I hate to say it, because it seems we all say it too much, but the days and weeks keep on zooming by. Time is a man-made illusion and yet something that rules our lives. Happy Monday!

I had the inspiration this week for a new story. It’s so exciting when that happens, isn’t it? This new story will be centered around three clocks. My neighbor, whom I visit with once in a while, has three clocks hanging on her wall and all have different times on them. I’ve seen those clocks many times, but this week, the significance really hit me. I can’t wait to see where this one goes. Perhaps it will be another short story in my upcoming collection, or it maybe a novel or novella. I’ll have to wait to find out. I’m leaning toward a time travel story. I wrote this opening poem:
Three clocks on a wall...
Two tell a story...
One doesn't chime at all
My grandson, Ryan, has been home from college for the holidays, and this week, he gave me a big computer upgrade! My old desktop wouldn’t allow me to move over to Windows 11 and Microsoft no longer supports Windows 10, so I asked him to help me out. I am super pleased with what he did. He gave me two hard drives (one main drive and one internal backup) that will hold three terabytes of data. I don’t think I’ll ever live long enough to fill those up! I’m so grateful for him and all his tech knowledge. His dad started him out working on computers as soon as he could walk and talk. What seems like an insurmountable chore to me is nothing to him. Anyway, my newly revamped office is now complete! It’s time to go to work! I’m grateful.

Readers, I have a question for you. I am currently reading James Wade’s newest novel and as much as I love his stories, this one is throwing me out because of the sentence structure. Here’s an example: William waited until the sound of the car’s motor had faded into the morning and then stood and walked down the short hall to the bedroom and took off his hat and waited again outside the door.
That’s a heck of a lot of ‘ands’ in one long sentence, and that’s just one example. It continues throughout the book. I don’t quite understand because I didn’t see this in any of his previous books. I’m just wondering what changed. Perhaps he got a new editor.
Speaking of book issues, I had to deal with one just yesterday. First off, I am grateful for everyone who downloaded Ghostly Interference, during the countdown deal. However, please make sure you get a new updated version before you read it. We found some formatting issues that have now been fixed. If you ever spot any issues in my work, please let me know. I strive to produce a clean story for you to read, but alas, I’m human. I deeply appreciate Karen Black letting me know about the issues in this book. Thank you for understanding.
I never met my grandmother, Sarah Jane Clark. She was born in 1878 and died in 1942 before I was ever born. By all accounts, she had a very hard life, with lots of sickness and trapped in abusive situations. Back in her day, women had no voice. If a husband told a wife to do something, there was to be no questioning. A woman could not open a bank account, learn to drive or make any other decisions without her husband’s permission. They were to be subservient to the man in all things. As a result, it was hard times to be a woman. I was told, for the first time, in 1982 that Sarah Jane watches over me. I’ve discounted it for a long time, but I had an experience on Saturday that assures me my grandmother is with me and tries to protect me. She has a big job. and I’ve kept her busy. This is Sarah Jane.

I’m at the point of being forced to make a decision about my car. On Friday, it decided to lock the doors on its own and it wouldn’t respond to my key fob to unlock it. I knew the battery in the key fob was good because I’d replaced it not long ago. I had no idea how I was going to get in. Thank goodness for Google. You know that key that pops out of the key fob? Yeah, that key. Well, lo and behold, there is a slot on the door handle that allows you to insert that key and it unlocks the door. Who knew? The things I learn in life. Anyway, it locked itself a couple of other times and now it’s acting completely normal again. It’s another nudge that I need to make a trade soon. So, still looking and thinking about it. Wish me luck!
My quote today comes from a lesson I’m being taught by my plants. My cactus did not bloom at Christmas. One of them bloomed at Easter, but two have blooms on them and they’ve been sitting there for days, not opening up, no matter how much I want them. The lesson is in patience. That lesson carries forward to so many situations in life. I’m trying to learn to go with the flow of The Universe.

Here is a Tarot thought for the week ahead.

