Last year I wrote the draft to a novel that had been struggling under my fingers for years. It still is. I think I’ve just gotten weary of the whole thing. If it doesn’t want to grow up and be a novel, I’m not sure I have the energy to make it happen.

This year I’m writing a gift for my family. It makes me smile just to think of it. The writing is going slowly, but it brings me so much pleasure. Surely for now, anyway, it’s the way to go. I upload my novel to the word counter at NaNoWriMo every evening. Last night it was 11,000 words. That’s progress, but I need to write more every day if I hope to win.

I must explain that winning at NaNoWriMo is possible for every entrant. Winning means you met your personal pledge of 50,000 words. I think they call it winning because it’s hard to write so many words in such a short time.

Wish me luck. You won’t hear from me very much while I’m writing it.

Marilynne

Me about 3 with my little brother Dicky.

Dicky and I (Sugie) shed those nicknames as soon as we could.  Here we are in our babyhood.

Billy joins us. He didn't like his nickname either.

Ruthie and I at camp.

Bobby has joined the group. I've already rebelled and am known as Marilynne.

Roy and I and our three children

Roy and I in a grownup moment.

Me with two of our grandchildren. They're growing up too.

Roy and I on our 50th anniversary

When did it all happen. I still remember most of those times. Time has gone so quickly.

Marilynne

Dot shows me the way

During the hot summery days of August our daughters gave us a party for our 50th wedding anniversary.  It was a glorious time.  Our daughters were all home at the same time along with an assortment of grandchildren.  I didn’t want to miss a minute of it.  At the big party I danced and danced (square dancing is our choice) and tried to talk just a little with everyone.  It was a wonderful evening.  I didn’t want to miss a minute of it – or did I say that already.

So many of our family came a long way for the party.  Anne and Bob even came from Pennsylvania just for the party.  I had a house full of company and I loved it.  I didn’t want to miss even a minute of it.

So, the day after the big party, we had a family party, and our families were all here at the house.  I knew I wouldn’t be able to cook with so much going on so we chose our favorite foods and brought them in from our favorite restaurants.  The kitchen counters were full of good things to eat.

So I did have time to visit with everyone.  The smallest and cutest member of our families is a tiny girl nicknamed Dot.  She’s a tiny little dot of a thing, but full of fun too.

By the time I sat down to talk with our guests I was so very tired, but, you know,  I didn’t want to miss a minute of it.  So I sat and tried hard to make intelligent conversation.  I wasn’t fooling anyone about how tired I was.

Then little Dot held her hand up to me and led me up the stairs, across the veranda and into the kitchen.  I wonder now if she had plans to put me to bed.   She’s a smart little girl.  Once in the kitchen, she just looked around a bit, then led me outside again.

Someone took a photo of Dot leading me up the stairs.  I look so big and so bent over and she looks so tiny and in command.  I didn’t know about the photo until Dot’s mama put it up on Facebook.  I was struck by Dot’s tiny/tall person leading my big lumpy person.  She seems so in control for someone so small.

So I painted it in watercolor.  It is what it is – a good memory from our big party.

Marilynne