Writer/Superwoman

    Life has a funny way of getting in the way. I recall saying that I aimed to be finished with half the book by end of this year...being December 2013. I have four months to produce. Fortunately between my three jobs;  four counting writing, I was able to squeeze in a few hours of writing time last week. Sometimes I sit and wonder, "Am I crazy?!?" Probably.  But thats beside the point. I have found it the most difficult to actually find a decent time when I am not
a) hopelessly exhausted
b) doing one of my other jobs
c) catching some quality time with the Fiance
d) wedding planning
e) making sure my family is keeping up with my life
     How the heck do you manage all of this? Sure it seems simple enough just looking at it once its written down. I even somehow am able to read a book between all of it. Oddly enough I am looking more into how the author uses metaphors and organizes the actual chapters, etc. I currently am catching up on finishing chapter 6. Unlike most writers my largest hurtle is just finding time to write. Writers block has yet to hit me since the beginning of the book. Reminds me of something that happened at work this week. We just hired a new employee to assist me with legal jobs, as I don't have time. Go figure. He being a play writer himself was intrigued about the story behind how I got into writing this book and what it was actually about. Its always a good reminder to kick me in the butt and be inspired. He found it extremely poetic that my Uncles dream was to start his own business in Hawaii and be successful. Whether he would live on a sail boat or beach house I am not sure. But nonetheless, I am here in Hawaii writing in his memory and hope to finish the book before we are to move away. At least he would have gotten to be partially here. I do believe because of him I am able to write so smoothly and almost effortlessly.
     Ultimately I hope to find at least an hour every day to commit to writing; commit to my Uncles memory. I wonder what he would think about me writing about him. Im sure he'd find it comical. I wish I could ditch my other jobs, Legal Manager for downtown company, data entry for my old job, and housewife. Boy could this book be written in a jiffy! Unfortunately the bills have to be paid and I have this innate sense of proving that I can be successful/superwoman. Mychael works 15 hour day, so will I! Gotta hand it to myself though, my hard work does pay off. I am even writing at least once a week now and making freaking biscuits for sunday brunch! Alright Ill stop jabbering, and let you guys know about the chapter, or even better: I think its time for a special "unedited" sneak peak of the book.

         Months, weeks, and days flew by, each being crossed off by the thick black tip of my sharpie marker. July came along with hot dry heat. I joyously crossed off the circled date and dug out my hiking backpack from a pile in my closet. Throwing it on my bed I went over my long list of supplies and clothes. Hours blended together and my bed started to look like a mountain rather than a bed. I had almost everything checked off my list except one thing. Maps. I guess I would have to pick those up on my way out tomorrow. I called Charlie to see how much progress he was making packing. So far everything was a go. My night was sleepless, anxiety to leave morphed into chaotic dreams. Adrenaline pumped through my body as morning emerged. I took a quick shower, ate some oatmeal and wished my parents well and goodbye. My Mother’s reaction was typical. So worried that it embodied her every thought and movement. I wasn’t fazed, freedom was just minutes away. Dad was dropping me off at a gas station on his way to work. I shuffled through the radio stations looking for something to listen to rather than our silence. I skimmed through several stations before NPR caught my attention. “The biggest news of the decade. The Internet was made accessible to the public today. Allowing people to search for anything and everything.” Whoa. The Internet, I pondered what that entailed and all the information I could benefit from. Dad changed the station; Good Vibrations was playing by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. I watched as he bobbed his head to the beat. I simply gave up and stared out the window at my future. The sun felt amazing on my back and fueled my soul.

            The door rang as I walked in and the small petite woman stared at me with beady black eyes.

“Where can I find the maps?” I asked, in hopes that she would lose interest.

“They’re back near the beer.” Her pronunciations of near and beer sounded like air at the end of each.

I watched as she thankfully turned away from my direction. Now, to shuffle through the wall of maps. There was everything from New Jersey to Guatemala.  Glancing over what seemed like hundreds, I found a full map of the United States and felt content. I approached the register and realized that her beady black eyes were not so beady after all.  They were like monstrous orbs filled with a black hollow center.

