I don’t often run into writer’s block, but it’s hit me hard this afternoon. I’m stuck in neutral. “I’m becalmed, Jim!” (Billy Bones in Treasure Island).
I don’t know what to write for Newswithviews, and it’s already too late to start it today, so it will have to be done or not done tomorrow. I’ve also hit a slow patch in Ozias, Prince Enthroned. You can’t write slow stuff just to fill pages: you have to wait for the next idea to come along.
As for nooze posts–well, I can only do so many before I have to stop.
Suggestions, anyone? I’m open to suggestions from my loyal readers. Anybody out there got a pair of jumper cables?
Might I suggest a vacation. Take some time off, no blog or book writing for a week or two, just pick up and go. You and your wife, a trip somewhere. It doesn’t have to be planned, just pick a direction, and drive that way. Stop everywhere, and at every place that might seem interesting. You know, those places you saw on your way to your destination, but didn’t have time to stop and see. Don’t book a hotel before hand, just stop when you want along your way, and leave when you want.
Your past blogs and posts from a few years ago, “recycle” them, as you have done before, every once in a while, while you are gone. Just let your readers know, we will understand.
When I wrote my first book back in 2001, I spent every minute I could when I wasn’t at work, even on weekends, sometimes writing for 8 or ten hours on Saturdays and Sundays. At the end of nine months, I was burned out, I had to take a month off, not write another word, when that month was over, I was able to finish my book.
You can’t take the time off? Really? If you were in an accident and afterwards, in a coma (God forbid), you would take off as much time as needed. The world would go on without you. Many would miss your insight, wisdom, wit, but we would survive. Your book will still get written. Your bills will still be waiting, your columns could still be written, your cats and creatures in your care can be taken care of by someone else for a while.
Spend time with your wife on your time off, give her a lot more hugs, take long walks together holding hands, tell her you love her, over and over again. If you do this, you will not be sorry you did. Trust me on that. On that day, which will happen, no one knows when, you will be happy you did those things with your wife, I am so, so very glad for the time I did those things with my wife, and truly wish, I had done more, much much more. I believe most everyone will tell you the same, men or women, whose spouse has passed on, they wish they had done more of what I have stated. And if you are the first one to leave and be with the Lord, your wife will look back and remember that wonderful time, that unplanned time you took off, just the two of you for parts unknown.
If you are going to do that, it should be soon, very very soon while your health, you and your wife’s still permits it. Next month or next year could be too late… Please, do it now!
Food for thought–and I know you know what you’re talking about. We haven’t had a vacation this century. Thinking, thinking…
After Maribeth and I got married in 2004, for our honeymoon trip we wanted to see the Petrified Forest, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, and other sites I knew were out west in that general area. So, we stopped by AAA and got a free TripTik. We mentioned to the agent what we wanted to see, and he highlighted a path, in a nice spiral-bound set of maps, the route we would use on our journey when we left Milwaukee.
I had showed Maribeth how to read a map, thus, she was the navigator, and told me to turn here, catch the next exit and so forth. What a great help. The only problem on the trip, she didn’t know how to drive, so I had to drive all 4,400 or so miles.
That was the extent of our plans, just the general route we needed to go, to see what we wanted to see. We booked no hotels or made any other plans. I had four weeks of vacation and plenty of money. We stopped along the way when we wanted, took a number of detours and alternative routes to view the scenery. Ate when and where we wanted, stayed as long as we wanted, stopped for the night when we wanted, and always found an Inn or hotel to spend the night. We both had a wonderful honeymoon trip. If I had to do it all again, I would not change a thing.
He makes a lot of sense Lee. I can’t remember one day since I’ve know you (it has be a few years) that you haven’t been here.
Lee specializes in faithfulness!! If someone wants to gift them with an all paid trip to the Holy Land, go for it. I wish I was able to.
That’s true, but even Jesus took time off once in a while. And going to the Holy Land, would still be taking some time off. Moreover, taking some time off, as for a vacation, is not a lack of faithfulness, but simply a recharging of one’s life batteries. And as I suggested, a vacation need not be to a far away, excessive or expensive place, but it can be just a car ride away for a few days or weeks.
A vacation should be relaxing. Driving on our kamikaze highways doesn’t relax me. I think I’d just like to take it easy, play some Monopoly, etc.
Just a few more last thoughts (probably, maybe, could be…).
How does that song go…”Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong…” There are a lot of roads that are not highways… just plain country roads, that meander past farms, woods, parks, forests, and streams…and I have driven on many of them in Wisconsin. Once out of Milwaukee County, if you head west or north (the city of Chicago lies to the south, and to the east, Lake Michigan), you will find nice country roads, filled with pleasant scenery, and for the most part easy driving. I am sure, you will find the same thing away from the big city in your state.
And I have found a time or two, really nice places within just a fifteen- or twenty-minute drive from my home, I didn’t even know were there, just because I was driving down some country road by accident.
I think this is as far as I can twist your arm without it breaking (all for your own good, of course).