On any given day in any of our lives we can go through a myriad of emotions, create our greatest work or be hit with a tragedy so piercing that it can change our lives forever. A writer’s life is often filled with twists and turns, making reality mirror our creations. Or at least they give us more meat to put in the stew.
Currently in my life’s kitchen, there are many pots on the stove and my chef’s coat is splattered with salty tears, sweet splashes of anticipation and a bit of grit and gravy.
Let me explain.
So as some of you know if you’re connected to me on Facebook, my novel manuscript is soon to be submitted to publishers by my agent. I spent quite a few years to write it, edit it and shop it around, so that is the grit. The anticipation comes from the fact that my hard work and persistence has led me to a moment where my dreams can come true.
Recently I was also acknowledged by one of my biggest clients in a feature on their website. As an entrepreneur I consider this to be the gravy as we often toil without knowing if our services are truly valued.
The saline tears are forming in my eyes because I learned that I lost my oldest brother last week. We didn’t grow up together and I just met him two years ago. One of the most memorable things he said to me was that he was proud of me. When I shared my client’s announcement yesterday, my friends and family responded with so much love and extended so many well wishes. I appreciated them all, but his voice wasn’t there. It is starting to sink in now.
So amidst all of this hope and sweetness, I am biting down on the bitter taste of not being able to share future feasts of fortune with my brother that I was just getting to know. I want to write more about him throughout my life as I learn more about him from his children, friends and family. His story deserves to be told too.
My dear Mark, I will never forget you and I pray we’ll get to know each better in the realm where there is no deconstruction, only joy, peace and wholeness.
Photo Credit: Cornelia Parker- Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View
© 2015, TamekaMullins. All rights reserved.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Your article had me teared up, and teared down all at the same time. I’m proud to say your my cousin. GOD BLESS YOU
Thanks for taking the time to read my post, cousin. I appreciate your kind words. God bless you too. My thoughts will be with the family today at the viewing and on tomorrow for the home going.