The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Getting Your Peeps Together



        As a writer, it's important to get together with my writing critique friends. I'm lucky. I am part of two groups, I go on at least one writing retreat every year, and I have some long-distance writing colleagues who help me out from time to time.


My son, husband, daughter and granddaughter...
My husband played Santa at a Masonic Christmas party.


       However, even more important than writing get-togethers is gatherings of family and friends. If we spent all of our time hunched over our laptops, tapping away, we wouldn't have anything to write about. Life--and living life--primes the pump. It fills the well. It gives us fodder to write about and it gives us time to reflect on our writing.

      I hope that 2016 is the best year ever for you. Some of us have new struggles to deal with. Some of us have had new issues rear their heads in 2015 and are still working them through. Some of us have scary things to consider (for me: retiring from public school in May and finding a private school job). However, obstacles make us stronger--if we survive them--and oftentimes we find we have more inner strength to draw from than we knew we had.

      Happy New Year!


18 comments:

  1. Nice looking family you have there!!! Oh retirement ahead when you don't seem old enough! It will be a big change and I wish you well. Enjoy your winter days ahead...and stay out of the water!

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    1. Claudia--Thanks. Yes, big changes are ahead. I hope I can navigate them as well as I've gotten navigating around this water.

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  2. Beautiful family, Sioux! Wishing you health and success in 2016! xoxo

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    1. Lisa--Thank you. They're beautiful inside and out--just like your kids.

      May 2016 being you all the writing and revising success you dream of...

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  3. Oh the places you will go after you retire. Endless possibilities exist for red heads. Looks like your family had a fine holiday. Happy New Year to you and yours. I am happy to be a part of your group. I guess I'm your groupie.

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    1. Linda--That means I need to go back to red, huh? ;)

      I am sooo happy we formed the WWWPs 2 (or 3?) years ago. I got better as a writer because of you ladies AND I found four friends.

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  4. Beautiful family! I wish you much success in your new adventures! My peeps are all coming to visit this weekend! Happy New Year!

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    1. NoExcuses--Thank you. I hope your weekend is filled with fun and laughter and long nights of chatting...

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  5. Are you sure your husband isn't just in disguise for this blog photo?

    WAIT! The "R" word? You're looking into privates? How could you keep this a secret from us until now?

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    1. Val--Unfortunately (for him) it WAS him who played Santa at the Masonic Christmas party. He won't admit it, but he loves seeing the kids' excitement.

      As far as the "R" thing, I've been thinking about it for a couple of months, and just need to dive off and take the risk...

      Or, am I just a copycat, and will do anything to emulate the great and powerful Val? You retire,I retire. You start working on your collection of hilarious stories (see what I did there--I gave you a hard nudge), I agree to read them when they get published. You get a couple of new goats, I... well, I can't stand goats, so I can't do that. Oh well.

      You decide. Is it something I really want to do, or just the best form of flattery?

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  6. Your family is lovely, but where is the elusive Sioux? And did I read the small print correctly--you are thinking of retiring this year?
    Wishing you and your family a wonderful year filled with peace and prosperity, health and happiness, and many blessings.

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    1. Donna--Thanks. When that Christmas party happened, I was actually wrapping gifts at Half-Price Books. But if I WAS there, I still would do my best at being elusive. You know, witness protection program and all...

      I AM thinking of retiring from public school teaching, and finding a different teaching job, as I still love being a classroom teacher.

      I hope you have a great year, and I hope that 2016 is the year your novel is finished... (nudge nudge)

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  7. Oh, best of everything in 2016 for you, Sioux! And you have teaching in your blood, friend. No matter where you end up, there will be grateful kids (and their parents, too)!

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    1. Cathy--The best to you, too. I hope you're right, as far as me finding a new teaching home.

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  8. I highly recommend retirement. What an exciting new year is in store for you!

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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    1. Pat--Well, if I DO decide to retire, it will only be from public school teaching... I would love to continue to teach, except in a private school setting. However, even a change of scenery will be exciting/scary and full of new challenges...

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Thanks for your comments. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by...