Thursday, April 28, 2011

Back to Basics

I don’t blog as much as I used to, and certainly not as much as I need to. Everything in California seems so hectic. It’s hard to find time to write, work, and go to school, not to mention blog weekly. I keep telling myself it’s important, but so is keeping up with the laundry and walking the dog. Priorities! I can never seem to get them organized. Unfortunately, the deadly storms that ravaged my old stomping grounds have brought what really matters front and center.

For those of you who don’t know, 66 tornados ripped through Alabama yesterday. The death toll is currently over two hundred and still expected to rise. Thankfully, my family is safe. I can’t say the same for many families in my community, including that of a dear friend of mine who lost his mother. My heart aches for him and other families devastated by the storms. I can’t begin to imagine the pain and sense of loss they are experiencing. And as far as my latest work in progress is concerned, that’s a big problem.

You see, my story opens with a jazz funeral in present day New Orleans. The main character has just lost her mother. I’m trying to capture all the sights and sounds of the Crescent City - the sound of the band, the buzz of mosquitos, the sticky morning air- and that’s easy enough. The problem is, while I’m capturing the feel of the city, I’m losing a perfect opportunity for the reader to connect with my MC.

I know what it’s like to lose someone you love, but how do you describe a pain that cuts so deep, so completely? I know what it’s like to feel alone, to start over new, but how do you describe the hollow ache, the unrelenting pain of loneliness? I know what it’s like to feel, but for some reason I’m having a hard time knowing what my new cast of characters feel. Maybe I will spend my morning meditating on that.

For tonight, I’m content on sending up another round of thanks for my family’s safety, and heartfelt prayers for those suffering and in need. If you come across this blog and are looking for ways to help, please visit the Samaritan’s Purse online or your local Red Cross chapter. Thank you!