Quick somebody check to see if it's still hot in Hell. I wrote a letter to an old friend who I haven't seen or talked to since the summer of 1995 and after a brief delay got an e-mail. She was never very good at writing to me when we were younger and I never really expected to hear from her again, even after mailing the letter. She surprised me by first responding to my letter and next by keeping in frequent contact. Over the last two days we've exchanged more e-mail than all the letters we wrote over our 5 year friendship. She still evades questions like no other and I might just have to go see her in person to pin down an answer or two but it's still nice to talk to her again.
I guess you could say 2007 was a milestone year for me. It started bland and boring, like most of them do. It had a few ups and downs and got me thinking about years gone by over the summer. I did my best to ignore all the nostalgia feelings I was having until about September when that closet door flew wide open and the skeletons landed at my feet. It was time to lay them to rest once and for all. I contacted Sneller and Jack again and began a writing project that turned out to be a book. I spent a lot of time working on my friendship with Sneller, which is coming along but still on shaky ground with a few things, and finally managed to reconnect with Jack again. That was certainly the highlight of the year.
My writing project was completed and printed in time for a Thanksgiving weekend delivery to Jack. I submitted the manuscript to a literary agent who sent it on to a professional editor for review. They liked it and have recently given it the green light for marketing. Meanwhile Jack read Unconditional and liked it. He went off to Florida before we could talk about it but I got a long e-mail from him before he left that told me everything I needed to know. When he returns in another month I hope to get the chance to sit and discuss the book with him face to face. I think I'm finally ready to stop evading his questions and be honest for a change, even if it means tears.
Jen and I are closer because of things that happened this fall and the fact that I am no longer hiding from my past. All those skeletons are now dealt with and I have no problem talking to her about anything that happened back in Lake City. She even went with me to deliver Jack's copy of Unconditional and has done more than just put a face to the name. Jack spent time getting to know her, and thanked her for prodding me into going to see him again, and she understands the connection I have with him now. More importantly, she likes him.
I also spent time with Doug again, we need to do much more of that in 2008 my friend, found an e-mail address for Brandy Her-Run, and Steve. I have been in touch with both Brandy and Steve via e-mail and am happy to say that not everything about Lake City was a total nightmare, though so far the only people I have mentioned that are still there are Sneller and Jack. Jack simply lives there and is not about to give up his nice house on the lake just to get out of Small Minded Red-Neck America. Sneller ... the jury is still out on that one but she fits in a little better than all the rest. I told Steve 'thank-you' and sent him a copy of Unconditional to read over and offer suggestions on. He was a very influential English teacher who went out of his way to encourage me to write ... I thought it was about time he got to see that his prodding paid off and at least one student appreciated his efforts.
Jen is not a fan of all the people I have reconnected with this year. She's still not sure about Sneller, to be honest I'm not 100% sure it's worth the work this seems to be taking but I am up for the challenge and think I might learn something from her yet. I know she's learning from me, slowly but learning just the same. Then there's Kellie, the one who I mailed the letter to in December and am now in frequent e-mail contact with. Jen knows her too ... they didn't exactly get along. Oh well she doesn't have to like all my friends. She knows that people change and she may like Kellie now, we'll have to wait and see I guess.
May 2008 be full of adventure and fun, without all the drama!
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