Okay, so on to 2019!
I've got the greatest hits coming this year and two new things for fun. So let's get started, shall we?
Reading! As you know I totally blew past last year's goal. There were a lot of reasons for it, including the fact that I didn't read any 1000 page books last year. It's amazing how your totals shoot up if you aren't reading King or Martin or Follett...anyway...So for this year I took the average number of books I've read over the years I've been doing the Goodreads challenge and added four. So 80 books total. The subgoal is related to a series that I've been meaning to finish for ages. Once I finally started it, that is.
Discworld has always been on my "I really need to do that" list and just the sheer number of them always set me back. I started a few years ago to fill in a few here and there and I've read 12 of them now. Out of 42. So still really intimidating. This year my subgoal for reading is to get 15 of 30 I have left complete. So 80 books total, 15 of them being Discworld books. When I first decided that I would do this I looked and the library had Witches Abroad (the next on my list) available so I got cocky and didn't check it right out. Now, of course, someone else has it so I'm waiting to start it as soon as it becomes available. I've already put the next one on hold. ;-)
Writing! So the sit down and write for a few hours every day last year just didn't even happen. But I still hit my goals plus a few. So now I'm thinking that the sit down every day thing probably is not going to be me, ever. But I do like the idea of it. So I'm keeping the star in my calendar for writing. It's a good incentive for me to do it daily, but the goal is 168 total blogs. That's 2018's goal plus 8. The subgoals under that are 56 of them being fiction pieces (2018 goal plus 4), a monthly blog recapping how my yearly goals and such are coming along and (Trumpet sounds!) submitting four pieces. Yep, after last year's goal of submitting 3 pieces and how much I HATED it, I'm doing four this year. Maybe eventually it won't be such an issue for me.
If you are watching you see that this is where the plus four for the other goals started. It took me a little bit to figure it out. But when I decided to up the goal from last year for submissions I didn't want to get crazy and put in a number I knew I wouldn't reach so I just divided the year into quarters instead of thirds. One piece a quarter. Four pieces. That got written down in my notes. Then as I started setting other numbers that four was just hanging out there in my subconscious so everything got average plus four. Except for the total blog count which got plus 8, because plus 4 didn't make a round number for each month but 8 did. Just a little insight into how weird and random my goal setting is.
Masterclass! This is a new one that I hope will be fun. I signed up for Masterclass and I'm planning on taking one a month. I've been tempted by it for years and they finally got me with a Neil Gaiman class coming in 2019. I did the year pass so I will be getting my money's worth out of that. So 12 Masterclasses on whatever strikes my fancy that month. I expect the majority will be on writing.
Monthly Museum/Attraction! This is another fun one, I hope. It started with advertising for cross membership promotions from local museums. For instance if you buy a yearly pass to the zoo you get reciprocal entry for free each month to the their partners in this program. Each month is a different museum or attraction. I thought about just doing that but looking at the list and the months that are available for reciprocal entry and it didn't appeal to me that much. So I decided we could just do it on our own. So each month we'll pick something and go.
Fitness/Weight! Okay, so here we go...So I posted yesterday about how I was up five pounds on the last official weigh in right? Well make that 8. It was a snacky weekend. The good news is that those extra three are just salt pounds so when they fade very quickly it will make me feel good. The bad news is I did my quarterly measurements today and the weight I gained last year wasn't just muscle weight. There is some squish there too. So here is the deal I am making with myself, this year I am going to work at getting rid of that weight. Getting to that goal weight I set LAST year. Then that's it. Once I hit that the rest of my energy around this issue will be on maintaining that weight. Which as my doctor has told me is not going to be easy because getting old sucks. But I know that I will not be happy here, I will try and tell myself all of the good positive self talk around it but I won't be happy. And if I'm not happy about it I'm inviting a mess.
Going to go back to being a little more strict with the sugar. I was getting a little lose over the weekends and then in December when I reached "Fuck it" with the weight gain this year I just opened to flood gates again. Though I did realize that I don't like it as much as I used to so it will be easier to slip back into the tighter controls. We are doing dry January and even though we don't drink a lot that will be something as well. The gym is still my job. So that sticks. I'm switching my workouts around a little but I do that every month anyway so that's not really new. And even though I discovered that I just have to accept that I don't like to cook I will still work on cooking at home 3 nights a week or so to keep those calories and ingredients in check. For goal around fitness/weight: Average 5 days a week at the gym, lose 13 pounds.
I'm continuing with Daily Gratitude at least through my 51 birthday since it started with the #fiftyisnifty. Also #selfiesaturday will keep going through at least August. Those don't get stars on the chart, just a note. So they are sub,sub,sub goals I guess.
Long term list! Still working on the list I started in 2016. I cleared a chunk off last year (including the blog print and sort which was a MASSIVE project that I thought was going to be a little thing) I'm pretty sure 2019 will be the year I get the living room painted. No, really, tomorrow I have someone coming to do some repairs and I won't be able to stand the drywall patch staring at me for a year. I think. I'm pretty sure. Maybe. Anyway...I'll clear off the completed items, add some more things we have talked about getting done and go back to tackling that list. Including my travel list, and I think planning a new vacation destination this year. I love Hawaii and it's hard to pass it up, but we are going there in February so I'm thinking maybe a summer trip someplace else, or possibly traveling at Christmas next year.
Stars and Lists! Keeping my calendar with my lists and my stars. It's dorky and childish but I love it so there. Going back to 5 stars instead of 7. Seven was too crowded. So the daily star items are:
Gym
Read
Write
Masterclass
Daily List
Bonus sparkle stars for completing a monthly goal.
So that's the deal for 2019. A basic year. Focusing on writing, reading, learning, and having fun, with a side dose of health. Not a bad year, I think. I'll let you know.
Happy New Year I hope your goals are in reach and motivate you to keep on enjoying life.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Monday, December 31, 2018
Yearly Goal Wrap Up!
Well here we are at the end of 2018 and it's time to see how I did.
