I was somewhat surprised to see my last post was in early October. In thinking back to October and November, oh, and also December, and which, in the case of memory, is an iffy project, I have no idea what’s happened.
I know I’ve been culling books and have taken three trips to Half-Price Books to unload extraneous volumes from our voluminous bookshelves; we bought a tree and decorated it; however, a small tree as I wasn’t up to the whole take-out-years-of-ornaments and hang thing this year. And I’ve written and sent book proposals to two reputable publishing houses after my several-month search for an agent proved fruitless. Oddly enough, when I’m writing, I’m able to focus and thoughts and to-dos don’t go dashing through my head.
What else? I don’t know.
Having kept up with journal posts, I could dig them out and see what I did when. Or if. Nothing very remarkable as near as I can remember. But then, as I said, memory is not one of those things that’s working well these days.
For a while, my husband worried I was developing dementia. Well. Being demented comes in all sorts of ways. Demented I can agree to, but I don’t have dementia. Just a rattled head with thoughts dashing past that if I don’t note down on the copious bits and pieces of note pads stacked around, I can’t remember. But I’m not repeating myself, although that might actually help me stay more or less on track.
My solution, instead, was to print out my current astrology chart and to discover, thereby, that all the transiting planets are hitting my natal planets in unseemly ways. Over and over. I showed said chart to husband and said, “See? It’s astrology.”
This, too, shall pass. We hope. However, many of the big and slow moving planets are not going to move out of the picture soon.
When you think about it, however, even in bits and pieces that refuse to stay connected, one can easily see this year, in particular, has been, well, odd is perhaps a non-judgmental way to put it. Nuts is another.
However, the furnace is keeping us warm; we have a supply of wood for fireplace evenings; the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners are planned and shopped for (yes, we have two festive meals) and for the most part the to-dos are done.
Now it’s time to open the wine.
So here’s to you my online friends. May your new year bring you joy, healing, and great bouts of laughter. Thank you for being in my life and bringing your life to mine through your words. Even when I don’t respond, I do read your posts. So, thank you, again.
Happy Solstice. Happy Yule.
J.
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janetsunderland.com 
Memory… Hmmm. I’ve always had almost total recall. Did help me through school and work. I do find it hard to remember some names now. š Well. It happens.
Hope all is well with you Janet, and that Spring is slowly crawling its way to you.
Buen fin de semana.
Well…luckily my husband has a memory. One thing I do remember is my mother saying to me (from the time I was young) “Janet, words go in one ear and right out the other!” Which is pretty much true. Fortunately, over my years of teaching, I came to understand there are four learning types: visual, auditory, kinesthetic and reading/writing. Auditory is my weakest, kinesthetic my strongest (if i do something, I remember it). Visual is also strong (I find my way by landmarks always, never street signs), and reading and writing are moderate. If something is important, I read it several times to remember.
I wonder, sometimes, if it’s my interior/imaginative/mystic life that’s so busy all the time, that the other senses get lost. I am, I must admit, in my head a LOT and have been practicing being more observant as falling over or off or banging my arm on something becomes more problematic. š
Otherwise, we are well. Another winter storm heading this way tonight, but eventually, spring will come. It always does.
Equalamente, buen fin de semana. J.
Gracias! š Edward T. Hall did an experiment with his graduate students on how they memorized things. One had an extraordinary kind: body memory. He knew the road from his house to campus by the bumps and holes in the road as he drove. Once the re-paved the main street and the student got lost. š
How’s your memoir going? I seem to have read you dropped the agent idea? (Very good, they’re morons to me)
Body memory…that’s interesting. I think if I really had body memory, I’d remember where I left one thing or another! It seems, in reality, that in order to remember much of anything, I have to empty my head of the chatter that goes on most of the time. Except when I’m writing. Then the chatter in my head goes out my fingers onto the keyboard. Or writing in my journal. I have copious journals….therein lies my memory.
As for memoir, I’ve been revising and tightening. Have cut words from both ms. and query. So I’m back to querying. And sending proposals to publishers. It is one of those we’ll see things. The only other option is an e-book and I’m not interested in reading nor publishing in that format. So, after taking a some months long break, I’m back in the trenches, as ‘twer.
However, on Friday we leave for a break and go to California to do a wedding for a friend. We’ll have one day in San Francisco, two days w/rehearsal and wedding in Sacramento, and two days at the Monterrey coast. I’m leaving laptop home!
It’s always good to talk to you.
