Summer started beautifully. My West Coast family came to visit for a few weeks, trips to amusements and NYC were had and healthy eating was all the rage. Plus, I was making significant progress in my novel and looked forward to its completion. Then, it nearly went up in flames – literally!
The apartment building that I lived in caught fire, leaving my belongings covered in water, reeking of smoke and starting to mold. I was fortunate in that I was not home at the time but my belongings were, including my collection of hand-written stories over 20 years time. When I realized that my laptop, with the most up-to-date version of my book, was sitting on my desk in my apartment the tears slid down and my hands shook. “No,” I cried. “Please, not my book!”
The days that followed allowed me the opportunity to retrieve some of my belongings, those that could be salvaged. My laptop was one of those treasured items. It was wet on top and likely soaked inside, but my father baked it in the oven, on a low temperature, and we were able to use it long enough to get my files off. It hasn’t been used since as I do not trust that it’s safe to use. Who knows how damaged it got on the inside, and I’m not taking another chance with my work!!!
While the work I’d put in on my novel did not perish, my mind has been focused elsewhere. On dealing with insurance issues, figuring out where to live next, and spending time with friends and family. I don’t know about you, but I live a day-to-day existence. As a result, I sometimes get lost in the present without looking ahead at what’s possible and being thankful the experiences I’ve already had.
Having nearly lost the work that I’m very proud of, I felt the enormity of the project that remained. As such, I stalled my progress and left “Gracie” standing alone in the forest once again. The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and the opportunity is in front of me. I just need to keep my fingers typing and my character moving.
*To be continued…
Kelly Deeny 