A Little Bit Lovely

I’m coming out of my funk today. My manuscript didn’t advance in the ABNA competition, and while I completely understand why and expected this result, I couldn’t help but get my hopes up a little. And any getting up of hopes is often too high. My manuscript continues to be revised and polished, even though I’ve said the official status is ’seeking representation.’ Not really, not yet. I’m working today on segment four out of twelve, eliminating one of the viewpoints, working in some of the character development details. It’s not difficult, just steady work, less exciting than the actual creation of the story. If I had advanced in the competition, the old version would have an excerpt posted online for people to read and review – so it’s good that I’m spared, because I entered it prematurely. Still, I spent yesterday in a funk, having seen the list of names that didn’t include mine late the previous night.

Being a little bit downhearted bothers me. I drag around, drink twice as much tea, stare at the mess without cleaning up, make sandwiches instead of a real meal for supper. I know I can’t stay in that state for long, because I don’t want my life to be like that each day. So then I swing the other way, and start looking for a little bit of lovely here and there, just enough to perk me up, remind me that things are good. That life is good. So on to the good stuff.

* A package on my doorstep: the little box containing all the materials I ordered for batiking fabric. I bought several dyes, special detergent, chemicals to make the dye work, and these three darling little wood and metal things called tjanting tools, with which I’ll apply hot wax designs to various fabrics. What fun!

* A phone call from Furniture Junket, from Sandra who said my bright blue hutch is ready. Even better, it’s already here in my dining room and I love it. You know what color I had it painted? ‘Isle of Capri.’ Isn’t that lovely?

* I have joined a book club, and my first time to go is tonight. So yesterday I spent an hour lying in bed in the late afternoon reading Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, and it was lovely.

* Saturday will be the first time I attend a writers workshop.

* I made yogurt. Last summer I bought a yogurt maker at a garage sale and finally tried it out this week. People, I can make some delicious yogurt! The fact that it only involves boiling milk and pressing a button is beside the point.

* This afternoon is the first My Sister’s House women’s consignment sale downtown. I took some clothes to sell, and Oh My! The whole place looks fabulous.

* Best of all, it’s spring. I think the freezes are over and my plants can go back outside, which means my patio can be beautiful again. Lovely.

Yes, I definitely feel better. Now back to the manuscript.