2018 Goals List
Picture of the Day. Check. Went ahead with the prompted for the year. I was torn on that one at the beginning of the year, thought it might be time to drop the lists, but I stuck it out for the year. Most of you already know this one won't be making another appearance on tomorrow's list. I lost my taste for it, as Christopher used to say when something he ate on Monday he couldn't stand on Friday... But often what happens is around November I'm bored with it and I think about dropping it. But then I decide not to because there are parts of it that I love. I love the routine, I love the looking at my world to find something that fits, I really love when it sparks a discussion, so I generally go ahead and do it again. But this year the joy in it never came back. It became a countdown to the end of the year so I could quit without feeling like I didn't hit the goal. So it's a check and a done for 2019 (as of now, I've quit before and started again so we will see)
Writing. So this is a weird one. I did not hit my main goal but I hit all of the subs underneath it. Weird right? But the main goal was to write daily. One to two hours just writing. And somewhere along the line I totally forgot that part of the goal. Hunh. So I did not write daily. But the sub goal of 156 blogs? Check (today will make 160). Fifty two fiction pieces? Check (57 altogether). Three submissions? Check (just 3 no bonus here). So somehow I hit all of the milestones without even trying for the main race. Something to think about for 2019 goals.
Reading. Okay, this one is a bit crazy. I had the main book goal of 64 books. Which was a book a week plus an extra a month. Then I hit on the subgoal of 50 books for 50 years. Reading a book that was published in each of the years I've been alive. THEN I took that subgoal and made that list into no repeated authors, reading them in order, AND at least a 50/50 split on male and female authors. Nailed it. I have a spreadsheet with all of the books I chose if anyone is ever interested. It was actually a good challenge because I was often down to my 3rd or 4th choice on books due to availability. I did probably 80% of the list with library books. I also ended up adding another piece to that goal about mid-July when I realized that if I pushed I could get all 50 done by my 50th birthday. OOooh...So I did.
Now, because I did that. Because I chose some books in my list that were childhood favorites, because some of the filler reading I did was graphic novels, because there were a few books that hit my library list at the same time so I was reading at land speed records I am sitting at 97 books for 2018. Just a little outside my goal. Now this is a really high number for me. My average books read (outside of this year, this one bumps my total) is mid-70s. But I blew past it by a bit. And I am only a little disappointed that I wasn't paying closer attention at the beginning of this month so I could have ended the year at 100.
Exercise and fitness. I wanted to hit the gym around 5 days a week and lose another 5 pounds. I average 5 days a week at the gym and I lost 5 pounds. Over and over and over again. I have been as far up as 8 and only as low at 2 pounds down for the year. I kept gaining and losing the same weight all year long. In June at my yearly exam I complained to my doctor about it and she said, "Getting older sucks." I explained to her that I was doing what I had been doing the year before where I lost 13 pounds and yet I was gaining this year and she said, "Yep. It sucks." I was not impressed. But it sucks. It really does. So I did and did not hit this goal this year and it's super frustrating to me. Expect to see a reappearance tomorrow... But end tally, last official 2018 weigh in was last Friday, I am hitting the gym like I should and I gain 5 pounds instead of losing 5. (shrugs)
Monthly goals. I went in to 2018 deciding to set little mini goals each month and I kept up with that. It was a good way to pick up and put down things without feeling tied to them, or like I was failing when I didn't do them. Spanish was a monthly goal a few times and I am just done with it, I think. Honestly I cannot seem to retain much of the vocabulary anymore. I still would like to learn to speak it, but I need to figure out a way to do it that sticks with me for longer than a day. Cooking. That one hit the monthly tally a few times as well and I finally reached the point this year where I could admit that I just don't care for it. I have tried so many things to make it fun, and it's just not. I am a good cook. I can make things just by throwing stuff together that "might be interesting." When I cook at home more we are much more able to control what we are eating. But it's never going to be a fun thing for me to do. So it needs to be moved to the gym column of "things I do to feel well" not the reading and writing columns of "things I do because I love them."
But the monthly goals were nice because I could try things out like the Spanish and cooking and when I realized it was a drag not a joy I could look at them differently. I also used monthly goals to work toward the yearly goals and the long term goals.
Which brings us to the yearly goal list. My living room is still not painted, are you surprised? But there were a lot of other things on the list that got checked off. Again, about half of the long term list was completed. So I'll start next year with the other half and maybe a few new things added.
I did the stars and lists in my calendar and I now have a shiny book full of stars. I thought about dropping it last year and I'm glad I didn't. Just making a daily list of things I want to do helps focus me and keeps me from ending the day wondering where it all went.
So there you go, 2018 in the books.
Reading, writing output, exercise, POD all Gold Stars
Weight, writing time, painting the living room, all a miss.
But overall not a bad balance to the year. I've been working on my 2019 list and I will post that tomorrow.
Happy end of 2018 to you all. I hope the year was everything you wanted it to be, and that you got all of the stars!
2018 Goals List
Picture of the Day. Check. Went ahead with the prompted for the year. I was torn on that one at the beginning of the year, thought it might be time to drop the lists, but I stuck it out for the year. Most of you already know this one won't be making another appearance on tomorrow's list. I lost my taste for it, as Christopher used to say when something he ate on Monday he couldn't stand on Friday... But often what happens is around November I'm bored with it and I think about dropping it. But then I decide not to because there are parts of it that I love. I love the routine, I love the looking at my world to find something that fits, I really love when it sparks a discussion, so I generally go ahead and do it again. But this year the joy in it never came back. It became a countdown to the end of the year so I could quit without feeling like I didn't hit the goal. So it's a check and a done for 2019 (as of now, I've quit before and started again so we will see)
Writing. So this is a weird one. I did not hit my main goal but I hit all of the subs underneath it. Weird right? But the main goal was to write daily. One to two hours just writing. And somewhere along the line I totally forgot that part of the goal. Hunh. So I did not write daily. But the sub goal of 156 blogs? Check (today will make 160). Fifty two fiction pieces? Check (57 altogether). Three submissions? Check (just 3 no bonus here). So somehow I hit all of the milestones without even trying for the main race. Something to think about for 2019 goals.
