© Tracy Abell 2012
Month: October 2012
Empathy: Part Deux
The other day I wrote about my feelings of empathy
for agents and editors who have to say NO to projects
they know are labors of love for the writers.
Well, this afternoon I experienced another level of
empathy for those agents and editors.
I received a phone call from the man to whom I’d sent
a carefully worded email letting him know I wasn’t
going to use his landscaping service.
He wanted to know why I’d chosen the other landscaper.
While his demeanor was pleasant, I was uncomfortable.
I’d made my decision and didn’t want to go into the specifics
behind that decision.
So I fumbled a bit and wished him well before hanging up.
I’m guessing agents and editors would rather not be put
on the spot that way, either.
image from morguefile.com (mrmac04)
I’d tell you but then I’d have to kill you
© Tracy Abell 2012
Empathizing With the NOs
Today I had to send an email to a man who’d put time, energy, and creativity
into his proposal to landscape our back yard.
I had to tell him “Thanks, but no thanks.”
I spent quite a while composing those several email sentences,
wanting to be kind and to somehow minimize the “blow.”
In doing so I felt a certain empathy with agents and editors;
it must be really difficult to send out so many NOs.
© Tracy Abell 2012
Friday Five: The Spawn Edition
It’s been a while since I shared anything about Wildebeest and Zebu
so I dedicate this Friday’s post to the boys.
1) Wildebeest opted to not attend college and is living in a duplex
with a bunch of guys, some of them students and others co-workers
from Casa Bonita. He’s quite content with his life, and he and I have
lots of phone conversations. Now that we no longer live together
we’re free to like each other again.
Self-portrait from years ago.
2) Wildebeest has a new friend he calls Bernice. He adopted her
from a cat rescue place and they love each other very much. I
bought her some cat toys and only felt slightly grandma-esque.
3) Zebu is a junior this year and last night I went to his teacher
conferences. He’s doing very well and I was an especially proud
mother when two teachers in a row told me they appreciated
his sarcastic sense of humor.
Old passport photo we just updated this week.
4) We’re easing into basketball season and Zebu is looking
forward to being a taller, stronger player this year. He lifts weights
at school and the club but is kind enough to help me with my form
as I lift at home. (Turns out I was rocking my body during hammer curls).
5) Wildebeest is coming over on Monday night to watch the Broncos-
Chargers game and while I usually take those opportunities to disappear,
I think I’ll stick around and watch the game with the menfolk.
Wishing everyone a beautiful, autumnal weekend!
Thankful Thursday: Feathered Friends
Every single day I am grateful for the birds on this planet.
© Tracy Abell 2012
Words are a heavy thing,
they weigh you down.
If birds talked,
they couldn’t fly.
they weigh you down.
If birds talked,
they couldn’t fly.
~ Northern Exposure (On Your Own, 1992)
Wordless Wednesday: The Just-Visiting Edition
© Tracy Abell 2012
Take That, Drear!
Because it’s now gloomy and gray out my window,
I’m introducing a bit of August color from the Botanic Gardens.
© Tracy Abell 2012
There.
Doesn’t that feel better?
Kestrel on a Wire
© Tracy Abell 2012
It seems only fitting I would interrupt today’s revisions of BIRD BRAIN
to photograph this American Kestrel hanging out behind my house.
The feeder birds probably weren’t too thrilled when the predator flew into the
neighborhood, but I feel as if this little falcon brought me some good revision karma.
There’s a certain clarity of vision that accompanies hooked beaks.
Tracy Abell 