Can we talk?

Time to Write

    Like most people I struggle to make a living. After a long period of unemployment, then half a year of underemployment part-time, I now go to two part-time jobs. One of them has parking problems, so I commute a combination of car, bus, trolley, and walking. The half hour of walking is a much needed exercise, so I don't regret that part. But the time spent waiting for buses, and the layover to get that last bus back to my car really ties up my day.

    I'm grateful to be working. I appreciate even a low level, minimal pay job. But it leaves so little time for anything after working, commuting, doing laundry, paying bills, running errands, etc. By the time I start to write, I feel wiped out. I guess most intelligent, hobby enthusiasts have the same problem, whether it's music, crafts, writing, gardening, painting, or whatever. We spend our time doing what we have to do and have little left for what we'd like to do.

    Or do jobs and chores and duties provide us with the excuses we need for failing at what we think we love? I don't have an answer.

    I spend my idle time thinking up stories, questioning the ending, changing the direction, looking at characters, point of view. But when I finally get to paper and pen or keyboard, I'm ready to sleep. There's at least 4 long envolved stories going on in my head right now: one is a time travel story, one is futuristic and war-torn told in a  Flannery O'Connor perspective, one is a series of connected stories, one a tale of divorce and betrayal. I couldn't give anyone enough to "read" and follow the story. But I could take an hour and tell a well-rehearsed story.

    Sorry, I have to go. Time to leave for work.