Here we are with a brand new year in which to muck about,
and I’m going to do what I can to make it one of the really good ones. A
friend, Aristotle? Pavlov? Krispy Kreme? once told me, “A problem is nothing
more than an opportunity to succeed.” Damn it, I’m trying.
When I finish a short story, count the words and then worry;
are these the right words? What if they’re all the wrong words? How many are
the right ones? And, then one editor says, nope, wrong words. And another. And
then, a brilliant editor comes forward and says, yup, good words. We’ll print
them for you. In the same order in which they were written.
My wife is the most wonderful creature on the ranch. She
lets me get away with things even my mama wouldn’t, smiles knowingly when I’m
grumpy, allows a rant or two during the evening news, and tells her family
that, down deep, I’m a nice guy.
My horses and chickens and rabbits and goats don’t really
care about words. That is except one: dinnertime. I sing the Kellogg’s song to
the chickens every morning as I distribute the things they turn into eggs. The
horses are not patient as I plod to the corral feeder with a handful of good
stuff. Rabbits don’t talk, they just pull a witchy thing and twitch their
noses, which tends to bring a little more food their way.
For our new year? Big bad winter to start things off and
douse the drought, and pleasant growing season with which to fill the larder. A
long warm summer designed for horseback adventures and fly rod excursions
hopefully will be in order. And, many long weekends in the mountains with tents
and cast iron cook ware.
I look forward to long quiet mornings designed for a thousand
words or more, many of them being of the “right” kind. Hopefully, morning mail
will be dropped on the desk of kindly editors who had a fine breakfast and good
sleep the night before. The ones that like the word “yes”. The foibles of the
human being are many and with each foible are thousands of stories, as many as
stars in the heavens. A blanket of foibles from which to choose.
Couple all the above with good health, bucket loads of
humor, and the ability to see the good in many, and we’ll be off to a fine
start in 2015. All the ingredients are there except one. Peace on earth. That
one is tough. And, since I have a podium from which to speak, over the coming
months I will offer, along with sessions of madness, ways to improve this old
world of ours.
Until next time, will you join me on facebook from time to
time?
Or Tweet with me, darlin’?
As
always, read good books and stay regular.
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