Reading. Okay, this one is a bit crazy. I had the main book goal of 64 books. Which was a book a week plus an extra a month. Then I hit on the subgoal of 50 books for 50 years. Reading a book that was published in each of the years I've been alive. THEN I took that subgoal and made that list into no repeated authors, reading them in order, AND at least a 50/50 split on male and female authors. Nailed it. I have a spreadsheet with all of the books I chose if anyone is ever interested. It was actually a good challenge because I was often down to my 3rd or 4th choice on books due to availability. I did probably 80% of the list with library books. I also ended up adding another piece to that goal about mid-July when I realized that if I pushed I could get all 50 done by my 50th birthday. OOooh...So I did.
Now, because I did that. Because I chose some books in my list that were childhood favorites, because some of the filler reading I did was graphic novels, because there were a few books that hit my library list at the same time so I was reading at land speed records I am sitting at 97 books for 2018. Just a little outside my goal. Now this is a really high number for me. My average books read (outside of this year, this one bumps my total) is mid-70s. But I blew past it by a bit. And I am only a little disappointed that I wasn't paying closer attention at the beginning of this month so I could have ended the year at 100.
Exercise and fitness. I wanted to hit the gym around 5 days a week and lose another 5 pounds. I average 5 days a week at the gym and I lost 5 pounds. Over and over and over again. I have been as far up as 8 and only as low at 2 pounds down for the year. I kept gaining and losing the same weight all year long. In June at my yearly exam I complained to my doctor about it and she said, "Getting older sucks." I explained to her that I was doing what I had been doing the year before where I lost 13 pounds and yet I was gaining this year and she said, "Yep. It sucks." I was not impressed. But it sucks. It really does. So I did and did not hit this goal this year and it's super frustrating to me. Expect to see a reappearance tomorrow... But end tally, last official 2018 weigh in was last Friday, I am hitting the gym like I should and I gain 5 pounds instead of losing 5. (shrugs)
Monthly goals. I went in to 2018 deciding to set little mini goals each month and I kept up with that. It was a good way to pick up and put down things without feeling tied to them, or like I was failing when I didn't do them. Spanish was a monthly goal a few times and I am just done with it, I think. Honestly I cannot seem to retain much of the vocabulary anymore. I still would like to learn to speak it, but I need to figure out a way to do it that sticks with me for longer than a day. Cooking. That one hit the monthly tally a few times as well and I finally reached the point this year where I could admit that I just don't care for it. I have tried so many things to make it fun, and it's just not. I am a good cook. I can make things just by throwing stuff together that "might be interesting." When I cook at home more we are much more able to control what we are eating. But it's never going to be a fun thing for me to do. So it needs to be moved to the gym column of "things I do to feel well" not the reading and writing columns of "things I do because I love them."
But the monthly goals were nice because I could try things out like the Spanish and cooking and when I realized it was a drag not a joy I could look at them differently. I also used monthly goals to work toward the yearly goals and the long term goals.
Which brings us to the yearly goal list. My living room is still not painted, are you surprised? But there were a lot of other things on the list that got checked off. Again, about half of the long term list was completed. So I'll start next year with the other half and maybe a few new things added.
I did the stars and lists in my calendar and I now have a shiny book full of stars. I thought about dropping it last year and I'm glad I didn't. Just making a daily list of things I want to do helps focus me and keeps me from ending the day wondering where it all went.
So there you go, 2018 in the books.
Reading, writing output, exercise, POD all Gold Stars
Weight, writing time, painting the living room, all a miss.
But overall not a bad balance to the year. I've been working on my 2019 list and I will post that tomorrow.
Happy end of 2018 to you all. I hope the year was everything you wanted it to be, and that you got all of the stars!
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Wrap It Up Fiction...
Okay, that seems to be it for that holiday series I was writing. I had thought there might be a New Year's Eve piece in there where Andrew and Lauren share a midnight toast, but they aren't talking right now. Seems like it was always an I Believe Story in disguise.
Which is weird. Since I decided to write it to get a few more fiction pieces for the year to reach my goal and a holiday series sounded fun. And then when I decided on that path a romantic series seemed the way it was going to go instead of a ghost story. Great. And then there were Andrew and Lauren and all of their friends so it was basically a bar people story just outside of the bar. And then there was that fateful moment when I was in the shower and thought..."Andrew and James are brothers." And it was met with, "OF COURSE THEY ARE!"
But I still didn't know what that meant. James (at that point) was just a friend of Andrew's that I needed in a scene to bring the tie between Andrew and Lauren back to focus. James is my standard dude name, as most of you know, and I didn't even bother changing it when I wrote that section because I didn't think he would feature again. But then...oh then...
So it was never an Andrew and Lauren meet cute story, sorry Julianne, it was always a "how do I bring Carrie and Bob back together in a unique way?" And once I realized that it was all over for everyone else.
Which is weird. Since I decided to write it to get a few more fiction pieces for the year to reach my goal and a holiday series sounded fun. And then when I decided on that path a romantic series seemed the way it was going to go instead of a ghost story. Great. And then there were Andrew and Lauren and all of their friends so it was basically a bar people story just outside of the bar. And then there was that fateful moment when I was in the shower and thought..."Andrew and James are brothers." And it was met with, "OF COURSE THEY ARE!"
But I still didn't know what that meant. James (at that point) was just a friend of Andrew's that I needed in a scene to bring the tie between Andrew and Lauren back to focus. James is my standard dude name, as most of you know, and I didn't even bother changing it when I wrote that section because I didn't think he would feature again. But then...oh then...
So it was never an Andrew and Lauren meet cute story, sorry Julianne, it was always a "how do I bring Carrie and Bob back together in a unique way?" And once I realized that it was all over for everyone else.
It's weird.
Even to me.
I am making these people up, how do they guide me to their story? To what they want to talk about? To a scene where Carrie realizes that Santa Claus is back, and he's performing her marriage ceremony? How in the world was I supposed to know that's what it was all about back on Halloween? How do they even have a story that I didn't give them?
Even to me.
I am making these people up, how do they guide me to their story? To what they want to talk about? To a scene where Carrie realizes that Santa Claus is back, and he's performing her marriage ceremony? How in the world was I supposed to know that's what it was all about back on Halloween? How do they even have a story that I didn't give them?
That's crazy.
