A CASE OF THE BLUES

I have a case of the blues. I’d started out so well with my plans to post a blog once a week, but, like most great ideas and resolutions, this one probably lasted about as long. As I pondered my blues baggage, I was prompted to finish this story that I’d started far too long ago.

The story began as “Last week I went to purchase . . . .”, but realizing six weeks have passed since that beginning, I now rephrase and start again.

Seven weeks ago, I went to purchase a smaller version of the red case I’d recently bought for the Florida Christian Writers Conference. Immediately, I found the perfect match―same shade, same fabric and, quite obviously, the same brand. A miniature clone!

I was so excited, visualizing my laptop as it rested comfortably in its scarlet bed, nestled amongst conference notes, one-sheets and business cards. This was great―my writing tool would now have wheels! Shirl had advised taking this route to avoid carrying oneself to death with a normal laptop bag. I would be able to literally drag my work along.

My excitement quickly vanished, however, when I lifted the elegant tag that hung loosely on its scarlet spine. I knew the price had to be printed somewhere on that branded cardboard label. I gasped―nearly R700―almost the price I’d paid for its bigger sister. I just couldn’t see myself paying that much for so small a piece of luggage.

Disappointed, my thoughts shifted to the small blue carryon that had come free with the airline ticket on my surprise birthday trip to Switzerland some twelve years ago (see my blog GIRL WITH THE RED CASE SHEDDING EXCESS BAGGAGE). I knew I’d have to use this old bag instead. Fortunately, Blue (as I’ll now fondly refer to my new travelling companion) hasn’t travelled much and I’ve looked after her well.

Merely days after this disappointing shopping excursion, I had to suddenly haul little Blue out of her resting place high up in the garage rafters. An hour after bringing Blue back down to earth, I had her dusted off, packed and ready to travel. We were going to Cape Town.

Life has many twists and turns, and when I penned my short story, The Prodigal’s Mother (posted on my website), I had no idea how radically my little prodigal’s life would change. Just a few weeks after his crazy idea to run off to Canada to follow his dreams, here he and I were, flying off to Cape Town at the drop of a hat, for his interview with the top visual effects company in South Africa. And within twenty-four hours, we had booked airline tickets, flown to Cape Town from Johannesburg, viewed some rental properties, and Kyle had had his interview. Another day later, he had landed his new job and I had found him a new home. I hadn’t seen this coming when he’d quit his job a month earlier.

Five days after returning from Cape Town, I had my prodigal packed up and ready to fly the coop. As father and son set off in Kyle’s tiny black and white Ford Ka, laden to the hilt, to take the 1400km journey to Cape Town, I was grateful to be joining them by air the following evening.

Once again it was a whirlwind weekend of packing and unpacking as we settled Kyle into his gorgeous garden flat with the most amazing view of Table Mountain’s eastern side.

I guess by now you’re wondering what all this has to do with attending a writer’s conference and a case of the blues. It’s all about travel and learning from this journey called life.

Firstly, I discovered that Blue would be a great cabin asset for the long haul to America.

Secondly, I realized that Blue didn’t like to be dragged along and that she suffered from speed wobble spells. I now know that if I do decide to cart her off to America, I’ll have to find some way for her to hitch a ride with the sleek red model I’d recently purchased.

But most of all, I learnt to deal with my case of the blues as I opened my hands and allowed my youngest son to spread his wings and fly. We all have dreams that we must follow―an American Writer’s Conference is one of mine.

GIRL WITH THE RED CASE SHEDDING EXCESS BAGGAGE

About twelve years ago, my hubby gave me an incentive to shed some excess kilos. A couple of months passed after his promise of a surprise. After shedding ten plus shed kilos, I was presented with a brand new burgundy suitcase and an airline ticket to Switzerland to visit two friends for three weeks. Noel had spent months secretly planning this huge birthday surprise.

The suitcase was enormous and I determined to fill it. I’ve since learnt to travel far lighter, although it’s taken several trips of carrying myself to death and suffering from excess baggage panic attacks, to learn this lesson.

But alas, time and time again, those lost kilos somehow seem to find their way home and all too often they bring a few additional friends.

As I plan for the Florida Christian Writers Conference in March 2010, I’ve once again embarked on a programme to shed some excess baggage. A monthly one week fast of fruit and vegetables, water and black, sugarless rooibos tea (that’s a famous South African herbal tea) has already started to bear some fruit, if you’ll pardon the pun. Many clothes that not too long ago sat perhaps a little too snugly, once again fit comfortably.

This shedding programme reminded me of my first novel which I completed a few months ago. It took eight months to write―another eight months edit. Like my burgundy suitcase, this first piece of literary work was far too large, and resulted in my packing an additional 50,000 words more than I should have. You see, I’ve subsequently discovered that the ideal length for a novel is between 80,000 to 100,000 words―120,000 tops―and I realised that 168,000 words would just lead to rejection letter after rejection letter. It was a long and hard exercise, but oh so worthwhile. I learnt so much during those months in which my manuscript went on diet.

This reminds me of the saying: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” (And no, even though I’m from Africa and have a few kilos to shed, I’m thankfully no elephant―just to clarify that point!) So I have to ask, how does an author trim down her work? “One word at a time.”

Before Shirl and I leave for Florida next year, I hope to complete the sequel to my novel. But I’m a little concerned this novel will suffer a fate completely the opposite to its predecessor. Just over half way through writing, with plots and subplots jotted down, I’m praying I won’t run short of words and have to pump up this piece of fiction. I’m quite certain that it’s far easier for an overweight person to lose weight, than it is for an anorexic to gain weight. Hopefully the same is not true to get to the right (or write) literary size.

Only eight months to go, but I’m confident by the time I board the plane, my red suitcase, two manuscripts and I will be just the right size for the US market.