books, clubs & imaginary conversations

by Matt MooneyJune 6, 2014

When you take long breaks from blogging, you have stuff to pass on to the world- the one you actively ignored for a while.  Sorry ’bout that.  My soul thanks you for your grace.

1.)  I am working on a children’s book.  

rocket

Admittedly, this is sort of like saying, “I am working on a rocket.”  It takes a LONG time and it may NEVER fly and I DON’T understand publishers; especially the ones who don’t see me as Hemingway reincarnated.  I prefer to keep all thing uncertain to my chest.  So this is a big break through (or something I’ll regret for week)…..

I’m working on a rocket.

2.)  A Story Unfinished.

A local radio station has picked up the book for a summer reading club.  I haven’t personally participated in a reading club since I was in 4th grade and the Fort Smith Library handed out medals based upon how many books you read.  

I was hacked off when handed a silver medal by some corrupt librarian type.  I would have sworn I was told the gold standard was 20 books but upon arrival at the medal ceremony was informed it was 30.  I could have read 50 if they would’ve just made it clearer or not changed the rules mid-game.  I’m still working through it.

Though book clubs have never held the same luster for me since, I am still gonna push you to be all that I cannot.  Here’s my post for them.

3.)  ….in suuuummmmmeeeerrrrr.
If you don’t hear Olaf singing that or do not know what I am talking about, then you may be surprised to know that I can sing each song from Frozen by heart.

This summer we will load up Big Red– our much aligned Nissan minivan- and aim north.  There’s nothing more bonding than jumping in a rolling tube with the whole family, for what will be upwards of 18 hours for our snail-paced crew.  But we will arrive at an annual rite of passage as we settle in to a few weeks in Northern Michigan.

mich drive

Two of the rascals will be in heaven and Lena- well, Lena’s take on travel and Michigan and life is a bit unpredictable….but dangit, we’re going anyway and we’re asking God for peace- as often in public places we are confused with a circus.  All of this can be a little less fun when your outside the nice, tight circle of friends who know Lena’s behaviors, background and reality.

“Oh no, we do love her.
Oh yes, I am walking away from her as she screams.
Yes, yes she does have quite a set of lungs on her.

By the way, how is your family?
Oh really….all A’s and a homerun too?  That’s wonderful.

Oh no, please let her be, I don’t need you to talk to her sweetly as if I didn’t think of that…..if I give her melt down attention, she will do it again tomorrow.

Is that right?  That worked for you, huh?
We’ll be sure to look into that.
Did you neglect your child for the first 5 years- cause she was, you know?
Brain injury?  Autism?  Cerebral Palsy?  I can keep going if you want.

Why no, I didn’t mean to insinuate that you don’t know what you’re talking about, I meant to tell you that you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Okay, have a great day…maybe we’ll see you guys later but hopefully not.”

And we wouldn’t change a thing.

2 Comments

  1. Anita Wyatt on July 6, 2014 at 1:51 pm

    Yeah for the book! Looking forward to it! Have a great time in MI…we are venturing to the beach next month and will take comfort during X’s meltdown moments or when the meltdown doesn’t work and he sweetly starts signing “home, please” as if his bed is just a few minutes away and we are just waiting for him to ask politely. 🙂



When you take long breaks from blogging, you have stuff to pass on to the world- the one you actively ignored for a while.  Sorry ’bout that.  My soul thanks you for your grace.

1.)  I am working on a children’s book.  

rocket

Admittedly, this is sort of like saying, “I am working on a rocket.”  It takes a LONG time and it may NEVER fly and I DON’T understand publishers; especially the ones who don’t see me as Hemingway reincarnated.  I prefer to keep all thing uncertain to my chest.  So this is a big break through (or something I’ll regret for week)…..

I’m working on a rocket.

2.)  A Story Unfinished.

A local radio station has picked up the book for a summer reading club.  I haven’t personally participated in a reading club since I was in 4th grade and the Fort Smith Library handed out medals based upon how many books you read.  

I was hacked off when handed a silver medal by some corrupt librarian type.  I would have sworn I was told the gold standard was 20 books but upon arrival at the medal ceremony was informed it was 30.  I could have read 50 if they would’ve just made it clearer or not changed the rules mid-game.  I’m still working through it.

Though book clubs have never held the same luster for me since, I am still gonna push you to be all that I cannot.  Here’s my post for them.

3.)  ….in suuuummmmmeeeerrrrr.
If you don’t hear Olaf singing that or do not know what I am talking about, then you may be surprised to know that I can sing each song from Frozen by heart.

This summer we will load up Big Red– our much aligned Nissan minivan- and aim north.  There’s nothing more bonding than jumping in a rolling tube with the whole family, for what will be upwards of 18 hours for our snail-paced crew.  But we will arrive at an annual rite of passage as we settle in to a few weeks in Northern Michigan.

mich drive

Two of the rascals will be in heaven and Lena- well, Lena’s take on travel and Michigan and life is a bit unpredictable….but dangit, we’re going anyway and we’re asking God for peace- as often in public places we are confused with a circus.  All of this can be a little less fun when your outside the nice, tight circle of friends who know Lena’s behaviors, background and reality.

“Oh no, we do love her.
Oh yes, I am walking away from her as she screams.
Yes, yes she does have quite a set of lungs on her.

By the way, how is your family?
Oh really….all A’s and a homerun too?  That’s wonderful.

Oh no, please let her be, I don’t need you to talk to her sweetly as if I didn’t think of that…..if I give her melt down attention, she will do it again tomorrow.

Is that right?  That worked for you, huh?
We’ll be sure to look into that.
Did you neglect your child for the first 5 years- cause she was, you know?
Brain injury?  Autism?  Cerebral Palsy?  I can keep going if you want.

Why no, I didn’t mean to insinuate that you don’t know what you’re talking about, I meant to tell you that you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Okay, have a great day…maybe we’ll see you guys later but hopefully not.”

And we wouldn’t change a thing.

2 Comments

  1. Anita Wyatt on July 6, 2014 at 1:51 pm

    Yeah for the book! Looking forward to it! Have a great time in MI…we are venturing to the beach next month and will take comfort during X’s meltdown moments or when the meltdown doesn’t work and he sweetly starts signing “home, please” as if his bed is just a few minutes away and we are just waiting for him to ask politely. 🙂