A Year in Words, or I Thought There'd Be More Dinosaurs

Happy Almost 2016! I feel like 2015 has gone by ridiculously fast. I guess people always say that when a new year is approaching but I really mean it; I don't know where this year has gone BUT I'm not sad to see it go. 2015 was a rough year, mostly professionally, for me so I'm more than ready to get 2016 going. I have a good-ish feeling about this year.

But before 2016 dawns, it's time to take a look back at some of the highlights of 2015. I was reading an article earlier this week regarding Time's 2015 Word of the Year (they picked "emoji" - le sigh). This article led me to an NPR story about the American Dialect Society's annual Year in Words list that includes words like "squad goals", "opt-outer", "safe space", "dadbod", and my personal favorite, "unicorn" (referring here to its use in business specifically around startups). This group will select their word during their upcoming conference. I don't know what I can do to influence the American Dialect Society but I'm begging you, don't select "squad goals" as the word of the year. It's a terrible concept that makes me rage-ful. Like "#parentinggoals" and "#relationshipgoals", "squad goals" carries too much weight. It feels like one more way to make people unnecessarily compete with one another. Just hang out with your friends and have fun.

I digress.

The articles got me thinking about the amount of words I used this year. I did a lot of writing in 2015; this blog, my NaNoWriMo novel, edits to last year's novel (two new chapters, almost 4K more words and more to come), two LinkedIn posts, and at least a dozen blog posts for work. For the museum, I wrote three full tours and four conversation pieces. I also have two to-do list notebooks (one for home, one for work) and the notebook(s) I carry for jotting down ideas, short stories, and other short writings. I like words and forming them into sentences and paragraphs and such. I have favorite words although I don't often use them in casual, every day conversation. I like the way "defenestration" and "palimpsest" sound but don't have a use for either word most days. I also love the word "hiraeth"; it's Welsh and means homesickness for a home that you can't return to or that never was. Beautiful.

How would I quantify my use of words? Since I'm not a particularly scientific person nor did I start writing this post months ago so as to have done actual analysis of my writing, I used a free online text analyzer tool that let me copy and paste text and would, through the magic of the Internet and math, provide me with some fun stats on the words I used this year. I decided to use a sample of my writing including my novel, Land of Legends, and the ten most read Island posts from the year (I selected the ten posts that had over 50 views; the highest was 69 views). Before I "analyzed" the text, I jotted down a few words that I thought would be high on the list:

• Awesome
• Rage-ful
• Dinosaurs
• Hallmark
• Unicorn
• Writing/Writer/Write
• Friend/Friends/Friendship
• Pumpkin

In my novel, I used the word "kraken" 47 times and unicorn/unicorns 68 times. "Legends" was the most used word in my novel (that wasn't an article or the main character's name) with a whopping 155 uses throughout the story. The most used phrase was "before the end of the summer" and I referenced my main character's name, Iris, 774 times. The title of the novel which is also a place, was used 149 times throughout. The novel was a total of  50,078 words this year to give you some perspective.

Here on the Island, at least in the top ten posts, the most used words were date (35), friends/friend (50), love (27), dress (25), dating (22), perfect (15), tomatoes (9), and movies (8). The phrase "date lab" was used sixteen times and I referenced "Lane and Zach" (characters on Gilmore Girls) five times. I used the phrases "is the absolute worst" and "I have an aversion to" twice each and the product name "dress pant yoga pants" six times. Sadly, both "dinosaurs" and "Legos" were only used three times each; none of my dinosaur related posts were in the top ten. You all seemed (I used "y'all" only three times) very into my posts about dating and pants so I'm not sure what that says about me or my readers.

I made a very conscious choice this year to not use the word "just" as much or at all and was pleased to find it was an infrequent visitor to my writing and I know it was almost entirely eradicated from my work email (I'm very proud of this by the way). I've also reduced my use of "that" (another rather extraneous word) and "also".

Words are interesting - there's another one for you. When was the last time you said "interesting" and actually meant it in the dictionary definition of the word? Honestly, I can't remember. My most frequent use of "interesting" is usually accompanied by a covert eye roll or a snicker. However, I really do think it's interesting to consider the words I use most frequently. I'm sure if I did a full analysis of the Island, "dinosaur", "awesome", "Pumpkin", and probably "baking" would be the most frequently used words. As a writer I need to consider my words and look for new ones to help me create those sentences and paragraphs. I've been working on edits to my novel recently (Transient Suburbia from NaNoWriMo 2014) and I hear a lot of myself in my characters, not as much as some of my other writing but enough. In this case, it's cool and it works. In the future, it might not and that's something I need to focus on as I develop my work.

Here's to a new year of wonderful words and ideas! And hopefully to a year that won't include "emoji" or "squad goals" or something equally horrifying as the word of the year.

Happy 2016 Island Readers! 

