Well, there’s a passing in my life this week as I return to the Pella area temporarily as the end of my time in south central Iowa comes closer to an end. Let’s talk a little about the writing I’m doing (or not doing) right now, as well as a few other things.
The Home Front
I never grew up with pets, but my wife Laura did. By the time our kids were in elementary school, we had Samantha, a calico kitty and former resident of the Clinton County landfill; Snickers, a white Shih Tzu pup rescued from the Muscatine Humane Society; and Winston, an adoption from one of our friends in Muscatine. For a short while, we had a nice little menagerie at our home.
I enjoyed all of them, but Winnie was the one I had the longest relationship with. In his younger days, he’d clamber up on my chair and we’d catch the soccer games on the weekends. He was more of a chilling dog rather than an excitable, toy-playing dog, but that was all right with me. Of course, he worshiped his mom who would always hook him up with his special dog food.
Time passes and pets cross the rainbow bridge, of course. Samantha joined us in Clinton and left us in Muscatine. Snickers joined us in Muscatine, followed us to Chariton, and there was where he left us. Winnie was the hardiest of them, joining us in Muscatine, then in Chariton, and then finally leaving us in Fort Madison.
I’m down, but Laura’s gutted. She lost many pets as a kid, but she wasn’t there when they had to pass over. Seeing it happen with Snickers was shattering for both of us, and I’ll always be sorry I wasn’t there when Winnie left. Then again, what happened was because of Winnie’s schedule, which in the end is for the best.
This might be it for us and pets, sadly. It is a considerable time commitment for a pet, and you just can’t leave a dog for days on end while trying to travel somewhere. I’m also not sure we’re up for adopting another pet only to go through this process one more time at the end.
He’ll always be part of us, though. This I know. As Sir Terry Pratchett might have written, GNU for him1.
When not missing my dog, I am living the hotel life somewhere in Marion County, Iowa, after a week spent as my son’s roommate in downtown Des Moines. The price was right and living in the biggest city in Iowa was exciting, but it is nice to have a 55-minute round trip commute rather than a two-hour round trip commute every day. And I actually enjoyed having my son as a roommate and hanging out with him on a regular basis, even though it meant sharing a one-bedroom apartment and tucking into a couch every night. You tend to treasure spending time with your kids after they turn 18 and you don’t see them around every day.
The kid is doing much better and is able to get along and take care of himself, even though I can be over there if he needs something. He is eager to get back to work as a heating and air conditioning (HVAC) tech and continue to work toward his journeyman license. I’m glad his accident in the end has only delayed this process slightly and not altered it.
Speaking of kids, my daughter Madeline is approaching her final weeks of study at the University of Iowa. She is looking forward to beginning her career as a chemical engineer at the hometown firm my father worked at for so many years. I’m super excited as she prepares to begin her professional career and all of the adventures ahead for her.
One of the things I am very happy with is I never attempted to try and persuade them to go toward a particular career or path. I never expected them to do anything like what I have done as a career or passion or like their mother. I was just happy both of them found their passions and have pursued them. I’m absolutely proud of both my kids and looking forward to their future adventures.
As I mentioned before, I am back to hotel living for about another month’s time. It’s been difficult, as it was five years ago, when I went into a school year knowing I would leave for someplace new a year later. I haven’t had to go through an entire year as a lame duck teacher, although I certainly was one for at least half the amount of time and perhaps slightly longer in practical terms. Financially, I’m glad I made the decision I did to stay, but in all honesty I’m not sure I will wish to repeat the process again. After a while, the knowledge you are leaving and it’s only a matter of time before you go begins to wear on you. I have truly enjoyed my time at Twin Cedars, but I can sense my time and purpose there is almost done. A poem I wrote around five years ago, when I was last a lame duck teacher, “Rest Holds,” seems just as pertinent now as it did then.
What I’m Writing
I just finished up a story that will be part of a dark romance short story collection, I think. As soon as it gets published, I’ll get people a link.
Inspired by my recent connection with the Society of Great River Poets out in Burlington, I’m going to uncork a brand new poem for Poetry Night at the Writing Life next week. The subject is going to be a body of water I’ve been running across repeatedly in recent weeks and months, the Des Moines River. It certainly is a different creature than the Mississippi River I used to live next to (I still do, but I used to, as well2).
I feel bad I’m going to miss their next couple of meetings due to book fair commitments, but I definitely want to go back there the next chance I get.
As for my other projects, both announced and unannounced (not counting what I post on this blog), I think it would be best to talk about them whenever I actually get some work done on them. As I have sometimes said around here, you’ll see it when you see it.
What I’m Doing Having to do With Writing
There’s actually a lot going on along these lines. Some of those things are a bit more of a promotional nature, so I’ll hold off on talking about those until a little later below.
I have been updating the site, setting some posts for all subscribers and others for paid subscribers. In short, you get some of my pieces (the regular newsletter, as well as some other random pieces and promotional pieces) for free, while some of the other exclusive items are available only to paid subscribers. As you might see once you check out my site, my paid subscription plan is pretty cheap compared to others, especially if you pay on a yearly basis. I say check it out if you want.
What I also need to do is to go through my list of subscribers and those I subscribe to and do more to recommend them. As with moderating and administrating my site, its something which will take some time, time away from time writing. But it is something necessary. If I want people to take a glance at my own work, I need to do what I can to look at their work and promote their work. There are so many great writers on this platform and I want more people to know about them.
Writing Quote for the Week
A good quote this week about doing your own thing as a writer.
Concentrate on what you want to say to yourself and your friends. Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness. You say what you want to say when you don’t care who’s listening.
- Allen Ginsberg
A Few Links About My Books and Appearances
This is a link to my upcoming appearances, which just got updated. The most recent one will be TODAY beginning at 1 p.m. at the Ankeny public library.
My first book is a journalism thriller set in Chicago during the turbulent days of the 2008 election and the start of the Great Recession. Check out more about it here.
My second book, the first in the projected The Yank Striker series, is a soccer drama telling the story of the beginning of a young American’s career as a player. There’s more about it here.
Shameless Plugs and Notices (please forgive)
For direct links to purchase my books in paperback and ebook form, including The Yank Striker: A Footballer’s Beginning and The Holy Fool, click on the links in the Substack sidebar or the links on my Substack author page. Or, you can go to this page on my WordPress site, Liegois Media.
You can also get them in person at these fine Iowa bookstores:
- Beaverdale Books, 2629 Beaver Ave # S1, Des Moines
- Pella Books, 824 Franklin St, Pella.
- The Book Vault, 105 S Market St, Oskaloosa.
All these are great independent bookstores, but I’m always looking for some new places to place my books (especially now in eastern Iowa), so feel free to hit me up in the comments if anyone has a suggestion.
While you’re here, I wanted to add just a quick description of how The Writing Life works. With a free subscription, you always will have access to my newsletters on the first and third weekends of the month, as well as selected articles up to a month after they’ve been published. However, If you have a paid subscription with me (which is pretty inexpensive), you will have access to all of my articles here, all of my archives, and my eternal gratitude. Plus, probably some first-dibs on possible future offers.
Final Thoughts
It’s been a roller-coaster week. I’m looking forward to later today when I get back home to my wife.. Many times, life is about the things you lose over time than what you accumulate over a lifetime. But, you also value what you have when you have it.
Love to everyone. Writers keep writing and everyone keep safe.
-30-
While I do appreciate you following this blog, I really would like you to subscribe to my Substack page. By subscribing to that page, you’ll not only be receiving my Substack newsletter, The Writing Life With Jason Liegois (the companion blog to this one), but you’ll also be signing up for my email list. Just click the button below.
Liegois Media 