And that's writing. At least for me. It's sitting down and listening to the voices in my head as they tell me what they want me to know. What they want YOU to know.
It's pretty cool.
And it's kind of a good life lesson. OH, look! It's been awhile since I did a life lesson tie in!
Sometimes we get really focused on where we think we need to go. Or where we thought we were supposed to go. We forget that we have choices all along the way that we can make. And we sometimes don't pay attention when the path we are walking on isn't the one we should be on. When there is something that makes more sense right over there...
Make sure you are taking the time in your life to really listen. To really think. To pause. To wait. To be sure. And then if you aren't telling your story the way that feels like it should be told, tell a different story. Start again. Shift the narrative.
It's okay.
In fact it will probably (almost certainly) be a better story that way.
It's okay.
In fact it will probably (almost certainly) be a better story that way.
So, for now at least, we leave Andrew and Lauren at Carrie's and James's wedding reception raising a toast to the newlyweds. Carrie is glowing. She always knew he was real, after all, and the fact that he showed up just when they needed him most only proves it. James is just glad that Carrie was so happy with the replacement officiant. And Bob and his lovely wife are off to lead the Christmas Eve meeting and then celebrate their own love story.
It was a romance after all. Just a bigger love story than I thought it would be when I started.
Life lessons....
It was a romance after all. Just a bigger love story than I thought it would be when I started.
Life lessons....
Friday, December 21, 2018
Bells Will Be Ringing...
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Lauren knocked on the door."Andrew? It's Lauren, I've got my uncle with me."
Andrew threw the door open and wrapped her in a giant hug. "Thank god you're here!" He released her realizing that that might have been an over the top gesture, but he had been quietly freaking out that they wouldn't make it on time and they would have to tell Carrie that her perfect day was not going to be so perfect. "I'm sorry, that was...."
Lauren just laughed, "It's okay. I bet you've been frantic. Anyway, this is my uncle..."
James then came around the corner and saw them for the first time. His face first registered shock then a giant smile broke out. "Dude, your suit is awesome! Carrie is going to love that!"
"I'm glad. I was a little worried you might think it was a bit much."
"Oh no, not at all. My fiancée loves Christmas. This is just going to make her even happier. I can't imagine the original minister would ever have a suit like this one!"
Lauren took a step back to really take her uncle in. He had always dressed up for Christmas Eve, it hadn't even struck her as odd when he had put on his dark red suit with the black velvet lapels. The tracing of silver snowflakes only barely visible. Her aunt was similarly outfitted in a skirt and jacket with her collar being black fur, fake of course, but so soft you sort of wanted to just pet her. They really loved to look festive. She smiled to herself thinking of the years they wore the brighter red and white. That might have been a bit too much for even someone who loved Christmas.
"When do we start? Is there time for me to meet the bride?"
"Now. Basically. We are starting now. I'm sorry, do you need to meet her? If not, I'd really just like to stick with the schedule."
"My brother is a bit of a planner. The whole day is timed out so people can be here, have some time at the reception and still get home early for family celebrations."
"That's perfect. My wife and I have plans as well, I think Lauren mentioned that? Anyway, we can get started soon. Just let me get your names written down to make sure I don't forget and tell me about...."
Andrew and Lauren walked away as James explained how they wanted the service to go. "Thank you so much for this. When Julianne told me your uncle was ordained I think I crossed every finger and toe that you could contact him in time."
"He was actually right next to me when you texted. We spend Christmas Eve morning together. When my dad died he really stepped in to...you know what, this is not the time for that conversation. Let's just say that he's a great guy and I am really glad he will be able to help your brother out. He and my aunt will chalk it up to their list of Christmas miracles."
"If we ever tell Carrie she will too." Andrew smiled. "You are sticking around right? I'd like to see you at the reception. I mean, if you don't have other plans? Do you need to go with your aunt and uncle?"
"No, they have a," Lauren paused for a moment, "A thing they do and then they go out to a lovely dinner. They actually met on Christmas Eve so they celebrate it as an anniversary. So as long as James and Carrie don't mind a stranger there my schedule is free."
"I still have my plus one open so..."
Lauren smiled again. "Great. I'll see you after the service."
-------
Carrie walked down the aisle to Christmas bells. She carried a bouquet of white roses with sprigs of red berries and green holly leaves. James thought she was the most beautiful bride he had ever seen and the fact that she looked a little like a snow angel made me smile even more. She was as Carrie as he had ever seen her be. And soon she would be his wife. His partner in Christmas fun for the rest of their lives.
She smiled at him. Then her eyes moved over to the minister and there was a moment of forehead creasing that he saw. Then shock. Her eyes widened and she stared at their officiant. This was not who they had hired, this was...
She reached the end of the aisle and tore her eyes away from him and back to James. It was a trick of light. And honestly it couldn't...
"Friends and family, we are gathered here on this glorious Christmas Eve..."
She turned again to look at him. Really look at him. And this time he saw her as well. Saw the familiar line to her jaw. The same deep brown of her eyes. She whispered, "Is it you? Is it really you?"
He smiled and nodded and they went on with the service both smiling at each other with tears glistening in their eyes. It was a beautiful wedding, everyone said so. Filled with so much love you could feel it rolling off of everyone there.
Lauren had stood in the back with her aunt who had actually gasped when she saw Carrie for the first time. She had been so lovely that Lauren understood why.
After the service was over the guests headed over to the ballroom for the reception and the photographer stepped in to take pictures. Carrie smiled at James, "How did you do it?"
"How did I do what?"
"How did you find him?"
James knew then that he was busted, Carrie knew that there had been a last minute switch from the minister they had first hired. He had hoped that she wouldn't remember what he looked like, but Carrie never forgot a face. "We were really lucky..." he started to explain when their substitute officiant came over.
Carrie turned and looked at him again. Her smile radiating joy. "It really is you, isn't it?"
He took her hands, "It is. You remember my wife?" He stepped to the side and Lauren's aunt opened her arms for a hug.
"It is so good to see you. We think of you often."
Carrie couldn't help it, the tears started to flow.
"Oh don't, don't, you'll smear your makeup!" Lauren's aunt pulled a tissue from her sleeve and dabbed away Carrie's tears.