Pumpkin hopes you make smart life choices while you're out ringing in 2016. She'll be napping.

Lazy Movie Weekend: Red Two

This is not a review of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (which I'll refer to as TFA for the remainder of this post). It's more about my experience with the larger Star Wars universe and going to see TFA this weekend. I promise no spoilers in my post but I will say six things about the new movie:

1. TFA reminds me more of the original trilogy; there's humor, likable characters, and you get the feeling it doesn't take itself too seriously (which was a huge problem for the prequels). 
2. Poe Dameron ≠ Wedge Antilles. More on this shortly.
3. BB8 is as endearing as R2D2. 
4. We now know how Leia updated her iconic hairstyle for a more mature look. It's similar to a look she wore when in Endor during Return of the Jedi but there's an air of older, wiser and more powerful about her now.
5. Watching any sort of aerial fight in this movie never gets old. 
6. Rey. That is all.

Hopefully this didn't ruin anything for you. If it did, you should reset your expectations on a lot of things. If you would like a review, check out Bad Shakespeare's blog. There's a spoiler free version up now and a spoiler inclusive version will be up on Monday.

One of the things I've always appreciated about Star Wars is the very personal and unique ways in which fans experience the movies and related universe. Everyone seems to have a Star Wars story of some kind: the first time they saw one of the original movies (in the theater or not), playing Star Wars in their backyard with their friends, making up adventures for your action figures like that time Han and Chewie rescued a Barbie in the Millennium Falcon, seeing an adult camped out in front of a movie theater in a full Storm Trooper costume when the movies were re-released in the theaters (I was going to see another movie), the opening notes of any of John Williams's score. Like a lot of artists, George Lucas had his own intentions and purposes when creating this world but it's taken on a life of its own. Maybe he was prepared for that, maybe he wasn't. I have no idea what I would do if something I created had such a following that everyone knew about it without even having to watch it. I got the sense that this was happening in the theater for a lot of people.

Another element of Star Wars I appreciate is the generational appeal of the franchise. Unlike a lot of other movies and series targeted at families or at least family adjacent, it's actually something that entertains parents as much as children. Parents, some of whom remember their own first experiences with Star Wars, can enjoy it in a way that other Disney movies (let's face reality) and animated movies don't capture. It's funny, sad, hopeful, desperate, romantic, action-packed, and fantastical all at the same time. Star Wars captures the imagination and inspires that imagination to move further and further into a galaxy far, far away.

My older brother, Scott, has always been a fan. I can't remember a time in his life (at least since I've been alive and aware of things) that did not include Star Wars. He's seen and owns the movies (multiple formats and versions), reads the novels and comics, has most (if not all) of his original toys plus more from the re-releases, and he loves John Williams. He knows a lot about the Star Wars universe and ts many worlds and plots and schemes. Like Legos, James Bond, and Marvel movies, it's something we enjoy together. Since word of the coming of TFA, he has not actually paid attention to much of the media about it. Scott's not on any social media site so it's easier for him than it is for me. He wanted to experience it rather than speculate like the rest of us. I believe he succeeded on this front.

What I didn't expect him to do was buy a Chewbacca coat. I bought my Rebel Alliance/Imperial Forces cardigan a month ago and had no idea he would buy this coat. It's awesome. I've learned a lot of things from Scott over the years and being a proud nerd is the thing I love the most. He does not care if anyone thinks what he likes is nerdy; he likes what he likes and that's that. This coat is a symbol of that confidence. 

We went to an 11 am showing on Saturday with our dad (who forgot he was going and who had to be talked into wearing a Storm Troopers shirt). Scott was one of the most costumed people in the theater; I counted two Storm Troopers sans helmets, a half Darth Vader, and a possible Kylo Ren. I expected more but mostly it was people in t-shirts and sweatshirts (like me) that made up the audience. Excited conversation filled the theater from kids and adults alike. There was applause during the movie mostly when a beloved character reappeared. The audible gasps at points throughout were a surprise; you'll know where once you see it. And of course, applause at the end of the movie as the credits rolled. 

Secondary characters abound in TFA just as they did in the original trilogy and to a less successful extent in the prequels. There are some familiar faces both to fans of the movies and to fans of J.J. Abrams. I am a solid Wedge Antilles fan despite him only having a handful of lines that were dubbed over in the first two movies by another actor. I was hopeful there would be a Wedge-like character for me to adore. My brother and I both agreed that Poe Dameron ≠ Wedge Antilles. We can live with Poe but there's something too "I'm going to be really important later on" about him. I prefer Wedge with his limited lines and awesome ability to not die in two firefights and a battle on Hoth. I know I was "supposed" to have a crush on Luke or Han but I was always partial to Wedge (Denis Lawson not Colin Higgins). Maybe it was the uniform. I guess Snap Wexley will have to fill the void.

