock on her computer, which read three o’clock. “Do you have any more paperwork for the day?”

“No ma’am.”

“Any appointments?”

“No ma’am.”

Casey picked up her pen and tapped it against her desk. “Are you heading out of town for Thanksgiving?”

“Yes ma’am. My car is packed, and I’m ready to go as soon as the workday ends,” Penny said.

Casey craned her neck to stare at the crawling traffic outside the front window. “Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Go see your family.”

Penny’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? Aren’t we supposed to stay open until five o’clock?”

Casey shook her head. “The CEO said we can close at four if we don’t get any walk in customers, and I doubt that will happen given the looks of things out there. Go ahead. I can hold it down for an hour. Fill out your timesheet for the full day and get on the road before it gets worse.”

“Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!” Penny gushed.

“Happy Thanksgiving. Safe travels.”

Casey sighed as Penny gathered her things and left the office. She was lucky that her family was in town and she didn’t have to travel for Thanksgiving, but she’d already had her nerves worn raw. Her parents had called three times and her in-laws texted her twice about the dishes they were bringing for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. Her husband had called thirty minutes ago to say the kids were restless, so he was dragging out the Christmas decorations to keep them occupied, against her wishes to wait until Friday to decorate. Now she had to go home and clean up after that on top of rustling up supper and starting to cook her dishes for tomorrow. Her best friend called her office line over lunch freaking out over her in-laws crashing in her home and “taking over.” It was going to be long weekend, but at least she and her family were local.

They would make it. They always did, and this year would be no different. They would probably enjoy the chaos, too.

Casey shook it off and returned to her paperwork. Truthfully, the CEO said she could leave now too, but she wanted to embrace one more hour of peace before the holidays started. There was plenty of time for family fun. For now, she could wrap up her workload in peace and go into the holidays with her mind clear of work issues. She’d enjoy this blessing before going home to another one soon.

Given that traffic, she should probably order a pizza for supper and take the back roads home. It was a shortcut supper and the long way home, but maybe it would be worth a few more minutes of peaceful preparation for the most wonderful time of the year.

Politics, Schmolitics (or, The Way I See It)

11/9/2020

I don’t usually comment on politics, but this election has gotten pretty filled with vitriol. Honestly, I can’t believe the deteriorating state that this nation has taken over the past years. It’s scary, really. The type of behavior being publicly demonstrated over the past decade or so used to incur severe punishments. Now, everybody is offended by everything.

Well, now it’s over for 2020 at least. Whether you’re happy with the results or not, I think everybody is about to find out how little difference it will truly make in day to day life. I don’t think most people realize that politicians lie to get votes, especially from the middle class. Heck, if you’re in the middle class, then you officially ceased to exist to them until the next election cycle starts up. Or maybe you don’t realize that the ones really affected by whose in charge is the upper class, who funds their campaigns, and the lower class, who depends on their programs. The rest of us quietly go back to the void, thank you very much, and take whatever happens. I have yet to see a major change to my life due to a Presidential administration change. I’m more affected by what happens at the local level, especially Governor elections. Thank goodness those are staggered with the national elections. At least I’ll have a break from the mailbox stuffed full of ads and the obnoxious commercials for the next year and a half, when the election that really affects the rest of us folks happens.

It all ebbs and flows, folks. Nothing goes your way all the time. Eventually, something will not be what you expect when it comes to fruition – or doesn’t. Time always tells the tale. And the middle class will ride it out as they always do. Silently and ignored, at least until they need our votes again.

Don’t get me wrong. I think our election process is great, and we saw how important it is last week. The problem is that you can’t make the candidates actually care about you or what you want/need from them. If you’re just a vote to them, there’s nothing you can do to purify their motives and make them care. All systems can be played and they are, all the time, every day. That’s not just politics, that’s life. We can vote, but there's one more thing we need to do every day that can and will make a difference: we need to pray.