"I just can't believe you are here." she turned to James, "It's perfect. You made the day ever more perfect."
James was not sure how he done that, but she was happy so he was happy.
"We can't stay, we have someplace we need to be..."
Carrie laughed, "Well of course you do. It's Christmas Eve after all! Thank you for being here. I just...thank you."
They all hugged again and posed for a few pictures then Carrie and James headed for the reception. Carrie stopped in the hallway and kissed James again. "I don't know how you did it. I don't know that I want to know, but thank you. Marrying you was all I wanted, but... Santa and Mrs. Claus. On Christmas Eve. I never thought I would see them again, and you made it happen."
James looked shocked and then turned to watch Lauren's aunt and uncle walk away. Santa and Mrs. Claus? He shook his head when he could swear he heard the jingle bells ring.
------------
As Bob led his traditional Christmas Eve meeting he kept thinking about seeing Carrie get married. He met his wife's gaze over the seats of those that needed this meeting and those that needed even more. "Christmas can be a time for miracles. I'm here to tell you about my worst Christmas and how it turned out to be the best for me. And for those of you who have heard my story before, stick around, we've switched up the ending this year." Laughter filled the room. Bob did love this meeting. It had saved his life.
He smiled at his wife again. His life was full.
"Santa Claus is my higher power..."
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Lauren knocked on the door."Andrew? It's Lauren, I've got my uncle with me."
Andrew threw the door open and wrapped her in a giant hug. "Thank god you're here!" He released her realizing that that might have been an over the top gesture, but he had been quietly freaking out that they wouldn't make it on time and they would have to tell Carrie that her perfect day was not going to be so perfect. "I'm sorry, that was...."
Lauren just laughed, "It's okay. I bet you've been frantic. Anyway, this is my uncle..."
James then came around the corner and saw them for the first time. His face first registered shock then a giant smile broke out. "Dude, your suit is awesome! Carrie is going to love that!"
"I'm glad. I was a little worried you might think it was a bit much."
"Oh no, not at all. My fiancée loves Christmas. This is just going to make her even happier. I can't imagine the original minister would ever have a suit like this one!"
Lauren took a step back to really take her uncle in. He had always dressed up for Christmas Eve, it hadn't even struck her as odd when he had put on his dark red suit with the black velvet lapels. The tracing of silver snowflakes only barely visible. Her aunt was similarly outfitted in a skirt and jacket with her collar being black fur, fake of course, but so soft you sort of wanted to just pet her. They really loved to look festive. She smiled to herself thinking of the years they wore the brighter red and white. That might have been a bit too much for even someone who loved Christmas.
"When do we start? Is there time for me to meet the bride?"
"Now. Basically. We are starting now. I'm sorry, do you need to meet her? If not, I'd really just like to stick with the schedule."
"My brother is a bit of a planner. The whole day is timed out so people can be here, have some time at the reception and still get home early for family celebrations."
"That's perfect. My wife and I have plans as well, I think Lauren mentioned that? Anyway, we can get started soon. Just let me get your names written down to make sure I don't forget and tell me about...."
Andrew and Lauren walked away as James explained how they wanted the service to go. "Thank you so much for this. When Julianne told me your uncle was ordained I think I crossed every finger and toe that you could contact him in time."
"He was actually right next to me when you texted. We spend Christmas Eve morning together. When my dad died he really stepped in to...you know what, this is not the time for that conversation. Let's just say that he's a great guy and I am really glad he will be able to help your brother out. He and my aunt will chalk it up to their list of Christmas miracles."
"If we ever tell Carrie she will too." Andrew smiled. "You are sticking around right? I'd like to see you at the reception. I mean, if you don't have other plans? Do you need to go with your aunt and uncle?"
"No, they have a," Lauren paused for a moment, "A thing they do and then they go out to a lovely dinner. They actually met on Christmas Eve so they celebrate it as an anniversary. So as long as James and Carrie don't mind a stranger there my schedule is free."
"I still have my plus one open so..."
Lauren smiled again. "Great. I'll see you after the service."
-------
Carrie walked down the aisle to Christmas bells. She carried a bouquet of white roses with sprigs of red berries and green holly leaves. James thought she was the most beautiful bride he had ever seen and the fact that she looked a little like a snow angel made me smile even more. She was as Carrie as he had ever seen her be. And soon she would be his wife. His partner in Christmas fun for the rest of their lives.
She smiled at him. Then her eyes moved over to the minister and there was a moment of forehead creasing that he saw. Then shock. Her eyes widened and she stared at their officiant. This was not who they had hired, this was...
She reached the end of the aisle and tore her eyes away from him and back to James. It was a trick of light. And honestly it couldn't...
"Friends and family, we are gathered here on this glorious Christmas Eve..."
She turned again to look at him. Really look at him. And this time he saw her as well. Saw the familiar line to her jaw. The same deep brown of her eyes. She whispered, "Is it you? Is it really you?"
He smiled and nodded and they went on with the service both smiling at each other with tears glistening in their eyes. It was a beautiful wedding, everyone said so. Filled with so much love you could feel it rolling off of everyone there.
Lauren had stood in the back with her aunt who had actually gasped when she saw Carrie for the first time. She had been so lovely that Lauren understood why.
After the service was over the guests headed over to the ballroom for the reception and the photographer stepped in to take pictures. Carrie smiled at James, "How did you do it?"
"How did I do what?"
"How did you find him?"
James knew then that he was busted, Carrie knew that there had been a last minute switch from the minister they had first hired. He had hoped that she wouldn't remember what he looked like, but Carrie never forgot a face. "We were really lucky..." he started to explain when their substitute officiant came over.
Carrie turned and looked at him again. Her smile radiating joy. "It really is you, isn't it?"
He took her hands, "It is. You remember my wife?" He stepped to the side and Lauren's aunt opened her arms for a hug.
"It is so good to see you. We think of you often."
Carrie couldn't help it, the tears started to flow.
"Oh don't, don't, you'll smear your makeup!" Lauren's aunt pulled a tissue from her sleeve and dabbed away Carrie's tears.
"I just can't believe you are here." she turned to James, "It's perfect. You made the day ever more perfect."
