Gone Girl, Ellen Style
Hip rehab, yes. But obsession in writing a new novel too. That’s why I’ve been so absent—the combination of these two life facts have been deadly to blogging, for which I apologize. BTW, I’ve missed being here. 🙂
Here’s my latest:
* The University of North Carolina was eliminated from the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Sooooooo, I won’t be singing this year. When UNC wins the NCAA, I fling open my front door and sing at the top of my lungs, “I’m a tar heel born, I’m a tar heel bred . . . ” The neighbors are currently breathing a sigh of relief.
* The dog and I are easing back into relationship, something that pretty much died when she absolutely could not jump on my new hip and I could not take her for walks. Our new relationship involves a lot of stretching out in bed together.
* I’m making thumb prayers, to be put in your pocket and rubbed with your thumb when you need a reminder of God. Here’s a pic of a few:
* A random stranger on the internet sent me a message that, in the opening sentence, contained the phrase, “and I think you’re brilliant.” This has tickled me to no end. I Googled her, to make sure it wasn’t a sham. She’s the real deal. And she’s been reading my work and thinks I’m brilliant. 🙂
* I have kept up my Lenten discipline of having a God sighting each day and sharing it on Facebook. Here are a few:
I Saw God Today
when I opened my eyes this morning and realized I live in a wonderland—the reaching branches of the cottonwood, the glint of water in the harbor, the blue sky peeking through. My unease at returning to Memphis and the “grind” of daily living evaporated. This is what I see when I wake up. I live in a wonderland. #Lent2015
I Saw God Today
in the faces of cousins and cousins once removed and leap cousins and cousins so distant I don’t know how they’re my cousin: the never-ending circle of life and love #Lent2015
I Saw God Today
in this hand soap. HAND soap, shaped like a hand. I can’t remember who gave this to me. Was it you, my sister? Or you, my cousin? Someone who knew me well enough to know I would adore it. And where is God in this? Well, God—the creator of laughter—loves puns too. #Lent2015
* I’m going to write a “How to Write in Community” pamphlet to be distributed to anyone and everyone who is interested in starting a writing group in a homeless shelter, women’s shelter, prison group, cancer support group, divorce group, etc. It’ll be simple. “Get someone to donate a packet of notebook paper, lined.” “Secure pencils and pens.” “Expect writers to fall asleep. Expect writers to arrive late. Expect absences because writers are in the hospital or at chemo or in drug rehab or jail or at the Social Security Office or a job interview or at the lawyer’s office or in trial or they’ve moved to a new part of the city and can’t make the trip to writing group. Everyone’s going through something. Life takes precedence.” That type of thing.
Oh. And the new novel? It’s a mystery set along the Wolf River Harbor where I live. The hero, a scion of a Arkansas plantation family and formerly homeless, investigates the murder of a real-estate developer who wanted to improve the harbor for the benefit of the poor neighborhood. Our man Coot is also trying to come to terms with a long-ago murder that occurred when Mud Island was still a wild place of squatters living on floating oil-drum homes. Here’s the harbor from my front door during a recent flood:
Thanks for hanging in there during my absence. I appreciate you.
"How to Write in Community", God sightings, Hand soap shaped like a hand, I Saw God Today, lenten discipline, lenten practice, Memphis, Mud Island, NCAA, NCAA tournament, thumb prayers, University of North Carolina, Wolf River Harbor
Joe Hawes
Yeah we missed you, but were pulling for you while you were in rehab. It is good to have you back spreading light and laughter in your posts. The thumb prayers are marvelous, btw.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Oh, yay! You like the Thumb Prayers! They’re in the testing phase. A friend is carrying one around in her pocket. 🙂
Windy Mama
I’m not sure what I like best about this assembly of thoughts. Maybe that you and the dog are back together again because your hip is getting better. That is very good news.
Windy Mama
PS. I think you’re brilliant, too.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
🙂
Ellen Morris Prewitt
The dog ADORES my husband. She and I have a more complicated relationship, so I’m glad to be getting back on track.
Joe Hawes
Save me one of the thumb prayers for the next time we meet!
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I could also bring some buttons, and you could chose one for me to make a prayer with, if you want.
Marisa
I’m glad you’re back to blogging, but I”m most glad about the NEW NOVEL! Those thumb prayers are brilliant. You are brilliant.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit about the new novel when work remains to be done on the existing ones (like getting out query letters!), but I really do feel I’m in a long-term arcing process of revising and writing novels. Thanks for hanging around for the journey!