As for me, this is my final say on the matter. People are threatening to leave this platform or join that platform, but it’s too much drama for me. I’m not leaving here or going there, because it’s not worth it. It’s a shame that relationships are destroyed over politics, but that seems to be the norm these days. It used to not be that way, but even I’ve been a victim of the “drop and block” because somebody didn’t like my leanings here or there. It happens, and it won’t stop because this nation is too polarized. That’s a shame too. And it’s destructive, dangerous, and ridiculous.

I am what I am and you all know what you’re going to get out of me: birds, books, and bad jokes. I’m quietly moving on with my life: doing my work, taking care of my home, working on my writing, and etc. Maybe the chaos will settle by the time I get this draft of The Sentience Series done. Or perhaps it will inspire some short stories. 2020 has certainly been good for that.

That’s all today. Take care, and have a great week.

Bye!

Blessedly Boring

10/28/2020

I’ve gone from wondering what’s next to enjoying the simplicity of what is “right now” in my life. What happened? I got knocked out by a vicious sinus infection right after my last blog entry. In healing from that, I realized that what I really needed to heal my soul wasn’t do more, but to simply be what I am, and allow life to flow from here where it will. I need contentment where I am. You can’t have more if you don’t fully realize or appreciate what you have.

It’s blessedly boring these days, and I'm grateful for it. After the chaotic summer that I had, boring is just what the doctor ordered and I really needed it. I’ve never understood why some people are addicted to stirring up drama, or staying on the go constantly. Life brings you enough of all that. I certainly don’t have time for it if it’s avoidable!

I know it’s cool to roll your eyes, sigh deeply, and say “I’m so busy!” while you rush away from the people asking how you’re doing. It implies that you’re important and don’t have time for anything but what you deem worthy. I truly pity that, because when life is farming out pieces of yourself then you can’t have any true “peace” in your life.

Then again, that’s just my perspective after coming though a tough season of life. I live a real life and am not
ashamed of who I am, what I am, or what my life is. I’ve worked hard to create it, and pray that I’m a testimony of authenticity and contentment. My recent loss has driven home the fact (even more) that I am what I am by the grace of God, and that I am exactly where I need to be. And honestly, that’s a pretty good place. I don’t need to be a master of the universe, or to have a perfect life. I see that what is already is perfect for me, and I find contentment in that.

I could do without the grief, of course, but no life is perfect. Grief is something that all of us go through repeatedly, and it helps us to grow. I know it’s helped me to mature in some ways (that were badly needed), and I think it’s even helped me to seem more “real” to more people since I can relate to more now than I could before. Life ebbs and flows. You can’t appreciate the blessings of the flow unless you have the perspective from the ebb. It’s impossible for a life to be full if you deny or hide half of what it is. Not that I’m saying you have to advertise everything that happens to you, but you should at least be honest and authentic about it.

I think a lot of finding peace and contentment comes from that. It’s going to always be some darn thing. The secret is realizing how much it matters. Work stress and other life issues to keep it rolling seem pretty insignificant if everybody is healthy and humming along as normal (and without major issues). Honestly, I’m glad to have that perspective. I’m coming up on a deadline that comes up every other year at work, and let me tell you that this time is much different than last time. Two years ago, it was a chaotic, stressful mess. Now – nobody’s sick or dying, so we’ll be ok. It will happen. It’s not worth anxiety, frustration, headaches, and lost sleep. I pray I keep this perspective forever. It came at a high price, and I don’t want to lose it.

I think that’s normal on the backside of tragedy. You realize what matters and appreciate even what seems mundane. And I need mundane now, very much. I feel like Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit – no adventures! I need peace right now. Boring is welcome. Routine is welcome. It’s healing me, and I am embracing it and giving thanks for it as much as I can.

