Nevermind the Bollocks, Here's Friday Fragments

This is Friday Fragments, a list of random thoughts and observations by me over the past week. This was originally created by Mrs. 4444 over at Half Past Kissin' Time. You should check her out.

** Corrine and I are on the same wavelength on just about everything, a sure sign that we were meant for each other. It's so scary sometimes that just the other day, out of the blue, I began singing a song I hadn't heard for years, and so did she. Almost at the same exact moment. Now, I don't claim to be prescient, and I can't see ghosts or speak to animals. But, you have to admit, that's fucking weird.

** In 2003 I was in a play called "The Nerd" as the title character. It was the first time I met Corrine, actually. I took my son to auditions, she took Alyssa as well. Harrison did not get a part, but Corrine and Alyssa did. Alyssa was actually shorter than me and didn't have boobs. Today, she's a gorgeous 15 year old with spectacular acting talent (I cast her in the play I just directed, in fact).

Anyway, during Never Too Late, most of the original cast were there on the final Sunday's performance. See the photo. We had a little reunion! Wicked cool!

(From left to right: Joel, the producer; Me, Meg, Ed, Bill, Corrine, Alyssa)

It was the first show I did after returning from Minnesota, and the first one I had done since 1999.

I had such a fun time doing it, and it led to three more shows before jumping back in this spring with Never Too Late.

** It has been implied recently by a close relative that I am lazy. That I need to get off my ass and go out and get a "real" job. When the truth is, Corrine refuses to allow me to. She knows that my dream of being a writer is a supreme sacrifice, that it is time consuming, frustrating, but ultimately what I love more than anything. Corrine has been my champion, my bodyguard, my keeper and my soul. For taking upon her shoulders the burden of running this house so that I can achieve what I know I can. A day does not go by that I am not burdened with more than a little bit of guilt that I am not working a 9 to 5. But she always thwarts such self-loathing. I did not sleep well last night because it flared up yesterday in a fight with a relative.

This morning I woke up and saw Corrine's face and it was all better. We have an arrangement - on her suggestion and all her doing - that I work hard now, so that I can be a successful novelist later and allow her to be free.

Now, if I were in law school and she was working, people would not second guess me. People just don't see writing as a viable and sane pursuit.

Oh well. They always said writing would be a solitary pursuit. I have Corrine. And really, that's all I need.

** Speaking of Purple Holly. I've written 12,555 words thus far, or 37 pages. That's actually at a faster clip that Surfacing. It's not a race, I know. But, it's heartening. My favorite passage so far:

We come upon the edge of the screaming midway and there is an amphitheater and upon the stage a man named Captain Rick with a guitar sings children's songs. In front of the stage, a bouncing and jubilant throng of kids are dancing.

Purple skips down the middle of the amphitheater steps and I follow. She joins the children, half her size. She bounces, and prances, twirls. Captain Rick's music blasts outward from a pair of speakers on stands. A rapid, fun, sunshiny song about alligators eating dandelions.

Purple finds a girl, maybe 7 or 8, and takes her by the hands and they twirl together in a tight circle, both laughing crazily. I stand off to the side, with the parents and I cannot take my eyes off the twirling girls and that is when I understand Purple.

A fear dissolves. A recognition comes to the front the way a cloud disperses and the sun spreads outward.

Twirling Purple, laughing Purple, giddy girl in the sea-colored skirt and the short-sleeved blouse. Her sandals getting dirty from the spinning. And she looks at me and smiles and laughs.

And so do I.

** Speaking of solitary pursuits with the help of Corrine. Everything is clear for school to start August 31, which is less than 8 weeks away. My classes have been submitted and are being set up as we speak. Financial aid has been taken care of. All I have to do now is wait.

** Speaking of waiting. Our 17 hens are getting fat! I removed a Plexiglas window from their current nesting quarters (an old built-in outhouse in our barn) and replaced it with a screen window so they can breathe. Yuck, did it smell in there. Dirty birds, hens are. Anyway, we should start to see eggs shortly.

** Speaking of eggs. Griffin turned one and Gabi is closing in on three. Holy shit.

** Speaking of eggs, part II. Corrine and I are impatiently waiting word from DHHS about adopting a boy. We are one of two in the "finals". Meaning, they have narrowed the field to us and another family. We go to an interview in Augusta from which they will decide which family is best suited for the little guy. Don't you love how they turn it into a competition?

** Speaking of competition. The grass on our lawn, because of the rain (23 days out of the last 27) is vying for the title of Longest Blades. I'm waging a bet on the patch above our leech bed. I can't mow at all because the mower will drown.