Turkey Bones

Relish the expectation because when what you desire finally comes, it disappears quickly into memory.

This thought came to mind while staring at an empty plate that was piled high with Thanksgiving fare just moments before. After weeks of waiting for a real Thanksgiving in-person with my family, it was shocking to have the meal over in about twenty minutes of gobbling goodness. While focusing on the prize of a full belly, the things I am genuinely thankful for, the chitchat and laughs with my family, and the snapshots of my nephews in a quickly dwindling youth became a blur. I’m sure I’m not alone in the whirlwind of the holidays, but how much of dreaming about the future makes us blind to the process of getting there? In the bright lights of hope and dream, we fail to appreciate the now- the substance that binds the flashy moments and makes up the majority of our lives.

As I crawl closer to finishing the Son of the Mourning, I’m trying to stop focusing on that finish line and enjoy the actual run. Sure, that white tape keeps flashing in mind, and I will shout for joy when I finally pass through it, but for the moment, I will listen to the tap of my feet and the rhythm of my breath. I will look up and appreciate the beautiful world with all its splendor and wave at its exciting characters as I pass by.

Ha! I shouldn’t kid myself. My writing these days is more of a stroll compared to writing Dawn of the Lightbearer, but that’s ok. Thinking back to writing the first book in the Absolution of the Morning Star series, I pushed ahead at 2-5k words a day, and then suddenly, I was at the end. It was the fastest book I’ve ever written, but it came out so quickly it almost doesn’t seem real. As I keep pressing forward with its larger tale, I miss that little story at its beginning and know I won’t get back to re-reading it anytime soon as the characters move on with their blossoming lives. I feel that little pain of nostalgia, much like the one I feel for another Thanksgiving cataloged in memory.

Well, at least Christmas is coming. But instead of focusing on that man in the red suit, I’m going to hone in on today. I’m going to turn on the jingling tunes, throw some tinsel on the tree, and wrap some presents with my wife. I’m going to relish the meat of the now because that is where the magic truly resides.

Cheers!