This card exudes success and enjoyment. We are encouraged to feel gratitude for all that we have. And while we may not have everything we want, I’d venture to say we all pretty much have what we need. So, the message is to be grateful and take a minute to enjoy wherever you are. There is no need to worry about scarcity. It’s also a great reminder to connect with nature.
That’s it from me for today. Have a great week ahead!
Hi Jan, this is a lovely post. I did know about the key inside the fob to unlock the car – it’s a manual override. I’m glad you’ve got your computer sorted out. The card is a good one.
Thank you for stopping by, Robbie. I’m glad you enjoyed the post and how wonderful you knew about the key. 🙂 I’m happy to have the computer upgrade for sure. And yes, the card is beautiful. Have a great week ahead!
I am reading Caste by Isabel Wilkerson and your words about your grandmother are a reminder of how far we have come, and how far we still need to go to get back to the long ago times when women were not only considered on par with men, but revered. I am glad your grandmother is with you often, I can imagine how proud she must be. I love that tarot card, it’s one of my favorites, and I am going to hold that image close as we are getting near to closing on a farm that is the beginning of a big dream I have held close for a long time to create a nature/wellness sanctuary.
Oh, Alethea, I am going to help you hold that image for the closing on the farm! What a wonderful life change and opportunity to get closer to Mother Nature, which is also embodied in this tarot card. You are right about how far we have come, but yet, how far there still is to go before women are revered and not seen as property. Thank you so much for your beautiful comment. Hugs!
I wonder if James Wade didn’t do the number of drafts he’d normally do before it even got to the editor. Because an editor might think that’s a writing style decision and let it pass. Interesting.
Yay for your grandson and a computer upgrade!
I wondered about James Wade, too, Priscilla. This is the first book of his that had these long run-on sentences with so many ands. It could be a new editor, or he could be changing his style. I finished the story and will be sharing my review soon. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Your grandson is a rock star, Jan! How awesome he could help you out with your computer issues. I did know about the key, but I’ve been fortunate not to have to use it – yet. And I probably just cursed myself. Have a great week!
Thank you, Teri. I agree about my grandson. He’s definitely a tech-savvy kiddo and I am lucky he was able to give me the upgrade without having to pay hundreds! Cool that you knew about the key, but hope you don’t ever have to use it. Have a great week ahead!!
Jan, thank God for Ryan! I remember being awestruck when he was able to take a computer apart and put it back together when he was only four years old. He knew all about computers by age 5. I’m so envious that you got a direct message from Grandma Sarah and you connected with her!! That’s astounding. I have no idea who my spirit guides are here on earth. I would be so thrilled to know that. I’m glad you could get into your car. Thanks for the information. I didn’t know that. But where is the slot on the car located? I don’t see one on mine. Get that clock story written!! I want to see where that goes. It intrigues me. Love you, Sister.
I agree, sister. I’m grateful for Ryan and amazed at his abilities. I have no idea why Sarah Jane chose me, but I’m going to embrace it. Maybe that’s why Jean was nudged to give me her trunk. It’s one of my most valued possessions. I wish you could come up and meet with these ladies. I know it would all come through. I don’t know where the key slot is on your car. You’d have to Google it. 🙂 I’m anxious to see where the clock story goes, too. Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have a great week ahead! I love you!!!
What a time you’ve had! I love your clock poem. I just finished the Agatha Christie Netflix series about clocks–Seven Dials. Good one. Kudos for grandsons! My son will soon be home from Korea and I have a list of tech stuff for him.
You’re right about that sentence. What was he thinking? Did someone else write that story?
I’m so glad you like the clock poem. I’m excited to see where the story takes me. Seven Dials sounds like a good series. I haven’t heard of it before. I agree about grandsons. I love that you have a list for your son once he gets home. 🙂 Family is everything! I’m really puzzled about Wade’s latest. The example I gave is just one of hundreds of long run-on sentences. Still, the story was amazing. I’ll be posting my review soon. Thank you for visiting, Jacqui! Hope you have a great week.
