The last few weeks before Labor Day...
Friday, August 21, 2009
Well, here we are, coming to the last few golden weeks of summer. I'm not sure why, but it makes me think of the great week I spent with my family in Mexico at our reunion. I don't think I ever posted a photo of me with with brother and sister, who are totally cool. So here they are. Don't tell them I sent their picture worldwide. :)
I have to say that this is a time of year that always makes me feel a little nostalgic for motherhood. My son and I always had so many things to accomplish in these last few weeks; we spent so much time together, shopping and planning and getting ready for the start of school. We had some of our best conversations in the car, driving to the mall or having lunch in some crappy little food court restaurant. Now, of course, he's off on his own, getting ready for the start of his senior year of college. Man, how time flies. And one of his best friends, a girl who lives just across the street (in the way small towns measure distance), stopped by the house yesterday to tell us that she's leaving for her first year of college. She was all smiles and hope and nerves. It really makes you think of the milestones in life, the beginnings. It made me think, too, that we all should keep reaching for beginnings in our lives, even if we're mired in the middle. A new project, a new hobby, even a new way of looking at an old pursuit. That's my midyear resolution: tackled something new. Any ideas? Have you tried something new and found out that you have an unexpected talent or aptitude? I like to think I have a painter trapped inside, just dying to get out. :)
As you all know, one of the new things I'm doing these days is reconsidering the website. In the last year, I've learned a lot from all of you, about blogging and the website and becoming a community of women who have a surprising amount in common. I think there's a way to take all of that energy and turn it into something even more powerful and important. I just have to figure out how to take my grandiose ideas and translate them into internet-friendly possibilities. And I'm getting there. My webmaster and I are incorporating as many of your great suggestions as possible. So thanks, fireflies, for your input. As always, you are smart and generous and helpful.
Next week I'm going to finally have advance reading copies of Winter Garden! Pretty exciting, huh? So I guess we need to gear up for another contest for a giveaway. Any ideas?
Finally, I wanted to let you all know that I'm off to Honolulu over Labor Day weekend to speak at the Hawaii Writer's Conference, which looks like a humdinger of a gathering. Norah Jones is doing a private charity concert for the attendees! That's some kind of conference. I'll take pictures and post---this might even mean that I'll actually have make up on. :)
Talk to you all soon. I hope you enjoy these last precious weeks of summer and to those of you who are still school shopping (and probably dreading it), I'll just say try and enjoy it while you can. The school years fly past...
Aloha,
Kristin
