Am I weak? Undisciplined? The minute the NaPoWriMo whip was removed, I sank into lassitude and solitude again and haven’t posted on this blog. The truth is that I’m absolutely exhausted, both physically and mentally. The blade of “the book” has been hanging over me for so long that I think now that it is removed that I crave actual retirement for a few days or weeks or months. Of course, this isn’t possible. Tony and I are giving a talk about the book tomorrow and have another talk scheduled in June. I have 4 more rhymed children’s books I need to find an illustrator for and I need to promote the “Grief Lessons” book. (If you have any ideas, please share them.) I have another book I want to get on Kindle and Amazon and although that should be easy as it is already in print, it means combing old computers to find the Word file and actually meeting with Tony to figure out the process by which he put Grief Diary on Amazon. It takes a very little effort, but I feel laaaaaaazy and have people coming for Mexican Train and pizza tonight and need to get in gear for that soon. So, I’m going to shirk life’s responsibilities for another few hours and watch episode 13 of “The Americans” and pretend for a few more hours that I am really retired. Please don’t give up on me. I like connecting with you all in this way—both those I know and those I will know. I enjoy seeing who has linked and some day I’ll figure out how to link with you or follow you. In addition, I will figure out whether those are one and the same thing. New to blogging, not new to life!
Question of the day: Did anyone else out there ever make Maybaskets and fill them with candy and leave them on friends’ doorsteps on May 1? You’d ring the doorbell and run. If they caught you,
they could pinch you or kiss you. Pictured is a maybasket I made from shredded Kozo paper. The flower is made from cardboard egg cartons cut up, glued and painted. The candy was yummy. I know because I couldn’t deliver this one on May 1 and ended up eating all the candy and had to go candy shopping again yesterday, when I gave this to my friend. More secrets revealed!! oxoxox Judy
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
Judy, I absolutely understand your need for retirement. I never used to “get” what retirees from District #1 in Cheyenne meant when they said, “I am so busy now, I have no idea how I ever had time to go to work.” I, too, keep this busy, not as busy as you but then I am older, and when I wear down, I must sit down or collapse. Sometimes I feel guilty for reading! I think to promote your book, you should contact churches (that you can stand, like Unitarian, Friends, Presbyterian, Episcopalean) and tell them you will offer a short course in the book…or see if their study group would like to read your book. What about senior centers? Those are just a few thoughts. Maybe a poster re/ it with one of your art pieces to illustrate it?
Yes, on May Day, Mom would take us around with the flowers we picked and we’d drop them on a porch and then hide around the bushes to see with what delight an old lady (usually) received them. Mom was very dear to older women and was so much fun for us, as well. I have one house in mind, an antiquated, falling apart southern ruin, three story with porticos out in front, and can see myself walking up the long long sidewalk clutching flowers. I was, of course, very excitable.
Mom told someone on the phone when I was not supposed to be around, “Ann is very high strung.” It was my first label and since Mom gave it to me, I was inordinately proud of it.
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Reading backwards through old blogs,Ann, this one was one of the first I ever posted, and you were there! Thanks for that and for the fact that you still are, sometimes. I’ve known you for 43 years! Amazing. Perhaps for even longer if you ever came to a party at Patti and Terry’s while I was in college.
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