There’s something magical about being married to your best friend more than half your life.
It isn’t just the shared memories and experiences, it’s the liking, loving and respecting someone that cuts a groove of grounding, stability, trust and then the freedom to explore, change and become a fuller person in this world.
I know I’m very fortunate.
We’ve been wandering for nine weeks now
The old place closed without notice
The weekday usuals scattered
by twos and fours
to several sites
around the area
but the weekend regulars
have all landed
at the sister café
three miles
down the road
some staff
from the old place
are here
smiles, hugs, laughter
trying to make
it feel
like it did before
wanting home
in a new place
The fog of fantasy
has burned off.
Reality looks
stark.
I want to dream again.
Most days I sit here
alone in a full cafe
writing for those
I’ll never know.
Looking at my Instagram feed before settling in to write this morning, I saw a post from someone’s “Auntie.” She posts videos of herself using household items to sing to 1970’s rock songs. Today, it’s Joe Walsh, “Life in the Fast Lane.” In less than three months she’s acquired 2+ million followers.
I’ve been sending queries for my novel for about three months. Agents want to know how many followers I have on social media. They don’t ask directly, but they ask for my sites.
So, this morning I’m “pitching for an increased profile” by submitting to contests for writers. I’ll still use social media and I’ll still write everyday.
I joke that “writing is the easy part. Publishing not so much.”
Onward.
I have had to find a new cafe for my morning writing sessions as the old one permanently closed.
The new cafe, though just across the road from the old one, has two or three regulars who appear to be without permanent homes. Their clothes are frayed and their possessions are plastic bags. One is a woman who does have a bicycle and a black daypack (like me). She sits in the corner charging an old cell phone. I’ve never seen her with food or even a cup of coffee.
I’m new to this place and wonder the management’s protocol about paying for other guests’ food.
I want to just say to her one morning, “Can I buy you breakfast?”
How hard would that be? I’ve done it before in other places. Why hesitate here?
What do I fear? Engagement?
Maybe tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow.
Isn’t “right now” our path?
Panda may be sleeping in, but I’ve been up and writing since before dawn.
#Awriter’s life
