The Possible Underneath

We are struggling pretty hard these days. We get paid on Friday morning and by Friday morning we are broke (yea, you read that right). I am barely keeping the car company off my ass, and most nights I spend the wee hours of the morning hoping the loud pickup trucks ambling by are not tow trucks. Rent is paid late, but seriously who has $1500 on the first, ever?  I slowly pass by the almond butters, the salmons and the exotic fruits and veggies for the staples: peanut butter, fish sticks and iceberg lettuce (or frozen brocc). We are in the sweet spot of making too much on paper but making too little in the real world. It can be hard to dream under these circumstances, yes? Ah…but I manage.

Don’t get me wrong, we have joyous moments. We play board games with the kids (when we tie them down) or throw caution to the wind and rent an odd movie or two (The Oath is so random). We forget about bills, empty bank accounts and pickup trucks rolling by for stretches at a time. A slobbery smile from Cookie or an out of place dance move from The Girl or an absurd comment from The Boy peek under the blanket of stress, for a moment. And in the quiet moments, when the house is quiet and the only sound is stillness, I dream.

Possibility is a constant. It never fades. It is always there to be rummaged through. It is why I lose myself in the stillness and dream. I dream of writing. I dream of creating a space all my own. I dream of vacations. I dream of being better than Sir King. I dream of my children rolling their eyes at the mention of my books from a stranger/classmate/teacher. I dream of big oaks and a conversation with Madam O. I dream about me, the little green sprout, pushing through the cold, uncomfortable blanket of snow.

It is not impossible. Nothing is impossible. It feels like it. My God does it feel like it, but underneath all of this heavy, there is something…possible. No, this isn’t comfy. It affects the sight and the mind. It makes things appear so much different than it is making it hard to navigate. It is easy to get lost when everything is covered. But the minuscule, lush green beacon of light poking through the blinding white is a reminder that everything is possible….I just have to hang on and dig a little deeper. I have to rummage through the possible and grab something, anything, and try it on for size. There is nothing to lose but opportunities not seized.

~SM

Sommertime Vacay: Book List

Yay for summer vacations! I love sommer vacay  summer vacay. All of my parental responsibilities are on hold (for 2 months anyway), I can get away with eating ice cream for breakfast, and juicy bbq burgers never taste better than on a patio during warm, summer nights. In an effort to make the most out of my Sommertime Vacation, I plan on grabbing some great summer reads, curling up on the couch, and getting lost. The goal: (1) book per week for (8) weeks. Wish me luck!

You cannot possibly get through life without a little O-wisdom. This summer, I invite O and her big brain full of isms into my space. Namaste.

 

Classic author summertime reading nod goes to S. King. You can’t get through vacation or a dark, rainy night without showing some love to the King himself.

 

When I saw Arianna Huffington on Super Soul Sunday, I sat up and listened. I have had Thrive on my book list for about a year now. No time like the present to get to reading!

 

While a fan of her work, I am most interested in her actual story. It stirs something in my belly. This novel is set in my fave place–hopefully I can snag a few chapters under some palms this summer.

 

When I read this in high school, I enjoyed it immensely. The Maury Show like drama but back when television was actually just a radio was exciting. A classic with some Maury drama? Yes please!

 

Yes, he’s on my list twice. *blank stare* Listen…it’s Stephen King. What can I say? This is going to be a thrilling summer ride!

 

This summer I am not only focusing on reading, but I am also focusing on writing too. I love to write and I love the connection between the gift of writing, the imagination, and every day reality. Perfect book written by the perfect author to give me some more perspective (and instruction) on writing and life.

 

I have been chomping at the bit for years to read this book and this summer it will most likely be the first book I read. It is not often you find a book that stands the test of time and changes lives in the process. My nose is itching at just the thought of smelling those pages (yes…I am somewhat of a nerd…carry on).

 

BONUS BOOKS

I know I only said (8) books, but I could not leave these last two off of my list. These will most likely be my end of summer celebration books. Geeked!

JK’s story inspires me every time I think of her name. She inspired me even more when she popped up on the scene as a male author. I like her thinking and her style. I couldn’t possibly let the Sommertime Vacation float away without a little JK Rolling inspiration.

 

In case you hadn’t noticed, I am a sucker for new things and Oprah. This is the recent Oprah Book Club 2.0 selection and I figured what harm would it do to dive into a book from a new author sprinkled with a little O-love. Absolutely none 😉

~SM