James was not sure how he done that, but she was happy so he was happy.
"We can't stay, we have someplace we need to be..."
Carrie laughed, "Well of course you do. It's Christmas Eve after all! Thank you for being here. I just...thank you."
They all hugged again and posed for a few pictures then Carrie and James headed for the reception. Carrie stopped in the hallway and kissed James again. "I don't know how you did it. I don't know that I want to know, but thank you. Marrying you was all I wanted, but... Santa and Mrs. Claus. On Christmas Eve. I never thought I would see them again, and you made it happen."
James looked shocked and then turned to watch Lauren's aunt and uncle walk away. Santa and Mrs. Claus? He shook his head when he could swear he heard the jingle bells ring.
------------
As Bob led his traditional Christmas Eve meeting he kept thinking about seeing Carrie get married. He met his wife's gaze over the seats of those that needed this meeting and those that needed even more. "Christmas can be a time for miracles. I'm here to tell you about my worst Christmas and how it turned out to be the best for me. And for those of you who have heard my story before, stick around, we've switched up the ending this year." Laughter filled the room. Bob did love this meeting. It had saved his life.
He smiled at his wife again. His life was full.
"Santa Claus is my higher power..."
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Christmas Eve Panic...
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
James was frantic. Andrew was trying to get him to calm down enough to tell him what was wrong.
"SON OF A BITCH! MOTHERFUCKER!"
"Dude, you're going to have to tell me what's up. It's your wedding day, you cannot be this mad on your wedding day."
"There isn't going to be a wedding!"
Andrew was stunned. James and Carrie were perfect for each other. Cancel the wedding on the day of? There was no way that was going to happen. "What? Are you serious? What happened? Is Carrie okay? Are you okay? What's going on?"
James tooks a deep breath, "Carrie's fine. She doesn't even know yet. I don't know how I'm going to tell her. I....SHIT FUCK DAMN!" With that James shoved his phone toward Andrew.
Andrew read the text. "Motherfucker...that asshole."
"You see? You see what I mean? What the hell am I supposed to do now?"
Andrew looked at the text again. The minister they had hired for the service had cancelled at the last minute. Who does that? And on Christmas Eve it wasn't like they were going to find an abundance of people without plans. But still he was the Best Man and this fell squarely in to Best Man handles shit that goes wrong duties.
"Don't tell Carrie. Not yet. Let me see what I can do."
James shook his head, "I don't know that there is anything we can do..."
Andrew was already texting Julianne. She was their most connected friend. If anyone knew a minister who would be free on Christmas Eve it was her. "Let me reach out to see if anyone knows anyone who can do it."
James was still shaking his head, "Nobody is going to know anyone that's ridiculous. We're screwed."
Andrew's phone buzzed, "Maybe not Julianne has a lead." Then Andrew laughed.
"Nothing is funny here, bud!"
"Sorry, you're right, it's not funny ha ha, it's funny odd. Let me see if I can do this."
Andrew sent a thank you to Julianne and then another text message out to see if he could get this fixed for James before Carrie even knew there was a problem.
--------------
Lauren was putting a tray of cookies in the oven when her phone buzzed. She saw who the text was from and smiled a little. A Christmas Eve text? Well that was kind of nice. She hadn't really planned on contacting him until after the holidays but if he was messaging her...She smiled as she opened the message.
Her uncle and his wife had been watching the whole drama play out on her face. They smiled at each other as she mouthed, "It must be a boy."
Lauren looked up from her phone, "Do you want to go to a wedding?"
"Us?"
"Yeah, seems someone needs an emergency preacher. You are still ordained right?"
Her uncle had gotten ordained online a few years ago just to be able to perform wedding services for a friend of theirs. He had done it a few times since. Seems he was a real romantic at heart and had enjoyed doing them.
"Emergency when?"
Lauren looked at her watch, "In like a hour? Friends of a friend are getting married today and their minister canceled at the last minute. They are a little desperate and you are the only ordained minister we all know."
Her uncle laughed, "In an hour? I can fit that in, I think, as long as we don't have a long service to deal with. We've still got plans for later tonight, but...are you okay with the change in plans?"
They had been going to watch Elf and eat Christmas cookies then exchange gifts before he needed to leave.
Lauren and her aunt agreed that it was worth the change in plans. Some things overrode Christmas Eve relaxing and this seemed to fit that bill.
She smiled at her aunt and uncle, they really were the best. "Let me text Andrew back and tell him we've got it covered."
"Is Andrew the groom?" Her aunt asked.
"Oh no! He's the Best Man. His brother is the groom."
"So, he's single?"
Lauren blushed just a little. "Stop it."
She sent the text and they all went to change in to more appropriate wedding attire.
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
James was frantic. Andrew was trying to get him to calm down enough to tell him what was wrong.
"SON OF A BITCH! MOTHERFUCKER!"
"Dude, you're going to have to tell me what's up. It's your wedding day, you cannot be this mad on your wedding day."
"There isn't going to be a wedding!"
Andrew was stunned. James and Carrie were perfect for each other. Cancel the wedding on the day of? There was no way that was going to happen. "What? Are you serious? What happened? Is Carrie okay? Are you okay? What's going on?"
James tooks a deep breath, "Carrie's fine. She doesn't even know yet. I don't know how I'm going to tell her. I....SHIT FUCK DAMN!" With that James shoved his phone toward Andrew.
Andrew read the text. "Motherfucker...that asshole."
"You see? You see what I mean? What the hell am I supposed to do now?"
Andrew looked at the text again. The minister they had hired for the service had cancelled at the last minute. Who does that? And on Christmas Eve it wasn't like they were going to find an abundance of people without plans. But still he was the Best Man and this fell squarely in to Best Man handles shit that goes wrong duties.
"Don't tell Carrie. Not yet. Let me see what I can do."
James shook his head, "I don't know that there is anything we can do..."
Andrew was already texting Julianne. She was their most connected friend. If anyone knew a minister who would be free on Christmas Eve it was her. "Let me reach out to see if anyone knows anyone who can do it."
James was still shaking his head, "Nobody is going to know anyone that's ridiculous. We're screwed."
