When you see us sitting, day after day, huddled over our manuscripts, searching and submitting to agents and publishers, please cheer us on.
This morning someone walked by me and said, “You still haven’t found an agent for your book?!”
She meant well (I think)
Kamala so strong
joyous and focused for us
we must elect her.
~~~
Nation not party
consequences most high
there’s only one choice.
~~~
Let us turn the page
we all have more in common
Let’s build on that joy.
~~~
She wants solution
she wants to bring back our joy
focus on the good.
I was a child the first time Led Zeppelin was huge, but I had an older brother who had older friends and so the “Gods of Rock Music” were frequently played on our stereos and Stairway To Heaven was always on the radio. Always. It was only very recently though that I stumbled across their quieter songs. I was searching on You Tube for nothing and “discovered” Thank you, That’s the Way and Going To California played live in concert, but only on acoustics.
So I jumped down the rabbit hole of research and learned Led Zeppelin has several quiet songs, beautiful songs. Each member of the band is considered an accomplished musician. Robert Plant was (is) not just a one of a kind banshee preening and wailing, he could also sing sweet, deeply moving ballads.
Then I learned about the group’s founder, Jimmy Page.
I’ll just focus on his professional life and how learning about how he grew and managed his career has provided me with lessons about being a writer.
#1 Childhood Obsessions Are Often Your True Path in Life
Jimmy Page found a guitar left behind in the house where he and his parents moved. It never left his side. He carried it everywhere. So much so, that teachers at school had to take it away from him. His parents though were supportive as long as he “kept his grades.”
I was a child that was given a diary when I was about eight and clutched it like it held the most precious treasures in the world, which it did- my writing. It had the clasp with a lock. It wasn’t big enough to capture all my daily writing and so I also carried a spiral notebook. I spent hours outside, sitting under a tree, writing. I declared at age 11 “I’m going to be a writer when I grow up.” (The fact that my mom threw ice water on that dream and it took me forever to return to it is another story for another day)
#2 Be Willing to Go Public With Your Gift.
Jimmy Page played skiffle guitar with a band on the BBC at age 13.
I published poems in the literary magazine and wrote stories for the newspaper in high school (we won state awards), but went secret with my writing for years. Lost confidence? Sold out to earning a degree so I could make money? Eventually, when asked what I “did for a living,” I would say , “If I could wave a magic wand, I’d be a published author.”
Finally, I started submitting and I started being published.
#3 Learn Your Craft
Jimmy Page was the top session guitarist in the UK by age 17. A session musician is a master at his/her instrument and is usually the artist you actually hear on records. For example, the musicians you actually hear on the Beach Boys records are a group of session musicians known as the Wrecking Crew.”
Page talks about how he learned to show up on time day after day, play what was wanted/needed, learned to read and write music, learned how to compose, engineer and produce. Fun Fact: It was the session violinist father of actor David McCallum (Man From Uncle, NCIS) who suggested to Page he try a bow with his guitar.
Me? I’ve taken writing courses to learn all aspects of the craft of writing itself AND the publishing industry (just as important).
#4 Take Risks
Jimmy Page quit being a well paid, steady working session musician when he was asked to play the equivalent of MUZAK. He joined the Yardbirds for a while and then, when they broke up, created what became Led Zeppelin.
This is where I still struggle. I haven’t completely ditched my comfy “day job,” but I’m writing and submitting more than I’m not. (Great Spirit, spur me on)
#5 Do Three Versions Then Pick the Best
Page is known for extraordinary guitar solos both in recordings and , especially, live. He has said that he would record his solos three times then pick the best one for the albums.
I see the benefit in having multiple drafts of my stories, but I listen to too many (unpublished) writers talk about how many drafts they have of their story. For some, it’s been going on for years with the same story. At some point, we have to pick the best one and go with it.
#6 Find a Partner to Run the Business Side
Jimmy Page had Peter Grant. The deal was that the band focus on the music and Grant would handle everything else. It worked. They became one of the biggest (if not the biggest) rock bands of all time. Still hugely popular.
