NaNoWriMo 2011 is a writing frenzy where writers attempt to write 50k words in one month. This has been my first year trying and it has been phenomenal. I don’t recall ever being this sleep deprived in my life. While my novel that I wrote for November is about 75 percent done in theory as of today I have the word count of 50,263. The last 2500 words did not come to me easily. I struggled. Of course life being the way it is the minute I realized I had cross the magical barrier two ideas popped into my head that I could add to my book. Why did you decide to show up NOW was what I thought. The word count has been validated but I still plan on writing until the end of November. But no longer do I have to get up at 5 am so I can write on this book.
But getting the word count is not the only way I have won. This has made me write every day since I started the frenzy. It got me focused on a story that I been meaning to put down on paper for well over a year now. Also I have met some amazing people along the way who have been funny, supportive and just down right awesome. People who I will remain friends long after this adventure ends on Nov 30th. It has been an incredible ride and I have taken away from it so much more then what the website could ever promise me. I am not sure if I will do this next year for my life has been on hold for a few weeks now but I would not change it for a thing. This has given me the confidence that I can do this and that writing is not a passing fad that will disappear in a puff of smoke. To all the people who have helped me I thank you. Also I am here to encourage you, have your back and pick you up as you work toward your own personal goal this November. Good luck everyone.
My home has a sunroom in the back. When we first looked at this house I was soooo excited to see this and mentally made plans in my head. Then we moved in and well that thought just got tossed out like yesterday’s trash. Instead my husband has made it his office. Lining the walls are shelves bursting full of books. This is not surprising since we are both avid readers. In the corner is his desk where he does his work.
In the beginning it was mostly used to be a TV room for the whole family to gather, enjoy and spend time together. While that is still the case it is not the main use for this room. Instead my husband and son have nested deeply in this space. My son will use it for his gaming which I can’t blame him since the sound system is pretty AWESOME. Once the window pane doors are closed you can barely hear him in there. He will also do his school work and reading. My husband between his books, computer and desk has his weights located in the sunroom. Our treadmill is located in the corner so that is my main use of this room.
However, I have been told not to clean this area for I might just toss something away that is of need to them though the disarray of the room makes me shiver and mutter to myself. But I knew then that it was THEIR room when I walked in to get something and they both stopped, looked at me and mentally said “What?”. I did not realize I had to obtain permission to enter the dungeon or man cave as you will and clear it with the natives in advance. How silly of me. There are times I really don’t want to know what they are doing.
But the more I thought about this room being taken from me the more I was okay with it. For in that room is a man and his son bonding in ways I can’t possibly imagine. The conversations that stop midway when I open the door makes me think that. Something about them sharing a moment with each other even if its my husband telling my son advice on the game he is playing or my son telling his dad something he learned that day makes me feel good on the inside. There is so much going on in this world. Our family is not perfect by any stretch but knowing that they are forming memories for down the road gives me a good warm fuzzy feeling. So if nesting deep in a room that I first coveted as mine is what it takes, so be it. Let them nest.
In in the 90’ties my family and I lived in Virginia. There was a Waffle House that was on the same property as the apartments. My husband and I soon made ourselves known there and when we walked in, they knew our order.
The business had a jukebox and one of the songs I liked to play was “ Keep Your Hands To Yourself” by Georgia Satellites. I enjoyed the song so much I would put in a dollar worth of quarters to play the song on a loop when I ate there. Granted I knew this was not the best song in the world but I loved it. The staff however did not like my constant playing of this song and I am sure they groaned when they saw me walking toward them through the tinted windows.
I am not sure what draws us to certain songs that make us want to hear it all the time. I’m especially not sure why this song gets me smiling and singing loudly but badly but it does. My husband on the other hand kept telling me to not play it so often but I kept on. One day we walked to the Waffle House to get some food. Entering the store, my husband went to sit down at our regular place while I sashayed over to the jukebox with quarters in my hand. I knew the number that this song was attached to but when I heard the first song it was a different tune. Not being deterred I went from the first page to the last trying to find my song. I didn’t find it. I checked again and yet again and still did not find the song. Being confused I turned to look up at my husband and that is when I noticed the entire staff of the Waffle House looking at me with some evil grins on their faces as some giggled out loud. Apparently they had removed the song from the jukebox so I would not be able to play the song. My husband thought it was hilarious and sided with them. The record was never put back there as long as I was in this complex
However, when I hear this song I smile and sing along with the lyrics and it brings me good memories. For me that is a win.
Sharon C. Williams-Author 
