The photos say it all. Book 15 or 14 or whatever it is, completed, edited, polished, packaged. Every time I finish a book, I feel like a tree killer. Piles of paper in the garbage can. Piles of paper on my desk.
Piles and piles and piles.
310 pages of manuscript printed out and read. Edited and reread. Re-printed and read again.
Aside from making sure my book was ready to go, I began packing, completed paperwork that must be hand carried to China, shopped for the stuff Sassy E needs for her performance. Typed up lists for my sisters and mom (who will be staying here).
And realized I am adopting a child.
Really and truly and for sure.
Bringing her home and making her part of us at the same time we allow ourselves to become part of her world, her life, her experiences. All her goods and bads and in betweens, all her challenges and triumps, swirling into what we already have.Our challenges and triumphs, our goods and bads and in betweens. Until there is no longer an us, no longer any her, but simply a family.
There is something beautiful and profound in that. Something beyond words or even thought. Something that wells up and spills out, overflowing into everything I do and think and say.
I finished my book this week, but more than that happened. I realized I was adopting a child. Really and truly and forever.
And it changed me.
Four days.
3 comments:
I don't know why--but seeing a writer's book on printer paper like that was incredibly cool! :)
I LOVE looking at my books when they're printed out like that. It makes me feel like I've accomplished so much.
Shirlee!
I just noticed your comment on my blog (sorry, I never get over there...they need to send me a notice or something). Anyway, congrats on adopting a child from China! That is such a huge commitment! Wow!
And congrats on book 15 or 14! I haven't read all 14 but I have read several of yours and loved them! BTW, I keep my leftover pages and edits and basically whatever doesn't get mailed off, and use the backsides to print coloring pages for the kids, or occasionally to print research material (for example, right now I've got several pages with menus from B&Bs on the backside, because a manuscript I'm working on is set partly in a B&B & I want it to sound authentic....mmm, charred heirloom tomato bisque...I wasn't going to think of that off the top of my head, LOL!).
Anyway, congrats on all of that!
Rachelle
Post a Comment