Dear Kate:

I don’t see you writing as often as you used to and when you do your words are few. I’m wondering why. Not that it’s any of my business but I really think those of us who call ourselves writers need to nudge each other every once in a while. Nudge. Nudge. Besides, you’ve got something to say – maybe you’re not aware of how much you do have to say or maybe you don’t want to admit it to yourself just yet. I don’t know which, nor is it any of my business but on a purely selfish side of things, I miss your words and getting a peek into your heart. Okay, enough said. I’ll leave that one alone now and tell you a little about me and how my week has unfolded.

It’s been a heavy week so far, but productive and I’m feeling good about myself and where’s it’s brought me. Hmmm…..that’s a rather vague statement I just wrote. Let me be more specific. I’ve been through six counseling sessions so far and it’s been a push and pull journey but one of further self discovery. I started out with the issue of the end of school looming just around the corner along with the hatchet coming down on the funding I’ve had for the past 10 months. It hasn’t been much but it’s certainly allowed me to go to school and to keep us afloat even if it’s been at a bare minimum. You don’t live high and mighty on a student’s salary that’s for sure.

Coming back to the counseling – as most counseling goes - the issue one starts out with is often not as great a concern as the underlying issue or issues which are begging for attention and waiting to be addressed. I swear I heard mine jump up and down and say. “Here I am, here I am! What in the world took you so long?” So, it’s been good.

Yesterday was an emotional day and by the time I got home last night I felt like I had been through the wringer of my Mom’s old washing machine. But I’ve got something to sink my teeth into and work on now. I have some ideas and a plan of action and I’m feeling pretty enthusiastic and positive about that. I guess what I could say it’s done so far is to take the fear I had floating around in my head and causing havoc in my soul to come out into the light of day so I could take a good look at it. It’s certainly much easier to understand the rules and to play the game once all the cards are on the table.

After my day at school I had a journaling workshop in Vernon that I was teaching. It was the first class of my five week course. I have seven participants, eight with me, and from the comments of the participants at the end and from how it felt for me, it went well. (I set the intention and envisioned having eight in the workshop and that’s what I got. I forgot to say not counting me.) I’m always a little apprehensive before I start a workshop but once I’m into it, I love what I’m doing and I get as much out of it as the participants do.

I’ve had a lot on my mind lately and without Andree here to keep me straight I tend to think I can juggle a million things in a few hours and sometimes that makes me run into problems. Yesterday, for instance, I got up early and did everything I had to do at home so I could be on the road to Kelowna by 9 a.m. in order to make it for my 10 a.m. appointment with an ear specialist my doctor referred me to.

So here I am, driving down the road, all proud of myself for making it out of the house at a descent time figuring I should be right on schedule when my cell phone rings. It was my regular doctor’s office calling. “Hello, is this Annette? You had an appointment with the specialist, Dr. Kramer yesterday and you didn’t show up!” I tell you. Life is never boring. Oh, and before I sign off, I just wanted to say thanks for sending the survey sites. We appreciate whatever you send our way.

Writefully Yours
Annette