I haven’t written on the beach in a few days. Late stage revision required internet research and the beach is no place for such things. I decided to come back this early evening in order to fulfill my ten minute promise. There are many promises running through my brain lately. I need to write my vows, which are in essence, a series of promises. One vow I intend to make is to never make promises I cannot keep. Another is to give the time and respect to my wife and our relationship that it deserves. I think that now, fifty years into this short and wonderful momentary existence I am beginning to truly understand what that means and what it entails. I’ve always been a person who takes on too much, assuming that because I am who I am, I can do all of it. Sure, I can do most of it, but nothing is ever done with the level of focus, dedication, and above all else, commitment to detail that would be done if I wasn’t trying so hard to be everything to everyone. Being with the Lady Talis has taught me that I do not need to be everything to everyone. I just need to be the best version of of myself possible. There’s another vow: I can vow to always strive to be the best version of myself and to recognize my tendencies, both good and otherwise.
Tomorrow I intend to come back here and finish my vows. Then I’ll jump into one of the two projects I’m contracted to finish and then it’s on to the next two novels. The main one—the grad school one—needs the most immediate attention so it will get it. Then I will, on a reasonable schedule, develop a chunk of time to work on developing the new Shadowrun novel, which is not yet contracted.
Some Thoughts:
1. Nothing better than sitting out here on the beach listening to the waves crash at my feet as I write. This is entirely what I was born to do.
2. The kid is talking about a leg issue right now. That is proof of how hard camp has been on him thus far. Nobody likes pre-season camp, but this team hasn’t won games in a long time. They need this camp. They need to be 1% better each day and carry that momentum into the season. It is hard to do so when you’re not feeling at the top of your physical game. He’s going to need to focus on getting better now while he doesn’t have classes to concern himself with. Trainer, practice, eat, trainer, repeat. This is the life he’s asking for right now and all the good of the future is directly ahead of him. He needs to be smart, patient, and make sure he gets his body right first.
3.