Memories
I
open the door and the maintenance man walks in and begins to assemble the desk
I received for Christmas.
Momentarily,
I observe the work, remembering that my son and I had once arranged an entire
office, putting together similar if not more complex furniture. “Don’t ever
lose yourself,” I say. “Such things are not easy to find again.”
The
maintenance guy shakes his head but avoids eye contact.
Taking
creative license on earlier happenings of the day, I grab a legal pad and begin
writing my newsletter:
Somewhere
in Oklahoma, in a nice but modest dining room, I brought a spoonful of potato
soup to my mouth and a troubling memory caused me to pause. It wasn’t just the
soup. A familiar tract of music played through the speaker system.
The
thought takes me back to a business trip to Denver, Colorado and it was there,
in a high-end restaurant while a talented musician played soothing tunes on a
grand piano that I first gathered the courage to try something. Having
travelled extensively, I had begun to broaden my culinary horizons tasting
cuisines previously avoided.
The
maintenance guy drops a screwdriver and swears quietly beneath his breath.
Unable
to avoid the distraction, I look up but continue to consider the content of the
newsletter.
Creating
scenarios garnered from life, situations, and other travelling exploits was a
developed passion, tiptoeing through the past, an acquired pleasure. A present
tense stream of consciousness approach just doesn’t work that well. The most
memorable and effective stories are told in simple past tense. At least that’s
the way it used to be. Things have a way of changing and admittedly I have been
out of touch, not having written fact or fiction in nearly five years. Even
pleasant memories can be painful.
Back
to Denver Colorado:
As
I followed the host, a slender, well-dressed young man across the room, a
sensation of being watched crawled across my senses. I tried to convince myself
it was just my imagination but I wasn’t buying it. A palpable romantic ambiance
filled the room. A thought that I should leave ran through me but against
better judgement I took the offered table and sat down. I was there, out of
town, and hungry. I studied the menu then ordered clam chowder. While
previously visiting Louisiana I had stumbled upon a tasty treat called seafood
gumbo. I figured seafood was seafood.
The
maintenance man shakes his head then rifles through the instruction manual.
His
actions pull me back to the present and I say, “When all else fails,
right?"
He
does not appear amused.
Actually,
I can relate to his frustration. Sometimes it’s easier to just lay out the
pieces and take your chances.
Back
to Denver:
I
was halfway through the chowder when I noticed that everyone was smiling at me.
I glanced at the clam chowder. It was often thought of as an aphrodisiac. I was
all alone. An uncomfortable sensation crawled up my spine. Trying to be
nonchalant, I pushed away from the table, rose to my feet, and walked briskly
to the exit.
Like
Sean Conery said in one of the James Bond films, “I happen to like clam
chowder.”
The
maintenance guy stands and walks out of the room. The desk sits unfinished.
Utilizing
my laptop with its name sake, I place the computer on my knees then shrug and attach
the file containing this newsletter and
send it to my web-person at Collipsis Web Solutions for distribution. When it
reaches your mailbox, I hope you will open it and read the newsletter. It’s my
first attempt in a while.
A
fan once told me that my light hearted way of looking at the world brought a
little joy to her life. What more could I ask from my writing except that God
continue to grant me the ability to shine a little of His light into the
darkness.
Books
make good gifts.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B095TYJ7CR/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i3
Also,
please don’t forget about my latest Detective Elliot novel, Identity Theft:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081K53NZV/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1
Quite
a few readers have signed up for my newsletter in the last few months. I thank
you for your interest. If you are among this group of recent signees, I will
send the first respondent an autographed copy of their choice – Chosen from one
of my books of course: Twisted Perception, Beneath a Buried House, Footprints
of a Dancer, Identity Theft, or Sandcastle for Pegasus – and all you have to do
is send me an email with instructions of how to personalize the book and where
to send it to bob@bobavey.com
Please
tell your friends about my newsletter.
I
love each of you and pray that God will bring peace and love to you.
From
the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your continued support.
And:
https://www.blackrosewriting.com/mysterysuspense/identitytheft.
I
want to thank everyone who signed up for my Reader List. I hope you enjoy the
newsletters and special mailings. If you know of anyone who might be
interested, please forward this newsletter to them.
Or
click here: http://www.bobavey.com/
On
the right side of any webpage, or the bottom if on a smart phone, you will find
a notation that reads: Sign Up for Bob’s Newsletter. Put your email
address in the box and hit subscribe. Then, you will be directed to a link for
a free e-book.
I
also give programs for writing clubs, reading groups, or any group that’s
interested. If you belong to a club that needs a program speaker, keep me in
mind.
You
have permission to reprint, forward, or use the contents of this newsletter in
your newsletter, blog, or e-zine. The only requirement is the inclusion of the
following footer:
This
article was written by Bob Avey, author of Twisted Perception, Beneath a Buried
House, Footprints of a Dancer, Identity Theft, and Sandcastle for Pegasus. .http://www.bobavey.com