I don’t like sentences structured like that. I’m not an editor, but I recommend breaking it into shorter, separate thoughts. If we want readers to read along smoothly, then why create sentences that are harder to navigate?
Your clock story idea is excellent, Jan. It would work well as an opening scene and instantly pique the reader’s curiosity.
Thank you, Pete. I’m excited about the clock story. 🙂 And I completely agree about the long sentences. It would be so much easier on the reader to break them down into separate sentences. I appreciate you stopping by!
I’m glad your grandson was able to help you. It is so nice to have that kind of support. Yes, I knew about the key since IO had to resort to it once. I did the same as you and Googled the problem. Wishing you a lovely week.
Thanks so much, John. I appreciate you stopping by!
Oh, I love all the tidbits in our Monday Meanderings posts. I did get your book during the countdown, but when I looked on manage my content, I guess I must have the most recent version because it doesn’t say any updates are available. Hope I can read it sooner than later. And — very interesting about Wade’s book. I listened to the book on Audible, and the narrator is so spectacular, I didn’t notice any weirdness with the sentences. But you’re right — if I had read that one, I’d have been like HUH? In the Acknowledgements, he thanks the editor for getting through this second book with him, so that shouldn’t be the issue. My Christmas cactus didn’t do a whole lot this season either, and I’m just hoping it’s coming. I don’t even have buds! LOVE your new book idea; I’m so glad the creativity bug continues to invade your space.
Hi, Kristine. I’m so happy you drop by to meander with me on Mondays. 🙂 And thank you so much for getting my book! If you run into some repeated paragraphs in Chapter 39, you didn’t get the update. If you don’t, then you are good to go. 🙂 I love James Wade’s writing and have read all of his books, but never saw this kind of sentence structure in any of them. Still, the story was amazing! I don’t know how he does it. Rox gave me my first Christmas cactus and I always think of her when I look at it. I hope these buds will open and maybe there will be more. I’m thrilled that you like the new clock book idea. 🙂 I am too! I hope you have a fabulous week ahead and thank you for your support!!
I’m glad your grandson was able to help you out, Jan. One caution – I’ve said and heard “I’ll never fill (insert favorite number here) that much space,” too many times during my carrer. We always manage to fill it 😉
Lol, Right? Who knows. If I do, maybe he will be able to upgrade it all again. Thanks for visiting, Dan, and hope you are fully recovered by now.
It’s wonderful that your grandson was so helpful, Jan. I haven’t had that problem with the key fob, but once when my truck wouldn’t start, I got out locked it with the key fob, unlocked it, and it started right up.
Those little electronic glitches are puzzling, aren’t they, Tim. Glad it started up! Thanks for chiming in!
Wow, lots going on here, Jan. How wonderful your grandson got you sorted computer wise. Kids are so much better at computers than us older persons. I did know about the key in the fob as I had to use it when my battery died on me. I’m intrigued by your idea for your new book. Have a wonderful week.
Thanks for dropping by, Carla. You are so right about these kids knowing so much more about technology than we do. It’s their world. I’m happy you are intrigued by the new book idea. I am, too. 🙂 Have a great week ahead!
I love that owl, beautiful. How exciting and that poem is so evocative. I look forward to reading what comes from that. I found myself editing that sentence as I read. Lol. Yay for computer upgrade. I have to get my daughter over to do that with mine at some point, its so slow and can’t keep up with the new internet. Perfect card, I do have what we need, its the want that gives me all the trouble. Xo
I thought the owl was stunning, Denise. I am thrilled you like the clock poem. I am excited to see what comes from it. I agree with you about the run-on sentence. They kept throwing me out of the story but the story kept pulling me back. Hope you’re able to get the computer up to speed now that you have modern internet. Thanks so much for stopping by. Hugs!
Great post, Jan! I love the angel card. I am keeping a gratitude journal this year, and it really is surrounding me with positive energy. That story idea sounds like it will turn into an amazing story. I can’t wait to read it.
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Thank you, Yvette. I’m so glad you stopped by and that the angel card spoke to you. I am excited about the story idea and can’t wait to see what it is.