Trantsition

I was thinking today about how they ought to invent a word that means Beginning and Ending at the same time. And then I realized that there was one, so I'm using it as this post's title (albeit with a Trantsian twist). Y'see, college classes are almost done, and student teaching is close to starting. And after that, still more flux. We must find jobs, pick a place to live, maybe have a baby, buy a house, etc.

How about some stability for a change?

I'm in P'burgh right now, after a weekend-long binge of eating turkey, visiting with friends, and hanging with family. I also wrote until 2 a.m., and shared this writing with Cin and company. Apparently, the company (her daughter) really enjoyed the story snippet I read aloud to them. What's really funny is that I'm more gushy over the reaction of the 2nd grader than Cin's (helpful) observations. This is because Cindy is a peer, and peers are great and all, but Harmony is my Audience. And the Audience dug my story, folks. She wanted to know more.

This necessitates the writing of More. But it's hard to settle down and write when everything is moving and nothing seems permanent. Kind of like writing a paper after a night at the bars, but Lord knows I've done that in my sordid past, so it's really not an excuse.

Harm also gave me a thought, and it's sending me spinning. She said that kids can't beat grown-ups; they have to trick them. I think that's the truth, and my heroes are going to have to pull off a mother of a trick to get what they need. How does one trick a supernatural and incredibly evil trio?

I'll think on it more, but the tryptophan has corrupted my mind. Must sleep...Must sleep...

Hairscut

Miss Cin got her hairs cut--all eleventy-hundred million of 'em--and she looks great! I'm wondering what it must feel like for her, walking around so light and free, with a scant pound of hair on her head. Meanwhile, my split ends continue splitting. I can't complain, though. I would have enough $$$ for a haircut, but I'm spending it on a movie ticket.

Don't even ask what movie, folks. The question will only define you as a casual reader--one who does not know me well.

In addition to the stresses of tresses, I am also biting my nails because I have not heard from Rider in days. I think this time around is infinitely worse. I am much more attuned to the idea that BTCH*, given all my previous experiences with it. I miss her.

Got a little inspiration the other night, and I am now officially at work on the story again. Amazing what some dedicated writing time will do.

*BTCH = Bad Things Can Happen. They won't, but they could.

About leaves

The foliage season is just about over. Today a brisk breeze has shaken all the dried husks from their branches, and a carpet of maple and birch leaves covers the ground. If I were twelve, I'd be raking them up so my brother and sister could jump in them. I'm not twelve, so I'm scuffing through them as I do some fall chores. As I came around the side of the house today, I got a warm little memory of Rocker and Rider dancing around a huge leaf fort (with me on the sidelines bossing them around, no doubt).

The thought makes me smile. We had such good times here, my brother, sister and I. As crazy as this place is, it was the perfect setting for leaf-jumping, woods-wandering, and pond-wading. I know Rider tries to tell her friends about her childhood, but there really are no words. This was the place kids wanted to be -- it still is, as evidenced by my mom's successful summer camp. I sometimes resent having no peace and quiet in which to study. I can track my ADD tendencies to our living room, where the TV was always blaring and the dogs were always barking, and people were always arriving unexpectedly to have a beer with my dad or trailride with my mom. Yeah, I remember the chaos. And the leaves.

Even trade, I think.

Little V

I was over at a very old, dear friend's house last night, and I noticed that her daughter was surfing the net. I casually pointed her in the direction of this blog, then right away realized that there are a few posts one wouldn't want one's best friend's teen-aged daughter to see. I don't know if she'll come back to the site; I'm not going to waste time looking for and editing posts with racy language or sexual content. Nope, not even the one about--well, yeah. Probably that one.

Anyway, I don't think I've pressed the envelope much on this blog (what does that phrase mean, I ask you), but I still worry that she might see something untoward. After all, I've known this kid since she was in utero. I have already corrupted her enough by my mere presence in her life. She reads fantasy books. She likes elves and dragons. She wants to be a WRITER.

I don't even feel guilty about it.

I was hanging with her last night, trying to be all casual and cool, but I don't think I succeeded. Any time a person says words like "relevance" and "western canon" and "whitman" or "melville" in the same conversation, that person is Not Cool. That person is an Academic, which is a synonym for College Geek.

Yeah, I don't feel guilty about that, either.

Anyway, in hanging out with "Little V," I realized how much she has changed. I loved her from the moment I found out she existed, and I was very lucky because her mom let me be a part of her life. I can't even describe how delightful this child was, how much I missed her when I had to leave. And I had to leave a lot -- college, North Carolina, Plattsburgh. When she was little, her mom used to have her call me and ask me to come over, which worked very well when I was in town. When I was out-of-town, it was nigh to impossible. I would answer the phone and hear this little child's voice saying, "Can you come over Right Now?" I wanted to, but I couldn't. V grew up while my eyes were closed. Last night, I listened to her talk about college. COLLEGE?

Is it wrong of me to say that I sometimes miss the little V-ersion?

If V decides to come back and read my Tie-ranting, I want to wish her welcome. She's not a little kid anymore, and she doesn't need me to tell her that (too bad, cause I just did--ha ha!). But she should know that no matter how our relationship changes, I will always adore her. I will cheerfully embarrass her in front of her friends. I will continue to think I am cooler than I really am. And I will love her dearly and wish her Wonder.