No You Didn't See Me in the Funny Papers

     I know it has been a right good while since I’ve dropped a few words here and at the risk of being cryptic I’ll ask you to bear with me a bit longer in that regard. I haven’t been locked up, in a coma or hiding in a cabin in the mountains in case you’re wondering. This year has been one for observing, a lot of that in fact, and there has been much to see in the view from my chair.

     One thing I did do, which in hindsight I seemed to have spent an inordinate amount of time on, almost to the point of literary paralysis, was attempting to decide what my niche or target audience would be. That question crops up repeatedly when reading blogs, books or magazine articles about the writer’s life. Many days just reading became a singular accomplishment in itself.

     Several, if not many times I sat hands poised above the keyboard with a blank document open in front of me and I somehow managed to find something else that jumped in line ahead of what I had in mind to put to paper.  I sure cannot say that there hasn’t been enough happening around the globe to leave me at a loss to write about.

     I’ve never liked being pigeon-holed and I imagine most folks don’t like to be either. That particular feeling for me is akin to standing in a hole buried up to my chin while waiting for someone to use me as a Whack-A-Knoll. What I did learn however is that I have a myriad of interests and any posts in the future will continue to be my usual mixed bag of whatever I’m tickled to write about.

   


     In between my bouts of research and some forced inactivity I did manage to get a few bits of short fiction at least partially in the can. Getting to the point where I force myself to stop trying to tweak and edit it further or getting distracted to work on another idea has become the proverbial double-edged sword.


     I also spent some time going back through the posts I’ve already dropped here and realized a few things; I definitely need to bone up on my editing skills and my blog layout is in dire need of a sprucing up. Those projects will be good for days when my muse is asleep.

     To say this year has been one full of profound challenges and startling epiphanies would be a gross understatement. One exceptionally positive note has been the many examples in my experience that reinforce my gratitude for the people that show me they love me which repeatedly reinforces the feeling that I am the luckiest cuss in the world.


     Reconnecting with some old friends and peers has frequently left my heart full and my face wet. You or I can read a pithy post any day of the week on Facebook or any social media site how big a role friends and family play in one’s Life. Often though it is easy to overlook taking the time daily to consciously be grateful for those folks being part of our daily existence. There are definitely situations that can arise at any time that can cause one to just get stuck in dealing with what is on the plate right in front of you to the exclusion of anything or anyone else.  Whether that is right or wrong it is how it is. The last guy who we were told had an almost perfect batting average ended up with holes in his hands and feet so the bar has been set rather high.

     In some ways it’s hard to believe it is almost October. This year has flown and in other bouquets of moments has been somewhat agonizingly slow. I’ve learned much, so overall it has been a grand success in more ways than one.

     For now I’ll put a bookmark here and ask that you keep your eyes open for my next entry. To those of you who have been reading since the beginning I thank you for your support.  Comments and shares are appreciated and welcomed whether you read on a PC, tablet or phone and comments should be open on all devices.