Barbara J. Hamby

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The End of a Good (but not perfect) Day

At the end of a very satisfying day, I think my exercise classes have increased my energy level already.

This morning, in the swimming pool, a lady who had bought Find Romance in Later Life asked if I minded if she passed it on to someone else. What could I say? I told her I didn’t write the book to get rich, but to spread the word to seniors about how to find a companion.

After I saw that I made less money for one that I sold at the Senior Center than the book cost me, I decided I might be better off just donating copies to Senior Centers and retirement residences.

This afternoon I rewrote several short sections of my memoirs that related to my teenage years during World War II. Then I began preparing entries for poetry contests. I still have a yen to win a cash prize in a national contest.

I’m entering two non-rhyming poems in Writer’s Digest’s annual Writing Competition. I have won honorable mentions in their contest before, but not a cash prize. This contest allows entries to be submitted by email, my favorite method. No postage, no envelopes, etc.

Two poems are nearly ready for entry in a local Willamette Writer’s contest, also. Tomorrow I’ll get the entry forms filled in and make copies of each poem. Then I’ll go through all the guidelines and conform to their rules. I will also look for an essay that might be suitable for this competition.

And now, back to work.