Tuesday, December 20, 2011

I'm busy busy being....

Here it is only five more days until Christmas.My gifts are bought and wrapped and now I have nothing to do. Funny, I'm usually panicky this close to Christmas, but this year is different. I'm not sure why. It's not that I'm any more organized, I'm not. I'm one of those people who like to get things done early and always have been. Not just for Christmas, but for everyhing. If I'm having people over for dinner, I have my table set the night before, serving bowls set aside and. if I can make any of the food the day before, I do that too. The more I can get done early, the better.
I was the same way when I worked many years ago as School Secretary. I got there early, put the coffee on and started my day before many of the teachers arrived. I liked to get my work done first thing, that way if anything unexpected came up, I wasn't rushing to get it done. Sometimes I miss working. It was a fun time in my life.
I loved the job, the people and everythign about it. It wasn't all work. We had some fun times in the office between the church secretary, the principal, pastor, and the teachers. It was a relaxed atmosphere.
Some days were busier than others and some seasons busier than others, like the beginning and end of the school year, but I enjoyed every minute of it.
It wasn't all that difficult balancing working with home life. My day started at 8 and ended usually at 3:30. Plenty of time to get home and make dinner. Plus my kids were old enough to help with the housework and laundry. In fact, one got married during my career and I was blessed with three of my grandchildren.
I didn't write back then, well not seriously. I kept a journal and I took a course for writing for children. I just wasn't cut out for that. I did write short stories, but I never submitted them.
Back then, I typed on an old Royal typewriter and then bought a used electric. It was qutite some time before I got my first computer. A  Commodore 64 and a printer. There wasn't an internet back then, so any research had to be done at the library.
Wow, we've come a long way. How much easier to write now then back then. Of course, I no longer work and my children are grown and gone, so I can write pretty much whenever I want.
So...as I said, here it is five days before Christmas and I have nothing to do. Maybe I'll go bake some cookies.

7 comments:

Marie Higgins said...

Christmas is always a busy time of year! And I definitely understand about busy. This past week, I've literally been in edit HELL! Why my publisher decided to do final edits this month instead of last month when we'd originally planned is beyond me...

And when I first started writing 17 years ago, I didn't even have a type-writer let alone a computer. I used a notebook and pencil. :)

~Marie~

Unknown said...

Ro, I just fall more and more in love with you each time I learn more about you.

You are a precious soul who is so darn genuine, it amazes me.

You are a good heart my friend. A heart that feeds warmth to others.

Merry Christmas my love.

Roseanne Dowell said...

Thank you, Marie and Karen. Oh way way back when I didn't have a typewriter either, but that was before I started submitting. Not that I submitted much after I got the typewriter. I didn't get serious about that until 2005.
Karen, my sweet, you are so good for my ego. I love you dear friend.

Judy Baker said...

Hello Roseanne, I so understand BUSY during this time of year. My problem is "eating". Every time I turn around I'm going out to dinner or Christmas Dinner parties. By January I won't eat another thing. Right! By the way, I love writing with all our new technology now. My first novel was hand written on white lined paper! Have a wonderful Merry Christmas. Judy

Roseanne Dowell said...

Thanks, Judy. I know what you mean about eating. One of the joys of the holidays. I still have stories I handwrote on white-lined paper

Ann Herrick said...

I think I'm actually ready for Christmas, too. Yay us! :D

Ack, typewriters. So nice to be done with carbon paper, White-out, etc.!

gail roughton branan said...

I can smell them now, Ro! You savin' some for me?