A word of warning at the start: This morning my meandering mind can’t seem to settle on one subject. Dozens of thoughts are chasing each other through my head but I’ll capture a few. Maybe settling them down into words will help direct them!
In the first place, I neglected to tell you that right after our 6-inch snow, I saw the print of a reindeer hoof in the newly-fallen white stuff. Now, I know it wasn’t really, but it was the first thought that came to mind. It was a small, round half circle, and since the snow put me in in the mood for Santa and Christmas, reindeer print first sprang to mind. And I, being fanciful and, after all, a writer, wondered if Santa had been staking out the territory. What actually made the mark in the snow? Indeed, that is the question!
Have you ever noticed at this time of year, people seem to be more gracious? Not everyone, sad to say, but I run into a lot more courtesy and kindness before Christmas than at any other time. The woman who pulled a grocery cart out of the jumble and insist I take it, the Salvation Army bell ringer, smiling and grateful, even though he was standing barely out of a freezing rain, the driver who stopped and let me into the line of traffic. And, why shouldn’t it be? This, after all, is the time when we celebrate the arrival of Jesus on earth to walk among us.
Speaking of graciousness, of course, reminds me of my mother and Dad. They certainly never lived in a fine mansion but their manners dated back to the days when hospitality, kindness, and gentle words were the rule. They were what Thomas Jefferson called, “natural aristocracy”.
And, since I grew up with many “old sayings” passed down to me from my Irish/Cherokee/English ancestors, I’m going to adher to the one that says if I tell my dream before breakfast, it’ll come true. Last night, I dreamed that I had two books accepted by a certain publisher. Now, that would indeed be a dream come true!
The temperature, at least, is above freezing. Dribbles of rain and freezing rain fell yesterday and, to my way of thinking, made the packed-down snow even slicker. But, with rising temps and a little sunshine, maybe some of the ice under the snow will melt today.
Now, I feel better. You have helped me capture my wandering thoughts and take them captive. My main thought is that today I must write: the writing deadline looms ever closer, the devotional book on Etta Bend is calling, and that mystery called Moonlight Can Be Murder keeps intruding, insisting for its share of writing time. So, I’ll pour another cup of hot caramel drizzle coffee, and think about writing. In the meantime, though, in between putting words onto paper (or a computer screen) I may spare a few moments before the snow melts entirely and search the ground for a few fresh reindeer tracks.
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