Writers need a Literary agent. We just do. We need to write and they need to find our publishers and advocate for us.
#7 Stay in Charge of The Creative Side
Jimmy Page produced all Led Zeppelin’s music and still curates the band.
Writers need to make sure the publishing process keeps you with input on book design, ownership of rights, understand distribution, reprints, etc. While you want to focus on the writing and your Literary Agent should handle the heavy side of the business, pay attention– manage your creation.
Time now to listen to music. Perhaps some Led Zeppelin, yes?
Driving my Toyota
Listening to my Motown playlist
on my way to eat Mexican food
Before watching women’s soccer with friends.
That’s my 4th of July.
Steve Connors was a good man. A regular guy meaning he played football in high school, made B’s and C’s at the state University, graduated, rabble-roused a little bit in his youth, got a job, married a good woman he had known a long time, had two kids, only cussed with his buddies or when alone, was a good son, was a good son-in-law, and paid his taxes.
He knew something was really wrong when he woke up. Everything was white. White sheets, white walls, white…
“What is that?” He wondered.
“White mist? Am I on a friggin’ cloud?”
Steve bolted up. He was wearing white cotton pajamas. I never wear white cotton pajamas. He looked around. There was no furniture, no windows, no doors.
“Am I in an insane asylum?”
He was feeling sweaty, agitated, confused, and a bit scared though he was good at keeping that last emotion in check.
He looked at the floor. White mist.
“I’m in a cloud.” He decided not to step down.
“I’m dead.”
He pinched his skin.
“Nope.”
He yelled, “Hello?!”
Silence. Absolute silence. Then…
“Hello, Steve.”
“Holy shit!” Steve jerked. “Where’d you come from?”
“Just right there,” She said pointing nowhere. She looked older than Steve but younger than his mother.
“Where the fuck am I… sorry about my bad language.”
“You’re in between.”
“In between what?”
“Life and death.”
Steve felt numb. He didn’t move at all for several minutes.
“It’s confusing I know. But you and I have to talk about some important things right now, Steve.”
“Is this one of those near-death experiences I hear about? People going to the light and then come back into the body?”
She smiled.
“Something like that.”
Steve shifted around in the bed.
“This is fucked up shit. Am I drunk?”
“No.”
“Then where am I? What is this place? Are we on a cloud?”
She smiled again.
“It’s like a cloud. You are between living on Earth and leaving, dying, from Earth. You and I need to talk about some very important things. She paused. “ And then you have to decide what you’re going to do.”
“Decide what?”
“Decide what you’re willing to do if you return to Earth.”
“If!”
“Yes, Steve. You made a deal with me before you were born on Earth and you’ve not lived up to your part. Yet.”
“Lady, I’ve never seen you before.”
“You have. You just don’t remember.”
“Am I in a hospital dying from cancer or a car accident?”
“No. You were one of nineteen people shot at your daughter’s school picnic. A gunman with an AR-15 assault weapon walked onto the grounds and fired multiple rounds into the children, also hitting some parents.
“Fifteen children are dead. Four of you are being rushed to the hospital. Two will die on the way. Two of you are having conversations with your Guides right now.”
Steve had his hands on either side of his head trying to hold in his racing thoughts.
“Fifteen children are dead?”
“Yes.”
“Two more people will die?”
“They just have actually.”
“Who?”
“I’m sorry to tell you that your daughter, Annabella, was one of them.”
Steve screamed and started to get out bed, but looked down at the mist then fell back on the bed.
“She was one of the ones who just died?”
“Yes, Steve. She didn’t suffer though.”
Steve was sobbing. Shoulders slumped. Defeated.
“My precious baby girl.”
Steve rolled onto his stomach and buried his head in the pillows, crying.
He woke with a start.
“Shit. Am I in the same place?”
He flipped around. She was still there.
“How long was I asleep?”
“A while.”
“What is happening to me on Earth?”
“You’re just now entering the emergency room.”
“What? It’s been forever.”
“Time and space are different here, Steve.”
Steve closed his eyes. Rubbed them. Shook his head.
