* Patience, Impatience, and Aggravation *

Have I mentioned anything lately about patience? Over the years, and especially these past 10+ years since I've been writing, I've had to learn to be patient. And I've become quite good at it regarding most things, especially the really important things in life. (Is that a typical part of our emotional growth? Or is it something we have to learn, focus on, develop? I cannot say.)

BUT, when it comes to certain small, insignificant happenings.....like driving across town and back again, searching for the correct coffeemaker filters....and both stores that usually have a ton of boxes stacked on the shelves...have big empty spaces instead.....And, I'd waited until the last minute, as in... we had no more filters, so I was aggravated at myself and aggravated that the stores were out of them.

(I must explain: the coffeemaker is a Bunn, and not every store carries their filters, at least not around here.They really are a bit taller in height than other ones, and I just like them best.)

SO, I impatiently grabbed a generic package of filters, tossed it into my cart with my other five or six items, paid for them and drove home. Not until I opened the package did I realize what I'd bought ----- filters for a 4-cup maker, not 10-cups!

See illustration below:

Ahhh, impatience! Look what you did!

It actually worked and didn't overflow, which I can't imagine why! But, right after making that one pot of coffee, I got online and ordered two packages! I'll be almost as happy to see that box arrive as my box of.....books. NOT!

How about you? Patient or Impatient? Always been that way?

~~~~~

* Welcome to my two newest followers: Karen Walker and Tammy. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you so much!*

“Why is patience so important?"
"Because it makes us pay attention.” 
― Paulo Coelho

“I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.” 
― Margaret Thatcher

“Waiting and hoping is a hard thing to do when you've already been waiting and hoping for almost as long as you can bear it.” 
― Jenny Nimmo, Charlie Bone and the Time Twister

“Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence.” 
― Hal Borland

* My Head's a Spinnin'! *

This past week I've spent most of my time gearing up for the arrival of my memoir. 

(Is it possible for me to reread that sentence too many times?) 

I'm attempting to stay cool, calm, and collected...and not use an inordinate amount of explanation points, but.....Wow! It has been a long journey! I keep envisioning the following scene:

My doorbell rings. Vern gets excited, starts barking, and runs to the front door. When I get there, I turn the knob, open the door....and there stands the UPS guy...with a large box addressed to me and he needs my signature. 

From there the scene has different variations: 

1) If The Ronald is home, we both open the box and stare at the wondrous sight. 

2) If he isn't home, I tell myself I must wait until he gets home, so he can share the moment with me.

3) Then reality hits. I know I'll pull and tear and gnaw at that box like a ravenous beast until it's open.

From that point, I've imagined several scenarios, so when it actually happens, I'll definitely share it.

My blog last Sunday was about doors, keys, and door knobs, and how I find them beautiful and meaningful. The following words by Joseph Campbell are so fitting for today's post, and every time I read them, I swear I get chills.....in that good kind of way.

“Follow your bliss.
If you do follow your bliss,
you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while waiting for you,
and the life you ought to be living
is the one you are living.
When you can see that,
you begin to meet people
who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid,
and doors will open
where you didn't know they were going to be.
If you follow your bliss,
doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else.” 

Joseph Campbell

In addition to the usual ways of selling books, I have lots of other marketing plans & ideas in that area, and THAT'S why "my head's a spinnin'!" There are so many helpful sites and blogs online, it can really get overwhelming, but with having a plan, schedules, date books, calendars, etc., I'll be just fine. 

Follow your bliss!