It always is here too. Delighted that you should take a break. Though I would have spent more time in Frisco which I love. Don’t know Sacramento, though I know a charming blogger there.
Querying is a nerve-racking and tedious task which I have abandoned. And E-publishing? To sell 200 copies to friends and acquaintances? Neither. I have in mind of looking for a distribution scheme (I was after all in Marketing most of my life) but it eludes me. When I find it I will let you know. š
And as for memory, I was thinking of something to tell you but I forgot… š
Enjoy your trip “Juanita”. Buen viaje.
Well, given our ‘druthers, we would have spent more time in SF too; however, bride bought our airline tickets so we’re sort of beholden to show up for rehearsal and wedding the next day… and by choosing more time in SF, we couldn’t have spent time on Big Sur which is one of the things on my bucket list. i.e. eat at the Hogs Breath Cafe in Carmel. So. We fly into Sacramento (where rehearsal and wedding will be) drive to SF, spend that day/night and part of the next day in SF; drive back to Sacraments; do rehearsal and wedding; Monday we drive to Monterrey, spend that day/night on the coast and the next day; drive back to Sacramento to a motel next to airport to spend one night before getting on a plane at 6 am, to fly back to KC. It’s a crazy old people sort of trip. hahahahaha! or, one could say, YIKES!
Wow. I am impressed. That drive along the coast is definitely on my list. (Shades of Hitchcock I guess) Enjoy.
Hi … like me you too have been on ‘Sabbatical’ from your blog. Have been thinking that I really need to get back and make it a practice to jot down my thoughts if only for myself. It is kind of the core of me … and speaks from the heart . like this piece of yours.. Dementia or rattled heads … finds an echo … take care friend as we try to stay un-rattled and unruffled.
And oh … I’ve been meaning to thank you for the Richard Rohr connection I made. I think you mentioned him in one of your posts and I looked it up and …… . š
Hey, Rose. How nice to hear from you. My daily journaling is so boring, most of the time I don’t want to reread it. Sometimes my journal pages consist mainly in to do’s done. But at least I remember something is accomplished. It probably doesn’t help that weather has been dreadful, including one huge storm that pulled off part of the house (a window ledge and frame from snow on tree branches) and produced roof leaks. Now I have three contractors lined up for whenever the weather turns reasonable enough to do the work. And a pile of cut up tree branches out front waiting for the city to pick up. But then, most everyone along our blocks has a pile of branches out front. Spring will come. It always does. Happy Imbolic. We’re halfway to spring.
Oh … sorry to hear about the storm damage. Do you feel like writing about it? We in the tropics only hear about such weather on news channels . Would be nice/interesting/informative to read first hand accounts of your experience .
,,,,TC and good luck with the repairs and cleaning up.
PS had a tree outside my house crash in a storm. The branches were cleared away but trunk still there .. too heavy to move so I am trying a fern garden on it š
Janet, Haven’t read much email lately including your blog but I enjoyed this one. Happy Holidays! Good to know you are still writing and posting. Take care,
Gail
Thanks so much, Gail. Hope your holidays have been full of cheer!
I hope your natal planets are feeling better. I suggest three bottles of wine; they will fend off those transiting planets! Merry Christmas, Janet. See you soon, I hope.
Dane
Or four…. I’ve found a wonderful red at Trader Joe’s and am seldom out. Come by sometime! I like the plan of wine fending off those transiting challenges!!
Best wishes for a joyful Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year. I’m glad you are finding focus here and there. I have missed you. I’ve been writing much less because of a multitude of family things. I’m hoping to settle back into exploring near home for the poetry I find here. ā¤
Thank you Vivian! I believe “a multitude of family things…” just about covers it. LOL Although our family reunion in Colorado Springs with the entire 40+ family members was fabulous. Here’s a toast to you, Lady. Keep writing poetry and have a wonderful Christmas. J.
It is good to hear from you I have missed you and our masses. Are they still at 9AM. We wish you and your family a Merry Holiday
Thanks, Sue. I’ve missed seeing you too. Yes, mass is still at 9am although Christmas morning mass is at 10. Yea! Getting myself together and out of the house so early is sometimes problematic, but we keep doing it. Hope to see you soon.
I will try to get there in Jan
Happy Holidays, Janet. Here’s to a quiet new year.
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And to you, my friend. I’d be happy for a quiet new year….and all the months that follow! Hugs to you. J.
Thanks, Janet. Quiet would be a welcome change.
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