“OK. What is it I’m supposed to learn? What deal did we make? And why did Annie have to die!” He was screaming again.
“Annie died because she fulfilled her purpose on Earth.”
“She was only eight. What purpose could have been done by then?”
“The deal she made before being born was that she was willing to die the way she did.”
“She knew she would be killed?”
“She knew while she was here, but she didn’t know it on Earth. Steve, because she fulfilled her agreement she did not suffer at all when she died.”
“Why would she agree to die like that?”
“So you would have the chance to course correct your life.”
Steve could only look at her.
She stood silently. Her face was gentle.
“Okay okay. So what have I done wrong?”
“It isn’t a case of doing something wrong per se. It’s a case of do you want to fulfill your real purpose on Earth instead of just living a good, decent life.”
“A good life isn’t good enough I guess. I don’t know what you mean by me living my real purpose. I’m a decent man.”
“Yes you are. She waited. “And you agreed that you would be more.”
“Can you just tell me what I need to do? I’m getting really tired of this conversation.”
She smiled again. “Why do you think it was a gunman with a powerful, military-type assault rifle that killed your daughter, and now, sixteen other people, and has you and another person pending?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve always been responsible with guns. Granddaddy taught me to respect guns. I’ve always had to clean my rifle before we went hunting. We always eat what we kill. I have never been sport hunting. I don’t believe there is such a thing as ‘sport’ in hunting.”
“Exactly.”
“Exactly. Exactly what?”
“You have always been very respectful of guns. You have always been very careful. Why then do you let others talk and behave irresponsibly about guns?”
“I can’t stop people from buying what they are legally allowed to buy. Shit. Is this about gun control?”
She smiled.
“You’re fucking kidding me!”
“Steve, I think it’s a little bit more since you’re here. You made a deal with me before you were born on earth that you were going to be the voice of reason about guns. You agreed You would be willing to stand up to your friends and the NRA so that things did not get out of hand about guns the way they have.
“You’ve done nothing about it for years.
Steve, people like you. People respect you. People follow you. You have never been out of control with guns. You have never been unreasonable with the type of guns and ammunition you purchase.
“The deal was that you would use your credibility as “one of the guys”, a hunter, to be a leader in your country to bring sanity to the type of weapons and ammunition that are available, and more importantly, how people gain access to guns.
“Annabel agreed to be your daughter knowing she would be gunned down if you didn’t step up to your higher purpose.
“You have a choice now. Her death can mean nothing, or you can step up and live your higher purpose on Earth.
“You mean I live?”
She smiled.
Steve closed his eyes and cried again.
When Steve Connors opened his eyes, he saw his wife sitting beside him. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She sobbed when she saw that Steve was now waking up after his surgery.
“It’s a miracle, thank you God, it’s a miracle,” was all she could say when she collapsed into Steve’s arms.
“Honey, it’s okay. I’m okay.”
“Annie…” his wife started to say.
“Honey, Annie is okay. I know she’s gone from us here, but I’ve been to heaven. I know Annie didn’t die with pain.
“And she won’t die in vain either honey.
“Babe, there’s no guns in heaven and we’re going to bring just a little bit of that heaven down here on earth.”
Author’s Note: This story was written years ago, long before the current mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York.
I didn’t know about the 2017 solar eclipse until my friend, Rob, told me about it in the fall of 2016. It was almost a throw away comment he made during lunch with our spouses, but I pounced on it.
That night I found the path the eclipse will journey across America on August 21 and started my search for cheap hotels . I found none. In desolate areas, the hotel equivalent of a “Motel Six” were already $3,000 per night. Repeat that: “$3,000 per night.” The eclipse was still ten months away and rates were already reflecting the # 1 American value: money. Ugh.
Camping was not an option for me because I have none of the equipment and really don’t know what I’m doing. So, throughout the fall, I’d hunt and peck on the internet now and then, trying to find some place to stay on the path.
Not unlike Rob’s casual mentioning of this event to me, I casually mentioned it to my adventurous friend, Vicki, who immediately said, “We have to do this somehow.” It was December 2016, eight months to eclipse day, and rates were exceeding $6,000 per day.
