Milestones are Worth Celebrating With Others
I’ve debated with myself all evening about whether to write this reflection or not. I decided I couldn’t let the day go by without saying something about a milestone in my life.
Hopefully, you will celebrate it with me.
I’ve loved to tell my son stories about my version of events in my life and the lives of those he has grown up with and cared about. Often he will enjoy the story with me and it always has lead to some great conversations.
Once we had a brief talk about a story I’d told him before that he could not remember.
It was then that I knew I needed to begin writing those stories down if I had any hope that he would carry them on to his children. He knew he would not remember all of them, and I was sure I wanted him to have some record of the events. I felt there was much he could learn from them as time went on.
So, almost three years ago, I began writing short stories of my interpretation of events throughout the lives I mentioned.
I was further inspired to begin this project after taking a “Writing with Humor” class at the local technical college. An editor of a local newspaper taught the class. He was an entertaining speaker and also brought in many other authors and speakers for us to experience. Each day we had to create in a short paper about the speakers we heard. It was loads of fun and kept my adrenalin running constantly. It also put me in the frame of reference for developing short, but precise stories.
Almost three years later I was nearly done with the writing project. I asked several friends to review the 62 stories and give me some feedback. My goal was to tidy the work up and put it in a notebook for my son as a Christmas present this year.
After reading some of the book, one of the readers said “You can’t just give this to your son. You need to share this with the world.”
After careful consideration, I started looking for a publisher. Before long, I had one and found myself on the fast track to publishing the book – Sardines, Cheese and Soda Crackers: Reflections From a Country Girl.
Yesterday – October 18, 2006 – the publisher called me to tell me the book was “going live” three weeks earlier than expected.
I am thrilled for several reasons.
First, I have a great way for my son to “remember” the stories I’ve told him over his 23 years. Second, this effort helped me deal with some issues that have held me back in my life. Last, I really have always had a dream of writing. I never realized that I would ever publish a book…and that is an exhilarating and self satisfying experience for me.
Recently, our new school superintendent asked in a crowd of 2000 faculty and staff during an in-service day if there were any of us that were good drawers. There were a few of us that raised our hands.
Many did not.
He asked us to remember when we were all young children and reminded us that, at that time of our life, all of us thought we were good drawers. Over the years, he continued, we were just convinced that we no longer were good drawers by someone, and that this was sad.
He encouraged us to think differently and to reach within our creative nature to fulfill dreams we had for ourselves and to help children do the same.
This book is my dream and I want to celebrate it with you today. It’s one of those milestones that are worth celebrating with others.
My wish for you today is that you reach back to your creative side and remember the dreams you had. If you can, take a chance and follow one of them. You might just find that it will lead you to new personal heights. Remember also, that if you have children, support them in every way you can to follow their dreams. They deserve to have parents who encourage them to reach for their dreams all the way through their life.
Best wishes on this…let me know how it’s going if you get a chance.
~ Joellen