Well, just one.
Nora’s mom is coming for a visit today. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her, and I’m looking forward to it, as much as I am capable of looking forward to things. She’s a nice lady, and she seems to like me and accept me.
Back when I wrote my book, J helped edit it the first go around. That was a fun experience, getting a couple of chapters back from her and reading her thoughts, and learning just how poor a writer I am. Mixed tenses within a single sentence, improper use of punctuation, questionable word choices.
It speaks to my respect for J that I felt comfortable having her read the manuscript (her word). I generally don’t like the idea of people I know seeing my work, any work. I generally feel I have to set low expectations when presenting someone with something I have done.
Dinners are often labeled “experimental”, meaning if they aren’t really tasty, it’s just because I was trying something new in some way. Handywork, “I’m no professional.” Creative works, “Be nice.”
But I felt fine giving her my work. She has often encouraged me to write more, in fact. And it says something that I kinda want to, just so she can read it.
We won’t do much, I’m guessing, together over the week she’s here. Nora has some things planned for the two of them. And I’m likely to take the default position that I want the two of them to enjoy their time with each other. So, I’ll likely keep a low profile with a litany of excuses to be otherwise occupied. This is my M.O. with every houseguest whom I have never tucked into bed.