Mara and I had an art day and walked around Chicago Ave
I’m in exceptionally chipper spirits here on vacation in Chicago. I love the slightly slower pace, the architecture, how clean the streets are, how much space there is. It gives me room to think, or not think, as it were. Plus I get to see so many beloved people in my life. And I got the call that I got the job, and I start on Monday, so I’m trying to live it up while I can, because my summer is o-v-e-r.
It was a good summer though! I got a lot of fresh air, and I took care of myself. And I got so much work done on my book. I feel OK with walking away from it for a little while. I’ll just have about month of really intense work, and then it’s part-time from there for a while, and then I’ll be able to ease my way back into the novel. I have to admit it’ll be a bit of a relief to take a break from mining the tragedy of the human condition and other painful endeavors (which sounds like the title of something, somewhere), and just think about someone else’s product. I’m slightly sad I won’t make my deadline, but…whatever. It’ll get done.
Wendy and I had dinner with Cristina Henriquez last night and we were talking about how it’s impossible to walk away from a novel when you’re in the first 100 pages, because you feel like you’ll never get back to it. But I’ve got about 80 pages left and can see the finish line. Even if I am not working on it every day, I can keep my gaze steady. All it takes is a little discipline.
