As you know, it's been an anniversary week for our Dear Country. A painful one. Like you, I indulged in some tender time travel. Again, on Tuesday morning I found myself paging and pondering through the memories of yesteryear. And then, it occurred to me. No wonder. No wonder–because two years ago, 9/11 was also the date that our book was due at the printers. We had padded our timeline so it was cool that we didn't make that date. But I remember it well. I got rear-ended by a sweet, young Episcopal priest that afternoon while driving Grace home from high school, where she was a freshman. While we waited and waited for the cop that never bothered to come, the kind, apologetic young man and I talked shop: the church and autism. I went the drive-thru on the way home and mindlessly consumed a hamburger, fries and a Coke. Huh? (Not in my usual culinary fare.)
Yesterday, for some reason, I called up our book's website, (thank you Misty Galyon!) and virtually thumbed through Rebekah Pope's beautiful pictures of special souls. I flipped to "Our Creative Team," pausing on each beautiful, smiling face–captured in Rebekah's beautiful, crisp black and white portraiture for which she is so gifted. Visually, I caressed each member with the fondness of my heart-felt love and bottomless appreciation….Together, two years ago this fall, we did this:
I'm proud. And, now, for the next chapter!: Tomorrow, my book mentor's in town from the fabulous far flung Portland, Ore. I'm not enrolled in MTSU's Writer's Loft this semester, but I'm still working with Charlotte Rains Dixon. (She's available for coaching and FANTASTIC!) So, I "hit the book," again next week: The Journey with Grace. Keep reading here and wish me a huge dousing down pour of heavenly inspiration. And, thanks so much for your support via Facebook, comments on the blog here, (more, more, please!); plus your kind and thoughtful email responses to me.
Almost forgot to mention that I'm also pulling back on track, with some techno-learning-curve help along with some friends to birth that aforementioned FREE e-book in the meantime. Woo-hoo! (Or, Choo-Choo, here I come! And, yes, I know I'm corny. Blush.)
So: What creative projects are you proud of and what are you working on, dear readers? Tell me, tell me!
I am still working as a Director Of Nursing at a residential treatment center for Autistic children. Second career – was Master Level Social Worker for 20 years. I have this week taken over Dietary services to try to make a nutritional difference in these children’s lives and….I’m going back to school full time to get a BSN or become a Physician’s Assistant. So check with me in about 6 weeks and see if I have any hair left..I may have pulled it all out. Or could be possibly homeless due to the neglect of my family.
Keep chuggin’, Leisa–all good news. I am working on the Third Thursday Community Potluck Cookbook! After two-plus-years, we’ve served up a lot of terrific seasonal dishes, with easy-peasy recipes.
I just peeked inside the book from the website – the photos are beautiful and the stories inspiring!
Thank you, Lisa, Jenny & Nancy! All the best to you three & your endeavors!
At our house, we call Autism Awareness Day “Julie Day.” Our daughter is 19, and came home from ceoglle (yes, she’s in ceoglle, majoring in English, and making the dean’s list)this year to celebrate her day by eating one of her favorite dinners and then watching the Temple Grandin movie with the family. Your posts bring back memories of having a living tape recorder in the back seat, banging her head while reciting a story tape she’d heard only once; hearing her incessantly tell me how far past lunchtime it was; and loving animals. Now that she is grown, Julie realizes that she processes information differently from her roommates, and it bothers her to hear autism called a “handicap.” All the best to your family.