“Hi just this please.” I set the map on the counter.

“That’ll be 1.00 dollar.”

I told her to keep the change (sarcastically) and unfolded my new map outside the store. I stuck the sharpie point to a highway and outlined my intended route. Filled with more desire than my chest could withstand, I stuffed the map into my backpack as I went to the pay phone. Shoving the few quarters I had into the slot, I dialed Charlie.

“Hey.”

“Oh hey man! Whats up?”

“Just calling to let you know that I am heading off now! Ill see you in about a week!”

“Sweet man, I can’t wait. Our trip is going to be epic.”

“Bye”

“Bye”

Hanging up I checked my surroundings and walked to the curb. This trip was going to be epic, and no doubt lingered in my mind. Standing in the heat of mid morning I stuck out my thumb and waited. An older man pulled up and asked which way I was headed.

“Seattle.”

“I reckon I can get ya there. Hop on in son.”

I stepped up into his large pickup truck, hauling my pack by my feet.

             “The name’s Terry Buckford.  Why ya headin’ to Seattle?”

“I just decided to explore this place that we call our Earth. I am so young and sitting behind a desk doing the same thing over and over just doesn’t sound fun to me.”

“That’s highly admirable of you!”

“Thanks.”

            As he felt around for the radio dial I looked him over. His face was sunken and wrinkles fought to emerge. His hair was grey and whispy. I imagined him without his green John Deer hat on; hair standing straight up in all directions. I chuckled inside. The four and a half hour trip was filled with tales of his past. Every now and then he would throw in words of wisdom. He told me how he had always wanted to travel to see the world. He made it a point to remind me that I was young. He urged me that I explore the world and appreciate everything it had to offer. While I still had the body. Feeling rather humble with my decisions I shared my plans about where my destination was and what I was doing.

            Before long we had reached Seattle. Surprisingly the entire trip consisted mainly of us conversing back and forth. Seattle was beautiful with the marvelous green forests and tall buildings on the way in. We passed several highway signs pointing drivers in the right directions. Merging onto interstate 5, Terry drove towards the airport. He pulled off down one of the interstate ramps to fill up the trucks tank with gas.

“I’ll let ya off here bud. I don’t live too far from yonder. Just keep heading down interstate 5 and it’ll shoot ya near interstate 8.”

“Thanks Terry. Thank you for the ride and awesome talk.”

I pulled my pack on as he said, “No, thank ya son. Here take my card. Look me up whenever ya hit town again!”

            “Will do sir,” as I took his card from his fingers.

            He tilted his hat, goodbye.  I waived back a farewell as I walked briskly to the end of the ramp that merged south on I-5. I advertised my thumb and waited.

            The sun had started descending into the majestic mountains. Feeling rather hungry I dug into my pack and pulled a delectable peanut butter and banana sandwich out. Mid bite, my persistence had paid off. A dark green Jeep pulled to the curb. The back windows were tinted, making the passengers virtually impossible to see. The front passenger side window rolled down, sitting in the seat closest to me was a large blonde woman. Her hair was pulled back in a blue scrunchy that matched her loose blouse. She beamed of excitement. Her husband owned the wheel. He clasped it with his hand as if his masculinity would go along with the connection if he removed his hand. His dirty blonde locks bounced on his forehead as he bobbed his head to their music.

“You headin far there young fella?” She withheld an accent from the south.

“I was hoping to head down Interstate 5 until it hits interstate 8.”

“Oh fabulous deary! We are driving that way ourselves! Hop on in sweetheart.” Her tone was overly exuberant.

Peering into the blackened windows I opened the back passenger door. Six sets of eyes stared at me as if they had been drained of all pleasure during their trip. As I sat on the seat I could sense the immediate tension for relief of unplanned entertainment subside. Seated beside me was a boy of about 10 years of age and a girl of roughly 6. The family dog fought with every whim to lick my face from the trunk. 

Hope you all enjoyed it! Please leave me comments about it either below, facebook, text, or email me at jaffa.parach@gmail.com.