Do You Hear What I Hear?

While the colors of the fall mesmerize me, it's the sights and sounds of the holiday season that enrich my soul. I go about my life all year long in what sometimes seems to be a holding pattern as I wait for October to get here. Crawling through the days until Halloween, I'm slightly surprised to discover I'm annoyed when the stores try to push the season upon us earlier and earlier each year. 

You would think I'd jump on that particular bandwagon. The one where retailers are playing Christmas songs while I'm picking out what costume to wear for my annual Trunk or Treat event on Halloween.  Then there are the emails bombarding my inbox,  reminding me there are only 70 more days to Christmas!

THAT is not what I mean when I say I live for the sights and sounds of the holiday season. Every year around this time I make plans to visit a local amusement park so I can immerse myself in the songs of the season. In years past Dollywood has catered to the need in me to return to a simpler way to celebrate the joys of the holidays. I'm like a child again as I gaze in awe and wonder at a place magically transformed into a wonderland just for me. I surround myself with the glorious sounds of carolers walking the streets and sit mesmerized in darkened theaters as I wonder if Scrooge will ever get the true meaning of this time of year?

I spend weeks prior to now just thinking about those closest to me...contemplating long and hard on just the perfect gift to show them how much them mean to me. How honored I am to have them a part of my life. And I think back to other Christmases enjoyed over the years where I've sat in the glow of twinkling lights as I listen to my favorite carols. 

I've come to the conclusion it's the simplicity of a song beautifully sung which touchs my soul the most. The ability to sing is a gift straight from heaven and those who raise their voices during this time of year  gives me a small glimpse of what an angels' chorus must sound like. 

During this wonderful holiday season I wish everyone could take a moment out of their sometimes hectic,  rushed, overwhelmed lives and just listen to the lovely music filling the air right now.

Do you hear what I hear?

(Libera Boys Choir...CAROL OF THE BELLS)

Run Away To Fight Another Day

This past weekend I did something I desperately needed to do since about mid July...I took a mini vacation. 2013 has been a pretty challenging year for me so far and getting through the past 11 weeks of summer was particularly daunting. Despite my best efforts, I struggled with insomnia along with working 14 hour days while still trying to get my writing in, so needless to say I was a bit frazzled once school started up again.  

I counted the hours of sleep I missed out on...220 hours over 11 weeks...and for me that equates to 27 1/2 days of NO SLEEP out of 77 days of my summer.

So I took a break, gathered my pennies, and ran (drove) as fast as I could to the mountains for a little mental rest and a lot of physical relaxation. It was supposed to rain Sunday so I decided to spend Saturday at Dollywood. 

I thought I would forget about everything to do with writing for children and just have a little fun. But it's not so easy to say you're not going to be a writer.  These past three years have trained me to search out the story ideas no matter where I may be, and when I saw this statue as soon as I entered the gates I realized my "inner child" had come along for the ride.

There was the Lemon Twist teacup ride to remind me what to do when life throws a lemon my way.

I rode on the merry-go-round. I really wanted to ride that green dragon just ahead of me but I wasn't going to wrestle with the kid who got there first. Maybe I should have because as soon as I scrambled up on my horse he jumped off and picked something else.  Oh well, I'm getting used to not always getting what I want but still enjoying what I have...

This reminded me too much of all I had to juggle over this past summer so I just admired it from a distance.

One of my favorite rides at Dollywood is River Rampage. I am not much of a daredevil in other parts of my life, but this ride reminds me it's okay to take risks every now and again...even with my writing.

I even rode the Dollywood Express through the mountainside.  I have been on this train many times, but never actually listened to the history behind the engine that pulled us up the mountain.  I was so fascinated with the engineer's talk that I came away with another story idea. So much for running away from everything...;~)

After a few hours walking the park, I decided to grab a bite to eat and go watch a movie. If you've never had fried pickles before, you are missing out!  I haven't had steak in probably over a year but decided to treat myself to it along with streamed broccoli since I'm not really allowed to eat it any more. I was on vacation and wasn't worried about calorie counting...lol...

After a restful night's sleep where I actually slept EIGHT WHOLE HOURS I sat out on my balcony and welcomed the quiet view.  You can't see it very well, but I am looking over a park with picnic benches and the Tennessee River is flowing by those trees.  It's peaceful and I spend the next few hours reading until it's time to check out of my hotel room.

On my way out of town I passed this upside down tourist attraction.  I've been inside Wonder Works before and I thought it quite fitting this would be the last thing I see before heading home from my mini vacation.  The crazy, topsy-turvy life that I lead can be challenging but would I really want to change it?

Well, maybe with another published piece or two under my belt, but other than that, I guess not. I needed to run away this past weekend to be able to fight another day on this path to publication. It also reminded me that I can't truly run away from what I was born to be and that is a writer.  It's in my blood. It is the center of who I am and who I want to be. Now it's time to hop back in the ring for Round Two...