So we decided we were going to drive from where she lived— about five hours to the center of one of the “best viewing sites” according to the NASA map. We will just drive there, see the eclipse, and drive back.
This was the plan back in December.
Wondering if this is going to be like Thelma and Louise, minus the bad stuff?
More to come…
Here’s something you can easily do today to make the world a better place… skip meat today.
There is a trend called “Meatless Mondays,” but that implies you have to do “without something.” I’d like to turn that around and make it proactive…just skip eating meat today, and every Monday. No big deal to you. In fact there are many benefits.
Here are just a few of those benefits from the folks at “Meatless Monday:”
Why Meatless?
Because going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. And going meatless once a week can also help reduce our carbon footprint and save precious resources like fossil fuels and fresh water.
For Your Health:
Reduce Heart Disease and Stroke—Vegetables, fruit, and whole grains have been shown to protect against cardiovascular disease. One study found that each daily serving of fruits or vegetables was associated with a 4% decline in coronary heart disease, and a 5% lower risk of stroke.[1] Another study found that a diet of 2.5 or more servings of whole grain per day was associated with a 21% lower risk of cardiovascular disease (heart disease, stroke, fatal cardiovascular disease).[2]
Limit Cancer Risk—There is convincing evidence that red meat and processed meat consumption increases the risk of colorectal cancer. There is also limited but suggestive evidence that red meat increases the risk of esophagus, lung, pancreas, and endometrium cancer and that processed meat consumption increases the risk of esophagus, lung, stomach, and prostate cancer. In contrast, a diet rich in fruit and vegetables decreases the risk of several types of cancers, including mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, and stomach, evidence suggests.[3]
Fight Diabetes—Research suggests that plant-based diets, particularly those low in processed meat, can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.[4] Eating a plant-based diet can decrease total calorie consumption which helps you obtain and maintain a healthy weight, a key component to preventing and treating diabetes.[5]
Curb Obesity—Several large studies in Europe and the United States have demonstrated that people on plant-based, vegetarian diets tend to have a significantly lower body weight and body mass index (BMI). This may be in part because plant-based diets are rich in fiber (which is not found in animal products). Fiber contributes to fullness, resulting in lower calorie intake and less overeating.[6],[7],[8],[9]
Live Longer—Evidence suggests that eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and a limited amount of red meat can increase longevity, whereas red and processed meat consumption is associated with increases in deaths due to cancer and cardiovascular disease.[10]
Improve The Nutritional Quality of Your Diet—Going meatless encourages consumption of plant-based sources of protein, like beans and peas. Consuming beans and peas results in a higher intake of fiber, protein, folate, zinc, iron, and magnesium. Also, diets high in beans and peas are associated with lower intakes of saturated fat and total fat.[11]
For Your Wallet:
Curb Healthcare Spending—Each year in the United States, chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes cause 7 in 10 deaths, and account for 75% of the $2 trillion spent on medical care.[12] In 2008, the estimated health care costs related to obesity were $147 billion.[13] By reducing our risk for these conditions, we can curtail healthcare spending nationwide.
Cut Weekly Budget—Many people save money by adding meatless meals to their weekly menus. Meatless meals are built around vegetables, beans and grains—instead of meat, which tends to be more expensive.[14] This is partly because producing meat requires extra expenses like feed and transportation. Though it can be challenging to serve healthy meals on a budget, going meatless once a week can help conserve money for more fruits and vegetables.
For the Environment:
Minimize Water Usage—The water needs of livestock are much greater than those of vegetables and grains.
– Approximately 1,850 gallons of water are needed to produce a single pound of beef.
