Time Gone By

It's really pathetic when I look at this blog and notice that I have not posted since May. The truth of the matter is that I am swamped. There's an old adage that you find the time to do the things you REALLY want to do. Therefore, if you want to write, you will find time to do so. That's a really nice platitude but the cold hard facts are that sometimes when you are looking at your priorities, the things you WANT to do get pushed to the bottom of the pile by the things you have to do.

First there's the tiny little issue of having to make a living. Now I don't live extravagantly, but I do like to eat an occasional meal, and my mortgage company appreciates it when I make my monthly house payment. There are some who will loftily tell me that I should use my writing skills to make money, to which my response is to ask them how well that is working out for them.

Next there is the issue of family. I had a daughter get married this summer. My in-laws were seriously injured in a roll-over auto accident (they are doing okay, thanks.) My dad was hospitalized for several days with back problems. I think I am entitled to an excused absence for having to take care of these family issues instead of writing in my blog.

Then there's the issue of my duties as a publisher. I have a group of writers that are depending on me to do publisher work for them. They take priority over my own writing and my blog because I've made a commitment to them.

Let's face it, sometimes life intervenes. And I guess, in a way, the platitude has an element of truth in it. I'd rather know where my next meal is coming from than not. I'd rather live in a house than in an unheated garret. I'd rather spend time with my family than be a hermit. So, admittedly, writing is NOT the Number One priority in my life. It's in my Top Ten, and at times is even in my Top Five. However, at this point in my life, it is not Number One, and I make no apologies for that.