Andrew's phone buzzed, "Maybe not Julianne has a lead." Then Andrew laughed.
"Nothing is funny here, bud!"
"Sorry, you're right, it's not funny ha ha, it's funny odd. Let me see if I can do this."
Andrew sent a thank you to Julianne and then another text message out to see if he could get this fixed for James before Carrie even knew there was a problem.
--------------
Lauren was putting a tray of cookies in the oven when her phone buzzed. She saw who the text was from and smiled a little. A Christmas Eve text? Well that was kind of nice. She hadn't really planned on contacting him until after the holidays but if he was messaging her...She smiled as she opened the message.
Her uncle and his wife had been watching the whole drama play out on her face. They smiled at each other as she mouthed, "It must be a boy."
Lauren looked up from her phone, "Do you want to go to a wedding?"
"Us?"
"Yeah, seems someone needs an emergency preacher. You are still ordained right?"
Her uncle had gotten ordained online a few years ago just to be able to perform wedding services for a friend of theirs. He had done it a few times since. Seems he was a real romantic at heart and had enjoyed doing them.
"Emergency when?"
Lauren looked at her watch, "In like a hour? Friends of a friend are getting married today and their minister canceled at the last minute. They are a little desperate and you are the only ordained minister we all know."
Her uncle laughed, "In an hour? I can fit that in, I think, as long as we don't have a long service to deal with. We've still got plans for later tonight, but...are you okay with the change in plans?"
They had been going to watch Elf and eat Christmas cookies then exchange gifts before he needed to leave.
Lauren and her aunt agreed that it was worth the change in plans. Some things overrode Christmas Eve relaxing and this seemed to fit that bill.
She smiled at her aunt and uncle, they really were the best. "Let me text Andrew back and tell him we've got it covered."
"Is Andrew the groom?" Her aunt asked.
"Oh no! He's the Best Man. His brother is the groom."
"So, he's single?"
Lauren blushed just a little. "Stop it."
She sent the text and they all went to change in to more appropriate wedding attire.
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Crazy Love...
"...what?"
"What, what?"
"What did you just say? I mean I don't think I could have heard that right."
"Oh. I just said I'm not crazy so I can't see you anymore."
"I'm really not following."
"You don't have to follow really. It's pretty simple. I'm feeling much better now so I'm breaking up with you."
"Breaking up with me? Because you are feeling better?"
"Yes."
"I'm still a little lost."
"Okay, see, I was in a manic phase. Which, I know, you probably didn't even recognize, it just seems like I'm really fun and kind of a party girl to the outside, but it was a phase. I wasn't thinking really clearly. Now that's over and I'm looking around at what I did and what I need to clear out now that I'm better and well, that's you."
He just looked lost. Poor little lamb. She knew that it was hard sometimes. Not just for her. She was used to the personality swings, or if not used to them she knew what they were. This was not the first time she had had to clean up some messes after coming out of a manic phase. At least she was good at keeping receipts. Not like, metaphorical receipts, like the kids these days called them, but actual store receipts. She tended to shop when she was manic. And paint. Not like canvases, but her house. Bright colors. Teal. Hot Pink. Electric Blue.
She looked down at her feet, yep, a gallon of paint. Apparently the living room was about a half hour away from its first coat of turquoise paint.
"So you're saying that you were crazy and now you aren't and so you are breaking up with me?"
"Well, okay, that was bad phrasing on my part. I'm always a little crazy. And yes, I KNOW, people hate the term crazy. They think it's derogatory. Chemically imbalanced just sounds worse to me, you know? And I'd NEVER describe someone else as crazy, but I like crazy for me. It kind of fits the way I feel about it. I go a little crazy now and again, and really it's a lot of fun and I recommend it highly, as long as you keep your receipts...but anyway...Yes, even though the phrasing is bad, I was a little crazy, now that's over so I am breaking up with you. And returning this paint, apparently."
He nodded. Still looking a little puzzled by her sudden change of heart, but he seemed to be taking it very well. Which really relieved her. Sometimes they just didn't. She reached over and patted his knee, "Thank you for being so understanding." Then she grabbed her paint can and walked away just leaving him sitting waiting for the Max train.
"Hey! Sorry, that took so long! We didn't miss the next train did we? Here." His buddy came dashing over and handed him a cup of coffee.
He shook his head, "Nah. It's been fairly quiet here. You did just miss me getting dumped, but other than that nothing."
"Dumped? I didn't know you were dating?"
"Neither did I. But that made the breakup go a lot smoother."
His friend looked at him like he was crazy. And he might have been because all he could think was that he really should have gotten her number before she walked away.
"What, what?"
"What did you just say? I mean I don't think I could have heard that right."
"Oh. I just said I'm not crazy so I can't see you anymore."
"I'm really not following."
"You don't have to follow really. It's pretty simple. I'm feeling much better now so I'm breaking up with you."
"Breaking up with me? Because you are feeling better?"
"Yes."
"I'm still a little lost."
"Okay, see, I was in a manic phase. Which, I know, you probably didn't even recognize, it just seems like I'm really fun and kind of a party girl to the outside, but it was a phase. I wasn't thinking really clearly. Now that's over and I'm looking around at what I did and what I need to clear out now that I'm better and well, that's you."
He just looked lost. Poor little lamb. She knew that it was hard sometimes. Not just for her. She was used to the personality swings, or if not used to them she knew what they were. This was not the first time she had had to clean up some messes after coming out of a manic phase. At least she was good at keeping receipts. Not like, metaphorical receipts, like the kids these days called them, but actual store receipts. She tended to shop when she was manic. And paint. Not like canvases, but her house. Bright colors. Teal. Hot Pink. Electric Blue.
She looked down at her feet, yep, a gallon of paint. Apparently the living room was about a half hour away from its first coat of turquoise paint.
"So you're saying that you were crazy and now you aren't and so you are breaking up with me?"