– Approximately 39 gallons of water are needed to produce a pound of vegetables.[15]
Americans consume nearly four times the amount of animal protein than the global average.[16] When compared with current food intake in the US, a vegetarian diet could reduce water consumption by up to 58% per person.[17]
Reduce Greenhouse Gases —Studies show that meat production produces significantly more greenhouse gases than vegetables, including carbon dioxide, Methane and Nitrous Oxide – the three main contributing sources of greenhouse gas. Beef was found to produce a total of 30 kg of greenhouse gas (GHG) per kg of food, while carrots, potatoes and rice produce .42, .45 and 1.3 kg GHG per kg of food, respectively.[18]
Reduce Fuel Dependence—About 25 kilocalories of fossil fuel energy is used to produce 1 kilocalorie of all meat based protein, as compared with 2.2 kilocalories of fossil fuel input per 1 kilocalorie of grain based protein produced.[19] The meat industry uses so much energy to produce grain for livestock that if instead we used the grain to feed people following a vegetarian diet, it would be enough to feed about 840 million people.[20]
“Ever Onward to Victory”
Our final two days were back in Habana.
Impressions:
Yes, Cuba is poor in materials and even natural resources.
Tourism seems to be its most stable and successful business.
Outside Habana, the country is a beautiful island with hills, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, biospheres, chickens roaming everywhere and roosters waking you at 4:45 AM.
People outside walking, walking, walking, hitching a ride when they can, rarely a private car in sight.
Food extremely limited in variety but served with pride in generous portions.
Music.
Dance.
Heat. Humidity.
Kindness. Smiles.
Feeling, not like a tourist. No begging. No hassles.
Cubans love their country and see its flaws. They want a better standard of living but don’t want to be “too commercial like America.”
Cubans we met love Americans and think our two governments are “silly and we need to be friends.”
Cubans love Fidel and know he’s “holding on too much to the revolution.”
Cubans love Raoul and “believe will take us forward.”
They are proud of their schools and medicine.
Stay in a Casa Particulares with Cuban families. The hospitality is enriching to the soul.
Eat in a palador, not restaurants for the same reason.
Swim in the sea.
Hike in the hills.
Walk the tobacco farms.
Learn the revolucion, Bay of Pigs, and the embargo from their perspective.
Buy books written from their perspective.
Leave behind as much as you can: lotions, sunscreens, toilet paper, mosquito repellant, clothes, tips… the staff at the casas appreciate it greatly.
Listen as much as you can.
Ask questions.
Learn as much Spanish as you can and speak it.
Leave behind your kindness and compassion.
Take with you a better understanding that people are people.
We really want the same things.
Cuba may be poor and lack so many resources, but it is a beautiful island.
We spend an hour in the morning walking through the national park ” El Cubano” in the mountains of Escambay, just a thirty minute drive outside Trinidad. The area is lush with a diversity of plants, birds and animals. We had a guide who first attempted to narrate us through the biodiversity of the area, but we were rebelling that morning and were focused on reaching the end of the trail where a waterfall awaited.
Of course it was hot. Of course it was humid. It’s a tropical island.
The walk was up and down easy hills and we were all drenched in sweat when we reached our destination. The waterfall cascaded into a clear pool of cold water. Most of our group stripped to our swim suits and jumped in.
Our pace one tour was slowing down. We only had another day together and by now, clusters of friends had formed: the under 40 New Yorkers; the two families bonded withe 50-something couple from New York; the 60-something couple from Oregon protecting the married mom traveling alone;the two single men from California each kept to themselves, but not awkwardly so. The group worked well together during our nearly two weeks together.
We asked question of our guide and office other about Cuban politics and life; American politics; each others jobs… not surprisingly a high percentage of the group worked in non-profits or higher education. We were balanced by our New Yorkers working in advertising, law and “investments.”
Dinner was at Playa Ancon.
Our bus stopped at what seemed to be someone’s house. It was our caterer and our musicians for our evening on the beach. The beach was almost vacant and what few people were there left soon after our arrival because a storm was blowing our way. We thought for sure were we about to be hit with a tropical storm, but, Dady, our lead guide said, “Let’s see…”
Everyone left the beach except us.
We were rewarded for our faith.
The few raindrops didn’t even dampen our clothes.
The sunset performed for us along with our musicians. Fresh fish, veggies and rum…an abundance of rum along with a few Cuban cigars.
Celebration in the joy of Cuba’s beauty.
BethenyReid 