Barbara J. Hamby

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Rainy Sunday

Most of the day today I spent trying to shrink an essay. I started at 1459 words. My first revisions resulted in a total of 1474 words. Wrong way, gal. I now have it down to 1392 words without (I hope) losing any of its value. While I was paring, I kept remembering things I had left out that were vital to the message. During such a tedious project, it’s good to remind myself of the advantages of writing.

The weather was perfect for sitting at the computer and beating my head against a wall. Through the window I watched the trees react to the winds and the rain pelt the glass. Comfortable in my baggy sweats, I managed to stay on task for many hours. Working in one end of a supersize bedroom, I can wear whatever I like. The windows are too high for anyone to see in.  Writing naked has its advocates but, unless the temperature is over 80 degrees inside, it’s really not that comfortable, in my opinion.

Hot tea, my jar of sugar-free cookies and the small dish of nuts on my desk, kept me going until late afternoon when some hot food seemed desirable. After dinner, I glanced through the paper and watched an old black and white Judy Garland tape on public television. She was a great favorite of my dad’s and I couldn’t help but remember how much he enjoyed her songs.

Dad has been gone for twenty years. Judy died in 1969. It was interesting to note how many references there were to growing old in the lyrics she sang tonight. She didn’t make it.

I guess those of us who have made it to old age should stop griping about our aches and pains and appreciate these years.