I've passed the 80,000-word mark on SIX DATES WITH JENNA, so tonight I took a break and tweaked the cover I started playing with this week. I like how this cover is coming and I'll most likely continue to mess with it until I am ready to publish, because I am one crazy cat! LOL
Or maybe that's crazy cat lady... hmm...
This book is writing itself at this point. If I sit in front of the computer in the morning, I consistently pound out at least 2,500 words if not more, and then I still have the rest of my day to do errands, chores, pick the kids up from school, blah blah blah. Or get some more written. And this is excellent news for me because it's a great feeling to just sit down and write. It isn't fun when the novel is being stubborn and doesn't want to be dragged out onto the page.
Today was kind of a wacky, productive day with a life lesson on the side. After I wrote 2,500 words this morning, I paid the rent (important) and the car payment (also key to our lives) and then I got my hair cut. After so many years of not being able to do a simple thing like that, it still amazes me to know I can walk into a salon and have someone cut my hair and know we can still buy groceries. That's real. It was that bad back then. Not only did I get my hair cut today, but I took the kids to get their hair cut after school, and they look amazing! (Gymnastics and hair to your waist don't exactly mesh well.)
Because we received my husband's bonus a few weeks ago, instead of buying another $100 worth of minutes for my TracFone, I am now the owner of a semi-smart phone (LOL) and a $35/mo. plan. That's as high as I am willing to go for a cell phone bill! And even that feels like, "OMGIAMWASTINGMONEY!" So we will see how this goes. :-)
Also in the Bonus Plan was a new Kindle Paperwhite for my husband. He wanted one at Christmas, so this is only a little late. :-)
When I went out to the van to get the dried mangoes for the kids to snack on while the clerk wrestled with setting up my new phone service, I passed an incredibly sad-looking young man wearing a ginormous backpack. He was just standing there, no sign or anything, but I instinctively tightened my grip on my purse. This is the screwed-up world we live in. I pass closer to him and all he says is, "Can you spare some change?" I hesitate, but then say no and keep walking to the van. Later, when we were all done with the phone nonsense, I dug out the $20 bill I'd picked up at the grocery store earlier and slipped it in my pocket. When we walked by the boy again, I handed it to him and looked him in the eye and said, "This is for you. I hope your luck changes." He thanked me, looked at the bill in his hand and then choked up and said, "Thank you! Bless you!"
But I wish I could do more. I wish it hadn't already been past 7 and pitch black outside, or that I wasn't with my two little girls, because I wanted to know what his story was. Was he traveling by choice? Or by circumstance? Was he completely homeless or had he run away from a bad situation? How old was he? Where was he from? Does he have skills? Does he just need a break? A job?
All of these things, I just have no idea.
The look on his face reminded me of the teenage boy we met at the mall a few weeks ago at the cookie shop. He'd been sitting with a bunch of his friends at the table in front of the store's counter and so we reached the sales person at the same time. He asked how much a cookie was and she said for a debit card you had to spend more than $5. He got a sad look on his face and thanked her anyway and started to sit down with his equally tall teen-age friends, who all had cookies. I said, "What do you want? I have cash." He looked at me like I was joking and then said no, no... you don't have to... And I said, "Don't be silly. I'm buying my kids cookies, so you can just pretend I'm your mom."
He laughed and hugged me and said, "Thanks, Mom! That's so sweet!" He was all smiles from the time he got his cookie and my girls got theirs and even as we left... he waved as we walked out the door. It was just a cookie, but it made a difference. He won't forget that feeling he experienced when a stranger stepped out of their lives to care for him, and he'll pass it on.
It's SO FREAKING EASY to share with each other. It's such an easy lesson to remember and practice every day. SHARE!!! We're all in this together!
Much love,
Cynthia
