Labor Day Week

What does Labor Day mean to you?

For some, it’s a day on the lake, or a cookout with friends. For some, it’s the last weekend to wear white shoes an white pants (although I’ve been told that’s no longer the case. It’s hard to be Southern when the rules change!). For some, it’s just another work day. For some, it’s a writing day, or a day to catch up on household chores and yard work.

But for everyone, it seems, it’s the last gasp of true summer.

Now in the South, we have summer all the way through September, and some hot days in October. Sometimes we’re mowing the yard into November. I remember on particular year in which my sister-in-law mowed her yard the week before her daughter was born, and my niece’s birthday is November 25!

For me, I meant for it to be a writing day.

I skipped a few writing days because of grass-mowing, grocery-shopping, and family gatherings over the last few days. The last scene I wrote contained this:

Charly wiped her tears away when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. (a text message)

It was Lucy. “Are you still at Pilot Oaks?”

“Yes, just finishing up.”

“Could you come by the house before you go home?”

“Sure. Be there in about 20.”

“Great. CYA.”

Here’s my quandary. I couldn’t remember why Lucy wanted Charly to come by the house before going home. For the life of me, I had no memory of what was so important.

Has that ever happened to you? Maybe it wasn’t in a story. Maybe it was going into the next room to do something and wondering why in the world you walked in there. That would be me on most days.

So, dear friends and readers, you see my problem on a prime day of no plans except writing, and why it’s so important to write every day. I hoped that, later on, it would come crashing into my mind, because I am literally about 10,000 words from the end of Carolina Grace, and my goal is to finish the draft this week.

I’ve been absent for a bit – partly because I’ve been writing my brains out, and partly because I have been out-of-pocket. I was in Northern Minnesota for three weeks, where I was able to write, but not able to get anything posted for lack of WiFi and Internet access, period. It was good for me, but I missed you guys!

It was beautiful, though. I may have to write something that takes place up there, but then I have some amazing  friends that have done that, and I love their work. Shout-out to Brenda Anderson and Stacy Monson! If you haven’t read their books, DO IT!!

Here are a few pics of the area. We were able to spend the weekend of our 35th anniversary on Lake Superior, at Grand Marias, MN. It’s the last town on the coast of Lake Superior before you get to Canada!  My husband is still at Wilderness North, working for Tentmakers. (check out their website! It’s a really cool leadership-training organization!)

I may not have mentioned this before, but I am a huge geology nerd. The rocks on the 2nd and third picture of the grouping? Ancient lava flows. How cool is that?? The couple at the bottom? Ancient married people on their 35th anniversary! LOL

So, back to writing. I want to finish well, so I can start the editing process, and then, eventually, start working on the next story in my head!!

You are worried, aren’t you? Since it’s now the day AFTER Labor Day, I can report that I finally, around 3pm Monday, remembered WHY Lucy wanted Charly to come by the house. And yes, it is important. Whew! Maybe I’ll make some actual progress today!

Do you have your copy of Carolina Mercy yet? I’ve been told it’s EVEN BETTER than Carolina Dream!

Happy Labor Day Week!