Thank God and Greyhound it’s Gone

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Ali #14, The A-List, a book I sometimes despaired of ever finishing, went to my editor in New York at 3:35 p.m. this afternoon, after putting in several very long ten and twelve hour days, editing the thing word by word.  As Helen Reddy would say, “It’s been a long, hard climb.”  Unlike the old days when I would finish a book and we would then have an ordeal by printing, complete with countless paper jams, all I had to do today was load the document into an e-mail and press send—a godsend as it were!

Something I’ve learned in the last three months is this:  It’s not easy to be creative when you’re dealing with some level of chronic pain.  If my shoulder hadn’t suddenly straightened up and flown right for some unknown reason three weeks ago, I might not have finished the book even now, but I did.  And Bill, bless his heart, told me I can take the WHOLE WEEKEND OFF before I go to work on the next Beaumont book.  What a guy!

I’ve come out of my computer screen stupor just in time to realize that our beautiful Indian summer weather is gone, and what’s outside now is a bunch of dreary, drippy, yellowing leaves.  We may have a few splashes of color later on, but I’m not holding my breath.  This morning one of the big fir trees on our lot next door fell down, sometime between 5 am and 6 am.  Luckily no one was under it when it fell. It was rainy at the time but not especially windy.  I’m not sure what brought it down, but by six our property manager and a collection of neighbors armed with chain saws were out clearing the road so people could get to work. Thank God for neighbors!  At this point I feel as though Bill’s and my chain saw days are behind us!

The fish in the pond are mostly hibernating.  Will the Big Guy reappear next year?  Who knows?  He’s at least seven years old.  How long do Koi live if blue herons don’t get them first?

Now it’s time to take a deep breath, count my blessings, and set the table.  We’re having bean soup for dinner, but it’s going to be a celebratory meal!

16 thoughts on “Thank God and Greyhound it’s Gone”

  1. May I be the first to wish you a Happy Birthday tomorrow? Do you have a celebration planned? Hope it is a great day for you.

  3. Your birthday? Congratulations you survived another year and another book completed so two reasons to celebrate! I got my storage cabinet cases painted and filled with stuff so today’s project is to get the door frames sanded, primed, and painted. Then it’s the kitchen cabinets and pantry. I’m making progress and should be totally finished about the time I move again. Oh well, I’ve decided I’m that person who needs projects to fill my creative need. Wow, Ali 14 already! Amazing how time flies by when life is busy!

  4. Amazing! I love having good helpful younger neighbors! Happy Birthday and continued success with the books. I am eagerly awaitng the next one!

  5. Glad you and Bill are safe from the surprise downfall (that should probably be in an upcoming book) and your shoulder took a leave to allow you to finish so you can start on my next Beau story as we age together.
    No complaint here about relief from smoke and heat to make way for clean fresh air accompanying beautiful water.
    Happy Birthday to you???

  6. How did everybody figure out it’s my birthday. I didn’t mention it, but yes, I’m turning 74, still at work, and happy to be so.

  10. So frustrating to know neither what caused something (in this instance your painful shoulder OR what made it go away…..). But better to be wondering from the gone-away stage, eh? How delightful to have a new Ali to look forward to – it there are indeed 10 perhaps I missed a couple and can look for them while waiting for the new one.

    Birthday felicitations,

    ceci

  12. TY for the wonderful words. Am REALLY looking forward to a new Beaumont book although I am thoroughly enjoying the Brady series. I have a friend that retired to Arizona. She posts pics from Bisbee. Saw the Copper Queen in one of her latest.

  13. I guess it’s time for your return to Az. The weather is perfect. Not to Hot or Cold.. So glad you finished Ali’s book and now its Beaumont time. Just love that guy… He was the first book I read from you. My husband was law enforcement so I felt a connection especially since we were in Seattle at the time. Now I live All your characters and their story lines. Take as much time as you need you deserve it. Have great week read you friday..Jan

  15. Love your blogs. We are enjoying Arizona for a couple more weeks, and then back to the cooler PNW. So glad my wife and I are still healthy enough to run our chainsaws, even in our mid 70s.
    Happy belated borthday.

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