Imaginary Friends

I've been thinking about three things that are important to me: hope, trust, and love. They go together like peanut butter and honey, bread and butter, or bread and peanut butter and honey (and butter, for some people.) Why? Well, here's what I've learned: Hope needs an accompanying preposition— for . We hope  for  something specific. Without that, it's a feeling of optimism, not real hope. Likewise, trust must always be in someone or something. To do any good, trust must also be strong enough to allow action. Without trust, there can't be hope. Without hope, trust is useless. For example, if I have trust in a medical treatment and hope for a cure, I'll complete the treatment even if it's unpleasant. If I lack either trust or hope, I'm not likely to endure the discomfort. Things don't always go as planned. You can have trust in someone and hope for something, but the selfish choices, conflicting desires, mistakes, and offenses of oth

Like, I know this writer who just sold a novel to a major publisher. Her name's Krista Van Dolzer. She has a ridiculously popular blog . And she's a fantastic writer. You might think that's why she just sold a novel. Being a fantastic writer, I mean. I like to think it's because of me. Yep. I critiqued  that novel she just sold. Like, two years ago. I read what you might call an early draft, though it certainly wasn't the first draft. I offered vague direction about what didn't seem quite right and helpful suggestions like, "Gee, I've got nothing to say about this chapter. It's really good." Since then, Krista's written two more novels, and each one makes me feel less useful as a critique partner. But here's what I get to brag about: I got to read this book several  years  before the rest of you will. Also, you'll never read the version I read. Sure, what comes out in print will be even better, but still. It's li

Still busy at work, but not having to work extra. Ann Marie has her hand back. The little finger is kind of bound up with scar tissue, but it seems to be getting better, slowly. I finally figured out the right way to end the book on which I'm working. I just have to write that ending. I'm going to do it right now. And I have another excuse for not blogging: snow. It just begs to be played in.