Reflections

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

“What have you been writing lately?”

My friend, Jen, an artist, asked me last week during our monthly virtual chat.

“Nothing.” I replied.

Each time I would begin to write it seemed as if I really had nothing I wanted to say.

This morning I was reading a Substack blog written by Sophia Efthimiatou the Head of Writer Relations at Substack. (https://sophia.substack.com/p/nothing-to-say?utm_source=cross-post&publication_id=537545&post_id=155582138&utm_campaign=737237&isFreemail=true&r=gc9tu&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email). Efthimiatou begins her essay with words that felt deeply personal and real. “Somewhere along the way, I decided I have nothing to say. This happened gradually, imperceptibly, much like aging happens. Rather than stem from insecurity, this conviction came from a growing sense of comfort with who I was.”

It dawned on me that while I may have nothing to say – perhaps I should be looking at my own writing from a different perspective. Perhaps I should have a “theme” like Daniel Piper who considers himself (tongue-in-cheek) to be an SLA (Serious Literary Author) . Piper’s work always makes me laugh aloud. It takes me back to my younger years when Art Buchwald and Erma Bombeck wrote my favorite newspaper columns. Buchwald was political satire while Bombeck had us laughing at motherhood.

These days almost all of what I read on Substack continues to be political. Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Reich, The Contrarian, Joyce Vance, Liz Donnelly (Cartoonist and journaling about how current political climate impacts her emotionally). To offset and calm my deep disgust about what we are currently seeing in the White House, I self sooth with meditation (continue to love my CALM app), jigsaw puzzles, reading Louise Penny novels, looking at the photos my daughter (Megan) sends of our newest grandson – Oliver Luther Formo (13 days old as of today), watching Ruth and Roxy Happy Hourrr (https://happyhourrr.com/)  podcasts, my friend Marjorie’s book reviews and essays on writing (https://marjorieapple.substack.com/),  and watching a few shows on HULU.

I have decided, after talking with Jen, that perhaps I am ready to begin writing again, I want to figure out though if I have a theme building inside of me that might make it more palatable for others to read daily.

Ruth Atherly, a person I admire tremendously, is in the throes of writing a Love Note each day (Check out the Happy Hourrr link above to read Love Notes). While I am behind on reading her posts – they are wonderful and fill me with joy  every time I read one (so, tell me why I don’t read her everyday when I love her so much?? Both her writing and her as a person). Roxy (Roxanne Snopek) also has written blogs on the Happy Hourrr site – mostly she has been immersed in writing novels. Her work is classified as Romance, but she writes so much deeper than traditional romance. I compare her to author Anne Perry. A great storyteller with a high moral ground. Roxy’s website is https://roxannesnopek.ca/. Libraries carry her books if you are pinching pennies.

To catch up on what is happening in our little corner of the world these days:

Joe started working as a manual machinist right before Christmas. The company is about fifteen minutes from our house which means a short commute. The company is employee-owned with about 130 employees. Joe may find himself eventually running the CNCs as well.

He currently works from 12:30 pm to 11:00 pm, Monday through Thursday. On February 6th he plans to work from 3:00 pm until 1:30 am. This means I have time to do pretty much whatever I want to do. Oh, wait, I have already been doing that since my retirement!

Joe is working for the following reasons:

(1) He loves machining and with all of the yard work done he wanted to get back into a shop.

(2) He wants more money to buy more equipment and supplies for his home shop. 

(3) If the economy tanks for any reason he wants to have additional money saved.

(4) He loves learning new things and in the new job there is the opportunity to do so.

When he applied for the position, it was listed as "Entry-Level Manual Machinist." Yes, his forty-plus years meant he was over-qualified; however, the hiring person called Joe right away. Within two days he had two interviews and on the third day they offered him the position on their night shift as a blend of manual-machinist and quality inspector.

Changing our sleep patterns has been a challenge for both of us. We now go to bed at about 1:00 am and wake up by 10:00 am. Most mornings we are up by 8:30 am. Concern has been expressed by one of our offspring that this schedule may be harmful to Joe’s health as even minor changes in sleep pattern can cause a slew of health issues. We appreciate the concern and are mindful. Joe, at seventy-four, has no medical issues. His extremely healthy diet, exercise regiment, and good genes are working in his favor.

On January 15^th we welcomed our newest grandbaby. While it is our very first grandbaby, we consider our bonus grandchildren, Caleb and Charlotte, our very first grandchildren. They continue to amuse and amaze me. Both Caleb and Charlotte have had the opportunity to read to their new brother. I asked Charlotte if Oliver (the family calls him Ollie) enjoyed listening to her read and she told me with all of her nine-year old wisdom, “I don’t know.” The look she gave me was like I was crazy for even asking her.

One of the highlights around the birth of Oliver was listening to Charlotte explain to Caleb about Megan’s water breaking. Caleb was thoroughly concerned while Charlotte was nonchalant in explaining the process. At one point Charlotte noticed Caleb’s look of horror (perhaps disgust?) and reassured him, “It’s not the same as peeing your pants.” God, I love these two kids so much.

Megan, after a long labor, is doing well. She has had a few rough patches. Yesterday, she texted me,  “I learned that I’m supposed to be doing like basically nothing while I heal and that I’ve been doing way too much the last ten days I’ve been home.” She has decided it’s okay to slow down. Jeremy has parental leave and has been home five out of seven days each week to father the newest Formo. Megan has been blessed with her friend Shasta’s visit from early in the labor process. Shasta, in addition to holding the mantel of “best friend,” has her own business – It Takes a Village (Infant Care Services). The link to her page if you are on Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565740112021). Shasta will be here for 16 more days before returning home to California.

Megan and Jeremy have decided they do not want Oliver’s face on social media for now. I am posting photos of Caleb and Charlotte holding Oliver. The smiley face covering Oliver’s face is intentional.