Wait a minute. It's stopped raining.

 Guys are swimming. Guys are sailing.

After a week of gray skies, wind, and rain, the 55 degree weather and partly sunny skies came as a real relief this afternoon. I got out and sat outside for a while today. After I straightened out my patio rug and made sure nothing had completely blown away. Even the gulls were back on the water this morning.

I've gotten quite a lot done on my NaNoWriMo project this week, though my numbers don't show as much progress as I'd like. I'm at 25,035 words on my story It Ain't Immortality, But... Still, they are good words and don't reflect the additional 12,000 I've written on my other story, The Assassin. Nor do they show the new book I've proofread and uploaded for presale. I'd say that's positive.

And today's views across the sound have been pretty spectacular. The Fort Worden lighthouse is a good two miles from here and is clearly visible this afternoon.

I've made a couple of trips out for supplies this week and now I'm hunkered down for at least two weeks. We're still holding our Thanksgiving plans open and are watching the progress against the plague. If it looks like we might be at risk, we'll hold off our celebration for a while. I bought a turkey pot pie, just in case.

Had a spectacular sunrise on Monday, but it presaged the stormy weather to come. For a few days, the trailer really rocked in the wind.

 I've been aware of how my writing affects me this week. It's pretty amazing. Theo, the character I'm writing about, has taken up photography. I find that I'm taking more pictures than I've been taking, even though most are very near the trailer. It's really neat to see the sailboats and cargo ships plying the water. I've been getting up around 6:30 in the morning, just as it's getting light out with sunrise at about 7:15 these days. The first thing I see in the morning is the ferry making it's first trip across the Sound.

Theo is also writing a journal. Nothing deep. Just a record of the day. I found some journal software I like and have been updating it each day, including a picture from the day. It's pretty neat to follow the journey of my main character with my own journey--though we're very different.

The one thing I'm not doing that Theo is doing is meeting lots of people. I nod and wave at people walking along the shore in front of my trailer, but not really having any personal contact. I wouldn't have missed it if it weren't for writing about him meeting people. I think that's one of the things I haven't done well on my journey the past seven years, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. When it finally passes (and it will) I want to spend more time sitting and talking to people. Even if we're socially distanced. Had to get out to say hello to the greyhounds, Oliver and Speckles.

I have many people I communicate with online--some of whom I have actually met at least once! I heard an incredible amount of angst and fear being expressed the past couple of weeks, but so far haven't seen evidence of much they were afraid of. Not that there is nothing scary in the world, but I hope we can start living without fear.

I found these words online and though I don't generally pass a lot of this on, these words, supposedly from an older man, were worth pondering:

#1 After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children, my friends, now I have started loving myself.
#2 I just realized that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.
#3 I now stopped bargaining with vegetables & fruits vendors. A few pennies more is not going to burn a hole in my pocket but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.
#4 I pay my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than me
#5 I stopped telling the elderly that they've already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down the memory lane & relive the past.
#6 I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.
#7 I give compliments freely & generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never, NEVER turn it down, just say "Thank You"
#8 I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.
#9 I walk away from people who don't value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.
#10 I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat & neither am I in any race.
#11 I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human.
#12 I have learned that it's better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships I will never be alone.
#13 I have learned to live each day as if it's the last. After all, it might be the last.
#14 I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. 

I'm not saying this is the way I live, but there are some gems within it that I will and do aspire to.

Be safe. Be well. And wear your damned mask!