Monday, October 25, 2010

A Red Letter Day

I’m up early.

Bugsy started talking, as usual, around 7 a.m. He wakes with the day, then naps between my knees until first light. He knows I'll let him out now. Any earlier would mean the basement.

As I lay in half-slumber, the wind gusted rain against my screen and its song stirred an ancient longing.

I love storms.

Instead of going back to bed, I opened the slider Bugsy-wide and we both stuck our noses in the hole. Lightning flashed, with an answering shudder from thunder.

The wind splashed water in my face as Bugsy slipped out. Then he lickity split about-faced and slipped back in. Puss isn't crazy about storms since getting caught up in one.

"Uh-oh," I thought. "Betty."

She wasn’t tucked in to her hidey hole. I had left her last night in the lonely driveway, now the rains lashed at her aged ragtop.

Her silent plea pierced the morning fog, “Bring me in. Give me shelter.”

I bundled up and wiped the sleep from my eyes. And prayed that the old girl would start. But she was happy to see me and fired right up. I could swear she purred, “thank you,” as I left her safe and dry.

Now I sit and let the symphony of the rain bathe my soul.

Oh that this light would linger, to envelope my world in its softness. Bugsy braves the storm and runs out, leaving my side.

I am surrounded by fall color, each leaf a wet jewel shimmering light.

Thunder crashes and Bugs darts back in. He makes for under the chair but leaps instead on to the ottoman at my feet.

Swiping his back a few times with pink tongue, he settles Buddha style, ears splitting the difference between door and window.

Gardenia fills the air, courtesy of a candle from Gold Rush Days. The patter outside grows stronger.




A writing day.

A day full of portent and wonder.

A day full of water, living and alive with splashes of autumn color.

I told cousin Kek the new storyline yesterday, as we swayed back and forth on the swing on Grandmother's (and now her) porch. It seemed fitting. At first I stumbled, but then as I warmed up, out it tumbled.

She loved it. And promptly said, "I bet you sell a million copies and become rich and famous. When you do, I'll be your assistant."

Then we both giggled with delight.

It is heady stuff sharing my stories. I hadn't before, preferring to save them for the keyboard. Until now. First a trusted writer friend, and now my blood.

Guess what. The tale is growing and expanding. It's gaining a life of its own. It belongs to William, a main character, and his heirs. It belongs to the world they give their life to.

Do you know what I mean? Does this happen to you?

I am blessed. And oh so grateful. I love this story. I love this time of year. I love how the rain intensifies the brilliance of ambers and yellows and golds and reds that are still liberally laced with green.

These are my colors. My palate. That of the hunter moon.

The rain falls harder, resounding in the trees. I am humbled.

And. I am back.

Thank you, angels, for sticking around while I was off in the wild gray yonder. Thank you for listening and for all of your thoughts and your love.

And thank you for holding a piece of my story in your heart.

It is a banner day.

A red letter day.

A very good day for writing.

~That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell

13 comments:

Elliot Grace said...

...isn't it exciting when an idea grows a set of wheels and begins to roll? An all new character "learns to walk" with each typed line...

It's a feeling worthy of clinging to...where memories are born:)

Love your "voice" Olivia:)
Well written as always.
EL

Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O.J. Barré said...

El, yes. And yes! Your praise means so much from one with a wickedly amazing voice on him.

Thanks! Olivia

Jules said...

Thank heavens and what a well written way to come back. I guess I'll get your storms tomorrow. :D
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O.J. Barré said...

Happy Birthday,Jules, and thank you! The storms were a nice respite. Enjoy.

~Olivia

Arlee Bird said...

Sounds like an absolutely wonderful writing day!

Lee
Tossing It Out

Denise Covey said...

Hi Olivia. Hadn't seen you in the trenches awhile and I just clicked on your pic on one of those blog hops. This is a beautiful post and there appears to be some mystery underpinning the wonder of the day. Thank you for sharing your blessings..:)

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Glad your day was a red letter one. Bottle away some of these memories and echoes of wonder and optimism for other shadowy days.

May tomorrow be as great as today was for you.

Unknown said...

Sometimes the changing of the seasons brings with it a little gust of inspiration. I'm glad it seems to have done that for you.

Eric W. Trant said...

Finally. I thought you fell off the cliff and down into one of those waterfalls.

I bet you missed this post by Donna, regarding disappearances: Lost Bloggers

Glad to see you're rejuvenated! Just in time for WriMo, if you do it.

I'll be doing it, but at my own pace, and with an old WiP that stuck its hand up from the grave last week. It's a trilogy, so I have my next 18mos lined up, if I manage to get going on it.

Like you are with your wip, this one is easy for me to discuss. The other stories I was working on were too hard to discuss, and I think that says something.

So I'm going with what comes easy.

As for the story belonging to the character, I'm already there, and that's why I'm digging up this story. I hadn't realized until this weekend how much I already had plotted in my head. It's like writing a movie I've seen a million times already, since 2006 at least.

Anyway, good luck, and I've missed you! Welcome back.

- Eric

Anonymous said...

There is something just magical about Fall :)

Glad you found your inspiration, just reading your post makes me want to go and write something!

Jayne said...

Oh just look at those lovely trees! Is that your view? I am suffering view-envy in a nice way. I want to sit on your balcony and drink in the trees. Do enjoy your red letter day, it sounds perfect. :)

Talli Roland said...

What a lovely description of the autumn storm! I can almost feel it...

Velvet Over Steel said...

That was the very 'cutest' raining morning/storming outside story ever! So glad you got 'Betty' safe and dry inside! Loved that!

Hug,
Coreen

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