The Fugue State

Well, finishing the book by the end of February and having Revision One doen by today hasn't happened. In fact, I haven't really written much since my craft article for Llewellyn. (Which, by the way, was a lot of fun!) But then Monkey Girl was home for two weeks with the flu, then Dad died and there went another week of my life where I just couldn't focus to write. We just finished up a week-long spring break, during which the girls and I went to Grandma's for sever days - and I dealt with more Dad stuff. After a month and a half, Memory Lane has become a well-worn trail. And I find myself in a bit of an overall funk lately. Even worse than I usually get as the seasons shift from Winter to allergy Spring.

However, it's not as though I haven't had other creative moments, though there haven't been many. I've done some card swaps the last couple of months, thanks to one of my email lists. (I'll post the scans for the February swaps soon. I might even share the lentil stew recipe from the recipe card swap.)

On the Dad's Stuff front, his trailer is done except for getting the last bits out. Decisions have been mande about everything, which I think was the harder, more time consuming part. That's also where all those trips down Memory Lane happen. My sis and I got through it pretty well, without many tears or arguments between us. She's still trying to figure out why I'm so darned excited over getting Dad's military stuff. It's not like he was on active duty longer than it took for him to train and then he did the minimum time in the Reserves. This was back in the late 60s. I don't know, I just get excited over that stuff. And it was obviously important to Dad or he wouldn't have kept it his entire life.

It's interesting to see what folks find so important in their lives.

Futility!

I've been avoiding the social networking sites because I really, really don't need something else to keep updated. Honest. It would never happen....or at least not very often. So, tonight while gorging myself on Mr. Incredible's pizza, our friend Pastor D. comments on how she keeps expecting to friend me on Facebook. The Kate and I had just been talking earlier in the day about how I was avoiding these things for as long as I can.

And so, now, you too can be my friend. I'm officially on Facebook. Look for Melinda Fulk. No A.

Cool Free Images

I know, its a bit late for this, but Lisa Vollrath has another wonderful countdown on her website. Check it out before they're gone!

Wow!

Sorry not to have posted anything at all in at least two weeks, but, unfortunately, the title of my last post was very appropriate for the coming days. My father passed away the night of February 21st. I found out a few hours before my Girl Scout meeting the next day and then left for my grandmother's on Monday. (Yes, that would be my father's mom I'm referring to - she's 85 and fabulous!) I've been overall fine, but in a bit of a busy funk ever since. I want to write more about my father and am hoping that will happen in the next week. In the meantime, I'm planning on returning to my grandmother's yet again this weekend to help my sister sort through his stuff....and dealing with our yearly Girl Scout cookie sale. I'm not sure which is more mind-numbing. ;)

So, before asking if there's anything you can do to help, do me a favor. Go hug your kids if you have them, because you never know what's down the road. Watching a parent bury their child is heart-wrenching, even when the child they're burying is your parent. And if you don't have kids, go hug you parent or someone who's like a parent to you. And thanks from me for your help in this.