“You should start a blog,” my husband said.
“I have a blog. It’s called ‘Better in Writing,’” I replied.
I have been working as the Arts & Entertainment reporter, the editorial assistant, the Schools editor and the Lifestyle editor at the Greenfield Daily Reporter for the last five and a half years.
Everything good that can happen at a job has happened at this job. I made new friends, I made new connections, I learned new skills and I learned SO much about my community, the arts and its often unseen and unsung pockets, and about the soul of the human race and what makes us tick. All wonderful, all enlightening, all awe-inspiring.
In the time leading up to this day, I have wondered if I was doing the right thing. I have wondered what my structured life full of deadlines and interview appointments and curtain times, of quiet times set aside for writing would evolve or devolve into. But it is the right thing to do. It’s time.
People who know asked me, “What are you going to do next?”
The answer is: Anything and Everything.
I’m going to be productive, clean and redecorate my house. I’m going to read. I’m going to travel. I’m going to make new curtains for the front room. I’m going to paint the trim on my house. I’m going to ride my bike. I’m going to finish losing that 10 pounds. I’m going to clean out the garage and maybe, finally, toss the last of my teacher stuff. I’m going to scrapbook and get all those photos organized. I’m going to go back and read all my flagged emails dating back to 2017. I’m going to sew on missing buttons and re-hem dresses. I might decide to learn Spanish and take up quilting. I might get involved in politics. I might volunteer my time where it is needed. I might start tutoring or mentoring somewhere.
And I’m going to waste time like I’ve NEVER wasted time EVER.
Here is the short list of my total time-wasting activities.
- Crossword puzzles
- Jigsaw puzzles
- I’m going to join my husband in looking out at the birds at our nine bird feeders and three birdhouses
- I’m going to match all the unmatched socks
- I’m going to clean all the fuzz out of the Velcro straps in my sneaker collection.
It all sounds good to me.
When I get home tonight, we might order pizza from Mozzi’s. I might call my daughter and tell her about my day. I’ll wish I could call my mom and dad and tell them, but they already know. I might walk the dog. I might jump right into reorganizing my computer desk or I might just sit on the couch and put my feet up.
Sigh.
And, yeah, a little sniffle, too.
