Ain't life curvy?

Life. It brings to mind one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite people, John Lennon. “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” I’ve lived by that, whether I’ve wanted to or not, for the last twenty years. Just when I start to plan my world one way, here comes life in all its glory, pain, or more simply, its inevitable distractions. And my life is forced to curve off in another direction.

The Beatles have another song, “A Day In The Life”, the capstone on their brilliant Sgt. Pepper’s album. It is about the wealthy man who has everything and dies suddenly. The song speaks of money not producing joy. It brings to mind the importance of living with joy, no matter our financial or personal circumstances, as the gift of another day is never a guarantee.

Are you racing through life with just enough time to wolf down your apple instead of slowing down to savor its rich, tart flavor? Do we tackle our to do lists with any joy at all or are we just checking each task off simply to make it through?

Now that my kids are grown, my life does not take on the moment-by-moment insanity of yesteryear. I MISS THOSE DAYS! I had no idea at the time but the toddler years were downright innocuous compared to the stress of the teenage/young adult years.

Maureen and Tracy’s life schedules are far more interesting than mine so I won’t even try to paint my daily portrait.

I will say, though, that every day when I wake up I have the greatest intentions of fitting in my writing. YET, it’s 7:30 a.m. right now and I’m sitting on my bed, laptop battery power 17% - cord all the way upstairs. I’m trying to have this post done, as I have a huge week ahead and no spare time whatsoever! I am already late for work and there are ARCs (advance reader copies) to send out with personal notes, not to mention I have a huge formal event Friday night at work.

My youngest son graduates from high school on May 24 and we are late on everything. There’s Project Graduation to plan (the all-night lock-in at the school to keep kids sober and off the roads), transcripts to request, and college decisions to make. We still have to mail our graduation announcements, I still haven't bought "the big" graduation present, and the Tennessee Hope Scholarship has yet to be applied for. If I'm honest, I’m just racing through and checking each task off one by one, hardly enjoying any of it. Each chore seems more taxing than pleasurable.

And I'm still worried about my writing! Where does that fall in line? I am striving to one day be a full-time writer!

Writing takes a commitment - a dedicated time slot for me to produce anything. I must carve out an entire Saturday or take a full day off work to see any progress at all. Nighttime is out. By then this old girl is pooped! I can't seem to find enough hours in the day.

But I have to say, I do take the time to smell my daffodils. I do appreciate any day I wake up healthy. I do say I love you. I didn’t come by this heightened sense of smell naturally, however. I've held on tight to the handlebars while my roller coaster has chugged up the mountains and screeched back down into the valleys. I've winced from life's pain and lavished in her beauty. Life has thrown me curve balls and passed me home runs. Thankfully, wisdom has been the win from each and every hit.