Getting Back on the Horse

Obviously, I am still battling a too full schedule . . . at least it's obvious if you are a regular follower of this blog and can do basic math (November 23 - November 2 = 3 damn weeks). So, quickly, I have several subject ideas percolating in my head, and here are the reasons you should understand why I haven't been blogging and feel sorry for me because my life is so full:

1) A writing deadline (not my book, not my blog) was hanging over my head. As of 2 days ago, I am in pretty good shape with a rewrite of my play "Winging It", which will start rehearsals in January.
2) The basement (see earlier postings). I am two weeks away from my last Tilex application to kill any lingering mold spores, then the painter comes, and then I can put the place back together before a) the neighborhood holiday party, and b) 30+ people arrive for Christmas dinner.
3) The garden. Yee-gods, will this garden never let go of me? It's 20 degrees outside, for heavens sake! Have I finally put away the last garden gnome and added the requisite two inches of compost over the asparagus bed? I hope so.
4) Tomatoes. Tons of green tomatoes were picked before the first frost and have been ripening in the basement. I don't know how to can and don't have the time to learn, so I've been making tomato soup and pasta sauce and delivering ripe tomatoes to friends in need.
5) Sick friends. Dear, funny, good Aggie gets to go home today after suffering a brain bleed due to a fall and spending weeks in ICU and rehab. Generous, no-nonsense, frightened Lynne started chemo yesterday for breast cancer. Sick friends are scary, which proves very distracting.
6) Friends on my mind. These are the ones I haven't been caring for like I should. My friend Jane, on the long road to recovery after losing dear Joe so suddenly early last summer. And there's the old high school friend feeling a little lost after retiring who I promised to get back to and get together with, but haven't. Sharon who is going through a divorce has been on my mental radar but, except for an occasional e-mail, I haven't done my part to be there for her.
7) Work. I work less than 25 hours a week, so I shouldn't complain, but I've taken on a role that means I work two to eight hours 6 days a week, and many of those days the work arrives without much warning and needs immediate attention. It's hard to get a writing rhythm going when you can be and are interrupted frequently.

So, all that being said, I know I shouldn't be complaining. So many people have it worse (see Jane, Lynne and Aggie, above). At least I don't have young children to care for or an unemployed husband. At least I have a sister who lets me bitch to her and a date every Saturday night with the man of my dreams (Yes, Katz, that's you!) At least I have fresh tomatoes to eat and friends who understand when I don't call, a basement of my own to fix and children who seem happy. And, believe it or not, I have people who tell me they like my blog and are waiting for my next posting; people who encourage me to write. What a gift!

Truth be told, Thanksgiving couldn't have come at a better time. Life may be a bit out of control, but it is good nonetheless, and I have tons . . . tons . . . to be thankful for. So, Happy Thanksgiving to you all. And thanks for being there for me on this journey.