Thank God for our pets. They express what we often don’t–or won’t. While I was trying to stay positive and upbeat during our recent unpacking in our new home in Moscow, one of the kids snapped this photo our dog, Shadow. Shadow is a 10-yr-old black lab mix that we rescued in Memphis, TN when she was 7 weeks old. She’s lived in TN, Whidbey Island, WA, Italy, Belgium, Annapolis, MD and now Moscow!
I love this photo as it captures my sentiments on many writing days. While I usually know my characters, I don’t always know exactly where they’re going or what they’re up to in the current scene. I have to dig deep through the piles of emotions and back story and come up with what the heck they’re doing.
Not unlike unpacking–unwrapping sheet after sheet of finger-drying and -numbing paper, only to discover it contains the top of a sugar bowl I no longer have. It shattered in the last move.
But then I unpack a box and find the most beautiful skein of yarn that I forgot about after I bought it three years ago–a treasure.
I hope you find your treasure today.