An oldie that never gets old. Maybe someday someone will say that about me. 😂

This past couple weeks reading fiction for The Good Life Review in between trips to different hospitals, medical centers, and council bluffs has me thinking of all these one or two line vignettes that feel like silk in my head. 

Mostly I forget them as soon as I think them into existence because I’m driving or trying to focus on something someone is saying. Once they slip away they are gone forever. Like so many things in life — a therapeutic massage, vacation, that one night my body sank into his like sugar into melted butter. And every romantic relationship I ever had, except the love letter I’m living right now. At least that is solid and I know it wont abandon me if I close my eyes and go to sleep. 

Which I do a lot of, by the way. It’s a thing.

Today I have a meetup with a new poet friend and I have to…HAVE TO… finish reading all the fiction. I have about 10 to go before I pour back over all 40 pieces to pick my top 3 or 4 to send to the editor. 

It’s kind of nice to be a reader and not have too much responsibility past reading and voting. I could get used to that. Of course I can’t quit my “day job.” I’ll be the one at the end of the process reviewing the results… all the editors’ final selections. Mostly with fiction I leave that to my managing editor because she’s much better with the prose than I am. I’m on the hook for poetry though since that’s my jam. 

After my meetup I have no other plans till dinner so I should be able to get a lot done. I’m not going to CB today and no plans for visits to the ER or emergency surgical procedures. I tapped out. It’s nice to feel like I have some breathing room with my time today. 

If I had a lot of time I might even try to write about the past three weeks. But not until my other designated duties are done (so yeah.. probably never 😂).

***

Fast forward a couple of days and I’m finally pulling myself back to “center.” How are we almost half way through August. Where’s the brakes, yo? 

At the start of the month I told myself that August was going to be my month. Great things are happening and I’m looking forward to celebrating all of it. But the month has been front loaded with trash and it’s been tough to maintain that “winning” attitude. Or even remember that that was the plan. 

BUT… it has to.. HAS TO… get better. Right?? 

It will. 

***

Fast forward a few more days…

Good gravy I’ve been trying to write this for five days now. Life never slows down. 

This past weekend was very so-so-middle-of-the-road.  That’s ok. Perhaps a LIST of what I’m looking forward to will help bend my perspective in the right direction….

1. My daughter will be home in six days! 
2. I should be getting an official word back on my manuscript  from a potential publisher very soon (which I hope is good news).
3. The Autumn issue of The Good Life Review will be finalized by the end of August. 
4. Two poems of mine will be published this month. 
5. I’ll be celebrating my bday soon and both my kids will be here for the festivities. 
6. A big house project will be wrapping up soon which will mean lots of contractor-free days are ahead. 
7. More Bachelorette episodes happening every Monday. Yay!! 💃💃💃
8. My mom is on the mend and I don’t need to help as much which means less drive time and more free time. 
9. No official meet ups this week so I can get caught up on stuff I’ve been procrastinating (think.. opening mail, paying bills, connecting with some of my favorite people). 
10. Weather has cooled off so more opportunities to do the outside things I enjoy (think.. gardening, bike rides, walks…). 

That’s a good list. Solid. And a great place to stop now that I’ve thought about 10 things that improve my mood. 

Thanks for reading. I hope you are able to make your own list of 10 things you are looking forward to. I highly recommend it! 🧡

Peace and Love, 

~Miss SugarCookie