The Little Engine That Could
As you can see Prissy’s Blog has been under construction, now remodeled, and is up and running again. That means I have no excuse for not blogging. But I’m sure I’ll think of some anyway. It’s pretty bad when I realize my last post was Father’s Day. And now October is peaking at me from around the corner with crisp air, colored leaves, football, and festivals hanging nearby. Have you noticed I only blog on ‘Something’ Days? Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and now a Fall day. Okay, I know I am the worst blogger inside the blogosphere world. I should get an award. How about a trophy, please, please, please? I’ve never won a trophy for anything. Never. It might as well be for being a lousy blogger. Here’s the thing… unless I have something to share I just don’t want to waste your time. Nobody, and I mean nobody, has time for anything, anyone, anymore. You know it. I know it. It stinks.
“I think I can, I think I can!”
I slipped on my armored dress, a splash of Flower Bomb perfume, and with a dollop of tiny courage headed for the recording studio. I felt just like that little engine. With my southern accent and all the critics awaiting, I decided I would narrate Far Outside the Ordinary. A committee of everyone I asked, along with my research, revealed the author of a memoir should be the narrator. Rats! I must say it was much harder than writing the book. When I was composing my narrative arc, the content, characters and everything that encompassed my story, I had to analayze and weave it together with careful planning. The brain was in charge. But when I isolated myself inside that recording studio, read my written words out loud through the microphone, well…it echoed reminders of those painful and dark months I wrote about. And it was brutal. This time I was sharing my story from a totally different place … my heart. There was more than one day I had to stop. But I returned and was determined I could do it. I knew my childrens’ children, and theirs, would hear Far Outside the Ordinary read by me. I was brave enough, but barely.
As I drove to the studio one day I was remembering a boy I knew decades ago. He walked with metal poles with his two thin arms slid inside the welded holes which supported his weight. He had strawberry blond hair with chocolate brown eyes. He was much smaller than the other boys in our Lake City, Florida, middle school. Rail thin, with a slightly curved spine, he wore very thick glasses and shoes with elevated soles.Whenever he would run into me somewhere his adoration was like a puppy waiting for a treat. I was his treat. One day as I retreived books from my locker, I heard him calling my name from afar. I looked over and watched as he raced down the corridor as fast as those cumbersome poles would carry him. “Prissy, Prissy, will you go to homecoming with me?” he asked. He was breathless but had the confidence of a rock star. It was so unexpected and out of the blue. I was unprepared. But I do remember looking into his brown eyes, so magnified by his glasses they were out of proportion for that tiny face. I saw this kind, soulful being who twirled his thin fingers and waited for my answer as though I was somebody important. I thought he might be an angel and it was a test. I said yes. Of course, I would. He was ambitious, funny, and so brave. He was fragile, yet fearless, and despite life’s challenges he had the courage of a lion. We went to the homecoming game that night. He sat smack dab in the front row stadium seat, his metal poles beside him, and watched as I cheered for our losing team. His smile never faded the entire night. A few years later he died from pneumonia. The boy’s name was Stevie Kuschell… polio did not define him. Thank you for teaching me the real meaning of courage, Stevie. I wish I could tell you how important your lessons were to me in your short life. As I pushed through narrating Far Outside the Ordinary your footprints were all over my heart.
There have been many readers asking when the sequel to Far Outside the Ordinary will be released? The truth– only when this ‘baby’ is well developed, healthy, full-term, and ready to deliver into this great, big, scary world. I want her strong enough to face the obstacles and challenges which, undoubtedly, await her. I’m sure it seems like I’m a worthless slug, the slowest writer on the planet — along with being the worst blogger in blogosphere — but, hey, it is what it is. Writing is my joy but I believe it must be done right, have significant value for others, or just not be written at all.
Besides, don’t forget, I still have an active eighteen-month-old named Far Outside the Ordinary that can’t be ignored. She still needs my attention as I guide her from the shadows to the spotlight. Like most eighteen-month-olds, she is a ton of work. I can’t turn my back on that butterfly for even a minute. I don’t want her getting into trouble, straying, wondering why I have forsaken her, and just when she flourished. What kind of mother would I be? But, yes indeed, I am working on my sequel…..look for it in 2016. By the way that’s around the corner. Yikes!
So what have I been doing besides making excuses for not finishing my new book? Well I’ve become a professional speaker. Stop laughing! Okay, I’m laughing too. I know, I know… imagine me with a microphone standing center stage. Say it isn’t so. Really it is quite remarkable for a girl who once stutterered. It’s true. I had such extreme anxiety during graduate school I gave my oral thesis to the professor standing alone in his office. Every other student gave theirs in front of the class. As we all know…life is what it is and not what you expect. I have evolved into someone else. Now I can stand before any audience, fearless, and share how I navigated my personal loss and found hope, purpose and meaning after living through such a random, senseless tragedy. I’ve shared my message with a variety of fabulous audiences for some pretty spectacular events– here, there, and yonder: Merrill Lynch, SunTrust, Altrusa, Philanthropic Educational Organization, Florida Transportation Builders’ Association, Author Forums and will soon be headed back to where my education all started, Flagler College, to give the keynote address for the Women of Vision ‘Power of the Purse’ scholorship endowment luncheon. I am honored.
Aside from the sequel, I have a big surprise! It’s different, fun and current. But, alas, I can’t tell you yet! I promise I will even if you didn’t give me a trophy. But a little mystery and suspense in one’s life is a good thing, don’t you think? Of course you do. Stay tuned….
Who wants a Give-Away? Here you go….
GIVEAWAY: Far Outside the Ordinary AUDIO is now available on Amazon. To celebrate I’m giving away 15 FREE COPIES. I will be randomly choosing my winners from Amazon and Goodreads’ reviewers. If you’ve not posted your REVIEW on Amazon or Goodreads, please do so to be eligible. I would be most grateful. For my winners, I will also include a Far Outside the Ordinary koozie and paperback all bundled together with the audio. A perfect Christmas gift, right? The deadline for your entry is October 15. The winner(s) will be selected on October 16. Good luck!!!!
So….that’s about it. However, I promise the surprise mentioned earlier will be shared with you very soon. I won’t wait until the next ‘Something’ Day…Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
Thanks so much for supporting me. I can feel your love, truly.
Warmest wishes and Happy October!
Prissy
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