"Well, okay, that was bad phrasing on my part. I'm always a little crazy. And yes, I KNOW, people hate the term crazy. They think it's derogatory. Chemically imbalanced just sounds worse to me, you know? And I'd NEVER describe someone else as crazy, but I like crazy for me. It kind of fits the way I feel about it. I go a little crazy now and again, and really it's a lot of fun and I recommend it highly, as long as you keep your receipts...but anyway...Yes, even though the phrasing is bad, I was a little crazy, now that's over so I am breaking up with you. And returning this paint, apparently."
He nodded. Still looking a little puzzled by her sudden change of heart, but he seemed to be taking it very well. Which really relieved her. Sometimes they just didn't. She reached over and patted his knee, "Thank you for being so understanding." Then she grabbed her paint can and walked away just leaving him sitting waiting for the Max train.
"Hey! Sorry, that took so long! We didn't miss the next train did we? Here." His buddy came dashing over and handed him a cup of coffee.
He shook his head, "Nah. It's been fairly quiet here. You did just miss me getting dumped, but other than that nothing."
"Dumped? I didn't know you were dating?"
"Neither did I. But that made the breakup go a lot smoother."
His friend looked at him like he was crazy. And he might have been because all he could think was that he really should have gotten her number before she walked away.
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
And Done...
Well that's that. The last piece I submitted this year was rejected. I reached my goal. Not rejection, but submissions. I set out to submit three pieces and I did. And all of them were summarily dismissed. Which I expected.
Though I am going to admit this one stings a little. I actually thought I had a shot with this one. When you do contests, or journal submissions you look at archives and see what type of stories they usually accept. Now, I rarely fit their niche. I still submit because I think what I've got fits their theme, or I really like it, or I just need to get three pieces out in to the world and this totally counts...but...usually I can see that my chances are not good.
Most of these places like literature. Things that you feel a little dumber while you are reading them because they are so fancy. Let's be honest here, pretentious pieces. It happens. There are a lot of books out there like that. A LOT. And they aren't my favorite. But they work for a lot of people, obviously, or they wouldn't be published. But I prefer the smaller stories. The characters. The quirky and the odd.
Which is where this latest submission came in. I read a few of their things and though I had some misgivings (I'll circle back) I really thought I had a shot. It's super flash fiction. Fewer than 250 words. Themed. And they were a quirky online journal. Now here is where my misgivings came in. There was a lot on there that seemed quirky for quirky's sake. And a lot that were really boho. I live in Portland, I grew up with the hippies of Albuquerque art scenes I know some boho...but it's not where I thrive. But I still thought, I've got a quirky little story that I think will work really well.
Submitted and waited. And waited. And waited. Now this gets me everytime it happens. A quick rejection is easier. No time to get your hopes up. And in the case of just straight up submitting for publishing (no contest or journal deadline) you sometimes get ZERO response at all which also sucks, but if it's a contest or a journal like this one and you don't hear back and don't hear back and it's getting closer and closer to the deadline you start to get your hopes up a little. Like surely they are passing me up the chain right now marvelling at their great fortune in finding such a new and shining talent!
But, alas, no...I got the rejection today. It was the sweetest rejection ever. Told me how brave I was to submit and how it wasn't me, it was them. See, my story just didn't fit their theme that was all.
Which made me laugh. Because of all the excuses you could give me that I would believe, that wasn't one of them. But oh well...at least it means I got another blog out of this and I think that puts me one away from my goal for this year so that's good.
Oh and their theme? Love letters.
And here is my piece:
Though I am going to admit this one stings a little. I actually thought I had a shot with this one. When you do contests, or journal submissions you look at archives and see what type of stories they usually accept. Now, I rarely fit their niche. I still submit because I think what I've got fits their theme, or I really like it, or I just need to get three pieces out in to the world and this totally counts...but...usually I can see that my chances are not good.
Most of these places like literature. Things that you feel a little dumber while you are reading them because they are so fancy. Let's be honest here, pretentious pieces. It happens. There are a lot of books out there like that. A LOT. And they aren't my favorite. But they work for a lot of people, obviously, or they wouldn't be published. But I prefer the smaller stories. The characters. The quirky and the odd.
Which is where this latest submission came in. I read a few of their things and though I had some misgivings (I'll circle back) I really thought I had a shot. It's super flash fiction. Fewer than 250 words. Themed. And they were a quirky online journal. Now here is where my misgivings came in. There was a lot on there that seemed quirky for quirky's sake. And a lot that were really boho. I live in Portland, I grew up with the hippies of Albuquerque art scenes I know some boho...but it's not where I thrive. But I still thought, I've got a quirky little story that I think will work really well.
Submitted and waited. And waited. And waited. Now this gets me everytime it happens. A quick rejection is easier. No time to get your hopes up. And in the case of just straight up submitting for publishing (no contest or journal deadline) you sometimes get ZERO response at all which also sucks, but if it's a contest or a journal like this one and you don't hear back and don't hear back and it's getting closer and closer to the deadline you start to get your hopes up a little. Like surely they are passing me up the chain right now marvelling at their great fortune in finding such a new and shining talent!
But, alas, no...I got the rejection today. It was the sweetest rejection ever. Told me how brave I was to submit and how it wasn't me, it was them. See, my story just didn't fit their theme that was all.
Which made me laugh. Because of all the excuses you could give me that I would believe, that wasn't one of them. But oh well...at least it means I got another blog out of this and I think that puts me one away from my goal for this year so that's good.
Oh and their theme? Love letters.
And here is my piece:
Love Letters
She opened the letter and smiled. Then she pressed it against
her heart and smiled again. “Someone is happy. What does it say?” Her friend
reached out to take the note from her.
Reading it. Confused. “What does that mean?”
She smiled even bigger.
When she was a child she used to make up stories in her head
about everything around her. Numbers; 7 was in love with 8 but she was in love
with the number 9 and would have nothing to do with him so he spent his whole
life jealous not realizing that 5 was in love with him. She realized that not everyone did this when
she mentioned it in class one day and everyone laughed. It didn’t stop her from making up the
stories, but it did stop her from sharing them.
Until she told him that her favorite letters were B and W
because they were b and v doubled and mirrored. Two letters that had loved each
other so much that they had made themselves in to one letter to be together
forever.
“I don’t get it. Just
the letter B with a question mark. B? What does that mean?”
“Everything.”
She wrote back that day. W!
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