...awful sentimental regarding Love and Art...

         I watched The Wizard of Oz twice this weekend—it was the high school drama club’s spring production. Skyler, the oldest of my grandsons, was the Scarecrow. He is a senior and this was his last performance, so even though he made me laugh, the laughter was being pushed out by tears. How did he get to be eighteen and over six feet tall and smart and funny and talented?
Skyler Wilson

          This morning, I started the last couple of pages of my WIP, Summer in Stringtown Proper. I was interrupted for church, interrupted again to go to the play, interrupted again because we were spending fun time with yet more grandchildren and their parents. By the time I came to the office to write, I’d lost my way through the story’s ending. I’ll have to search it out tomorrow morning.

          Even though I don’t cry anymore when I finish a book (more like a resounding Yay! and a fist pump), there is still bittersweetness to it, tears on the edges of the pleasure. I will miss Molly and Joe and the other people from the Ridge. I will miss Rahilly’s Saloon with its stained glass transom over the door and its cloth napkins and table coverings. If you’ve read A Soft Place to Fall, you may remember the Ridge—it’s a little community in central Kentucky. Stringtown Proper is a town there. When I was asked to contribute a novella to Small Town Summer, a boxed set of nine contemporary romances, I couldn’t wait to go back for a visit.


          So now it is Monday, a brand new week. Skyler will be back in class today, his costume stored in the wardrobe room behind the stage, pieces of straw still littering in places it escaped the broom. I’ll finish Summer this morning—I think—and move onto the next project. If it feels a little melancholy around here, that’s okay. To almost quote some of the lyrics from Oz:

          I can wile away the hours
          Conferrin' with the flowers
          Consultin' with the rain
          And my head I'll be scratchin'
          While my thoughts are busy hatchin'


          Have a great week!

Comments

  1. What a great post, Liz! And your grandboy is a cutie pie--how fun that he's into theater and acting and singing. I get the tears--why does time seem to be racing by so much faster than it did when that boy's mom was a baby?

    Can't wait for the Small Town Summer boxed set! I miss the Ridge--A Soft Place to Fall is one of my favorite of your books--oh, hell, they're all my favorites, but I do love the folks on the Ridge! {{Hugs}}

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  2. I just saw your cover/promo pic on this at the end of last week, Liz, and I can't wait - several author favorites (including you) are in there. :D

    I'm in the opposite place with my WIP, still fairly early in it...the In Love phase, where the characters are still surprising me in every other paragraph and I can't wait to see what trouble the come up with next.

    Great post today!

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    1. Oh, I love that part, the one comes BEFORE the "what am I doing here?" section! :-)

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  4. As much as I love books and movies, there is something about a play that is special. I still remember "Guys and Dolls" the play/musical from when my classmates did it in high school. Today I've been scheming to get the family to Beef and Boards to celebrate our anniversary at "Crazy For You," with George Gershwin music. Not sure if that will happen. Congratulations on finishing your manuscript. You continue to impress me in your "retirement" phase. lol

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    1. Thanks, Cathy. The kids did "Guys and Dolls" last year. It was fun, too, but not as much as this one was. I agree--there's just something about seeing something on stage.

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  5. I enjoyed your thoughtful and poignant post. Your grandson is a total cutie!

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    1. He is, and he's a sweetheart, too--not that I'm proud or anything!

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  6. Great post. MY eldest will be a senior next year and I'm sure there will be tears along with the happiness of sharing his last year of high school.

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    1. I'm sure! I didn't think I'd feel the same when it was the grands as I did for their parents, but I mostly do. I'm so proud of them!

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  7. My youngest was in several musicals before she graduated, including "The Wiz". She wasn't in their production of Wizard of Oz, but as a lifelong Oz fan I took her to see it anyway!

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    1. I love high school activities--it's when they're still there for the love of what they're doing.

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  8. I love watching plays--there is just something about the stage and the talent--not just the chops but the bravery to get up there is so incredible to me. Your grandson looks like a sweetie. Lucky you and his parents!

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    1. Thanks, Margie! We are so blessed to have him.

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