Making the WRITE Turn

It has been over a decade since I graduated from college. I had majored in English, and I yearned to focus the remainder of my twenties on writing fiction.  Most do not get paid to write a novel as it is being created, though. I considered (and desired) a Masters in either English or Writing, but was influenced too much on others and in 2003, I had neither. Instead I had a Juris Doctorate and no job.

It is 2012 and finally I am back to where I wanted to go. Writing.

Here is a short scene I crafted earlier this week. I work on exercises and am taking writing classes online to polish up my rusty writing skills. I have a novel-in-progress but that I won't be sharing here; it is being kept well under wraps as I don't like to discuss my plot ideas. Too often an over-excited young writer will lose their work by sharing a bit too much of their original ideas with others.

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      The stress of another day attempting to work from home while a deranged toddler ran amuck throughout three floors had caught up with Stephanie. She closed her laptop rather than let stress win another round, hung up her hat for the day and followed the patter of little paws which were heading away from her office to the kitchen. Maverick paced around the kitchen like a first-time father outside of a delivery room.  He circled at first around her, his tail unusually bushy, the silky black fur curling around her leg, and then he retraced his own path, casting a glance in Stephanie’s direction and an occasional chirp to ensure his presence, and rising irritation, were known.

      Stephanie smiled down at the long black feline, and made haste to freshen his food and water bowl.  Once the needs of her four-footed child were satisfied, she assessed her own.  Today’s nuclear toddler, otherwise known lovingly as Bella, had left a few minutes ago with her grandma, so Maverick and her were alone until Dean finished work.

      Stephanie grasped the bronze handle on the dark cherry cabinet next to the refrigerator, careful not to step on the long black tail below the kitchen desk, and removed her glass. In the fridge a bottle of her favorite Riesling greeted her, and while the hand painted glass seemingly mocked her with its repeated “NO”s in a myriad of green and purple fonts, Stephanie filled it anyway, smiling at the inside joke that had fueled its purchase by her husband, Dean. He knew that one word was the single part of her vocabulary she struggled to refrain from saying to a certain neighborhood “annoyance.”

      She crossed the kitchen and stepped out onto the screened porch, inhaled the crisp air, admiring the lake with its peppering of cattails over the shallow waters as they drifted lazily back and forth. The late afternoon sun and its accompanying light breeze made up for the fact that summer had closed its doors earlier in the week. Careful to balance her verbosely painted glass of Riesling, Stephanie descended down the stairs from the porch to the ground floor patio,

      The stamped concrete warmly kissed her feet as she reached the bottom step. She settled into one of their new tan sling back chairs that flanked the wrought iron table. Stephanie closed her eyes, crossed her feet, and took a small cool sip of the yellow nectar. Now she had settled into her version of paradise. 

A noise prompted her to open her eyes. Stephanie slammed her glass down, and sighed. Stephanie bit her lower lip and looked from her watch to her wine glass, which seemed to smirk its vocabulary back at her. Another hour before Dean arrived. She crossed her arms, and silently thanked herself for that generous pour.

Revisiting the Past

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of returning to one of my alma maters, Washington and Lee University School of Law. But the greatest treasure in my short return was reuniting with the town. Lexington, Virginia is a slice of Americana. Few towns can capture the comfort, class, hospitality, and coziness that Lexington nails.

It had been nearly a decade since I had graduated, so a few aspects of the town had changed. But so much stayed the same. I was proud to share my home of three years with my husband, and he thoroughly enjoyed our time. We visited the solitary bar and grill, infamous to those who have attended the University, School of Law or VMI: The Palms. The quaint town shops were just as charming as I had remembered them, and we found a lovely book for our daughter as well as some art work for our home.

Where a bakery once operated, however, now was a restaurant: Bistro on Main. What a charming barkeep they have working there! Montye is a treasure on his own. If you are ever in Lexington, make a point to visit him. I learned that the restaurant was coming up on its 10th anniversary so I must have just missed out on its fine dining. The food was so delightful that we ate there both nights.

My husband also was pleased with our selection of lodging, "502 S. Main", a Bed and Breakfast not yet one year old. Again, if you are ever in town, and they have a vacancy, I recommend visiting Russ and Mary Stuart. Genuine hospitality flows from this married couple. The breakfast was exquisite, as was the conversation. I rarely sleep well outside of my home, but I slept soundly there. All the comforts of home with just the right amount of something extra special.

I thought my husband would be intrigued to learn where I had lived for three years as living in Lexington has molded a part of "me" in more ways than I can explain. Ironically, he was more captivated by the birthplace of my feline daughter, Penelope, than anything else! He even took video footage of where I first met her.

The story of Penelope's arrival in my life has been told many times over. He knew that I found her by a creek on Halloween night. He knew that I had been attired as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, complete with faux weapons, and that my best friend from law school was with me, dressed as Little Red Riding Hood. But what I may have left out was that our beloved elder cat wasn't found by a creek in the woods, but by a creek in a neighborhood.

Oops... :)

Whether she was someone else's cat we will never know, but to this day I know I made the right decision to adopt her considering her condition. Malnourished, dirty, and later after taking her to a local vet I learned she had bronchitis as well as pneumonia, Penelope was not expected to live. The vet had recommended that she be put down as the cost to provide her adequate care to restore her health would be quite expensive. Something told me that provenance placed this cat in my path that night. I knew without being able to explain it to my friends that she and I were connected, destined for one another.

Penelope turned 10 on July 1st of this year and soon, we will celebrate a decade of companionship. As I type this blog, she is sharing my desk chair. Most of my writing or work in my office involves her ever present purring. Penelope physically went to hell and back when I found her, but when emotionally I suffered the same ordeal a few years ago, Penelope remained at my side. She has brought more joy to my life than ever could be expressed. I thank Lexington for bringing us together, after thanking God.

The most fascinating part of my return to Lexington was the Stonewall Jackson cemetery. I may have briefly visited it on one occasion during my three years in town. I visited it a half dozen times over two and a half days.

I've always been fascinated with history and much history can be found on 17th, 18th, and 19th century gravestones. A major setting in the novel I am presently writing on centers around a southern cemetery and Stonewall's did not disappoint for research purposes. Many of the gravestones and monuments were uniquely crafted. The landscape was peppered generously with squirrels, but also a flock of three crows. If you believe in omens, that is typically a bad sign to see a crow near graves.

It was sad to leave, but I know we will return. I look forward to sharing with my daughter this wonderful town when she is old enough to appreciate it. Much like me as she has gotten older, I sense someday she will look for a small college town rather than one in a big city.

Greetings...Been TOO Long

Greetings! If you are reading this, I hope you have found what you are looking for. ;) My life is at times amusing, often confusing, but always worth perusing. When you live with three cats, a toddler, and a husband, and you are transplanted to a city and state you never imagined yourself in, the world is either your oyster or yours to cry upon. I'm choosing oyster. Very good with a hot sauce, may I add. This blog site is a work in progress - UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!! Right now I am working on a bit of fan fiction pertaining to the TV show on the CW - Supernatural but I also have several other writing projects, as well as just my own commentary, in the works. Over the next several weeks I aim to post real life musings, as well as some of my fictional writings, for your reading and hopefully entertaiment/enjoyment. But I also adore many other things. I hope with this blog I will amuse, not confuse, and maybe even educate my gentle readers. I am a woman with lots to say. Check back often :)