I’m not idle. Actually, I’m getting ready to embark on a major rewrite of The Sentience Series in November. That will be my focus for November: to get Domino (Book One) in a good final form based on the final review that I received last week, and to get some solid rewrites on the other three novellas in the series. Writers have to prepare to dive into these major projects, and having a full time job requires a lot of organization to make sure you keep it all rolling and on track. Life doesn’t stop because you’re writing. The key is to do what you can to set things up right, stay organized, and keep people and things from screaming too loud while you’re in your own little world.

In other words, keep it boring. Dear universe: this is not a challenge. If you’re reaching for the stirring stick, I break it in the power of the Holy Spirit. We don’t have time for that. We have stuff to do.

Boring stuff to do in quiet and out of sight, which is ok. Who wants to be the center of attention all the time? That’s exhausting. To me, it’s better to be free and walk the path before you – no matter how dull it may seem.

That’s all today. Take care, and have a great rest of the week.

Bye!

Hanging From a Tree Branch

10/15/2020

I was watching a Joyce Meyer message on being patient with yourself when she mentioned one of the metaphors that so many people like to use for transformation: a butterfly. I'm sure you know the process of how a caterpillar builds a cocoon clinging to a tree branch, to emerge as a beautiful butterfly. And the point of how that period of "waiting" in the cocoon and fighting it's way out is critical to it's emergence and survival into a more beautiful being.

Yea, we know it. We know how the imagery is applied to dealing with life trials too. No need to repeat it here.

I think COVID-19 has put many of us in a place where we feel like we're hanging from a tree branch, waiting for the time to emerge. Quarantine certainly forced us into a cocoon, and while we are venturing out somewhat with safety precautions (masks, social distancing, etc), I daresay that I don't believe I'd quite call this an emergence yet. The metamorphosis isn't done for us. In fact, it will likely be a while longer before the world goes back to something where we don't fear the virus getting us. It took two years with the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918, and with cases rising again I think history is definitely repeating itself.

So here we are, hanging from a tree branch, wondering what to make of life in this crazy time. Wondering what the point is. Wondering what will become of us and the world once this passes. It will pass - we just don't know when, or what we'll be once it does.

I had a couple of disappointments hit me this week. I had hoped to enter my rose cutting cross stitch in the State Fair this year. I actually planned to enter it last year, but that two phase bout of conjunctivitis had my eyes messed up for four and a half months, and I wasn't able to complete it in time. I did finish and frame it just before COVID-19 and all the restrictions hit in March, but to no avail, as the State Fair was reduced to a drive-through event to get food and no competition exhibits this year. So not only am I grieving over missing it last year, but now it's been canned this year too because of COVID. Bummer.

Then I got hit again when I was checking my fall schedule, and learned that the Christmas Craftsman Classic, a huge craft show that Mom and I attend every year in November, has been cancelled. I was really disappointed by that, because I love that show! It's something I look forward to every year. We were lucky to make their spring show in March - like the cross stitch, that show was the first weekend of the month and was just before things shut down. I'm very glad we went now. It looks like it will be a while before that returns.

Everybody else has been complaining about missing haircuts and vacations, and I'm lamenting my art. I guess there are advantages to being a boring middle-age person. I haven't had any major life events displaced. Just the small things that mean a lot.

Of course I understand why these things were reduced and cancelled. We do need to take proper precautions. It's just like I always say about not appreciating how much those little things mean until they too are disrupted. I'm sure both the State Fair and the Christmas Classic will be back, and we'll rejoice and appreciate it with a full heart of gratitude. Whenever that is.

Until then, here I am hanging on the tree branch, waiting on the Lord to work. All you can really do is have faith in times like these, and do what you can. So I continue to work on my writing, and my current cross stitch project, and plug along every day. That's what the tree branch is about, I suppose. Just hanging in there and doing your best in faith that one day, all will emerge into beautiful blessings tomorrow. It's not exciting, but in reality it does matter. Small things today, big results tomorrow. Isn't that how life goes?

That's all today. Take care. Have a happy Friday tomorrow and a wonderful weekend.

Bye!