All in all, my TFA experience was exactly as I hoped it would be. I was at a party this weekend and was asked multiple times if I enjoyed the movie and if it was worth it. Here's my response: you know when you're a kid and you get really excited about something and then that thing happens and it's a total let down? This was the exact opposite of that feeling. TFA is not my favorite Star Wars movie (that will always be The Empire Strikes Back) but it's certainly worthy of the originals and a wonderful beginning to a new series of adventures in the world of the Jedis, the Dark Side, and a new hope. 

Wedge Antilles meme

Pen Pals

Earlier this week I re-watched the film version of Julie Powell's book Julie & Julia. In both the book and the film, Julie spends a year cooking her way through all of the recipes in Julia Child's iconic cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Child and her co-authors, Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, wrote a cookbook with the home cook in mind; they wanted French cooking to be accessible and delicious. I own a copy of this cookbook; I have never made anything from it. Powell blogged about her experience which led to articles in The New York Times and the eventual book. Throughout the year, she struggles with self-doubt, arguments with her supportive yet frustrated husband, and balancing her project with her actual work. I liked the book mostly because I could understand Julie's need to do something other than her desk job but I never really liked Julie and found her difficult to root for at points throughout. At one point her husband calls her a narcissist because of the focus on her blog; I sometimes wonder if I'm as bad as she is about this blog. I hope not.

I enjoyed the film but mostly because of the sections about Julia Child. These were adapted from a second book, My Life in France. I've read this book twice and love. love, love it. In it, Child recounts her move to Paris with her amazing husband Paul and her experiences learning the art of French cuisine. It doesn't hurt that Meryl Streep plays Julia in the film (and Stanley Tucci is Paul which makes their turns in The Devil Wears Prada even more amusing). She's wonderful, from the accent to the clothes to the precision in the cooking scenes. Amy Adams plays Julie in the film; she definitely captured a lot of what I didn't love about Julie from the book. I have an even harder time with the character of Julie after I read Powell's second book, Cleaving. But that's a tale for another day.

One of my favorite parts of the film is the scene in which Julia Child and Simone Beck come to Boston from Paris  to try to get the cookbook published. Julia's friend, Avis DeVoto, helped to connect them with a publishing house interested in taking on the book. As Julia and Simone make their way through the train station to meet Avis, Julia says something that makes you realize that she and Avis have never met. Simone questions her further and it's revealed that Julia and Avis are pen pals and this will be the first time they'll meet face to face. When they do, it's a lovely cinematic moment. I can only imagine what it was like in real life.

The two women struck up their friendship because of a letter Julia wrote to Avis's husband, Bernard DeVoto. He was an historian and Julia wrote to him about an article he wrote on kitchen knives. Avis responded; her first letter led to over one hundred letters between the women over the course of two years. I'm currently working through As Always, Julia, which details those letters. I love Julia Child despite my not having ever made anything from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. After reading My Life in France for the first time I was impressed with her drive and humor. She did something truly revolutionary in the world of food at a time with boxed food and tv dinners were on the rise. She elevated home cooking in a very accessible way.

I decided to come back to As Always, Julia now after having started it a few years ago and not finishing. I'm fascinated by people who write letters; I wish I was better at being a letter writer. Maybe I'll try harder this year. Some argue that letter writing is a dead art, a terrible way to communicate. I disagree. I like the idea of taking time to sit down and write to someone, to ask questions, to describe the events of your day or week, to share a bit of you on paper. You can overshare. You can be angry. You can be passionate. You can be funny. I guess letter writing's only fault is that it's not quick or convenient. Sigh.

I think that's part of the reason I decided my 2014 NaNoWriMo novel would include characters writing to one another. My characters, Harper and Ben, are assigned as pen pals in the fourth grade. Over the course of six years, they write to each other regularly about all manner of things from music to books to the kinds of toys girls in the fourth grade like to how to ask someone out on a date. They never exchange photos and never meet. Well, they don't meet as children. Over Thanksgiving, I started my first major revisions to the novel since last May. I have decided 2016 will be the year I truly finish this novel. During NaNoWriMo, editing is not a possibility and I've found that intentions of writing certain things don't always happen. I ended up with a workable first draft and now it's time to finish.

Which brings me back to letters. One of the things I want to spend more time on are the letters between Harper and Ben. There are letters in the first draft: several in the fourth grade (when they "meet") and several in the ninth grade (mostly from Harper as this is a pivotal year in their relationship). However, I really only scratched the surface with the ones in the novel now. I'm starting back in fourth grade, building on the first two letters they send one another. Does Ben tell her about the tree house? Does Harper get mad about his assumption that she plays with Barbies? How do these letters morph into the ones that become very important later on when Ben is no longer really Ben and Harper is the subject of his art?  R-ewatching the Julia/Avis meeting and diving into their letters is further inspiration. Letter writing is challenging when you're doing it for real; it's even more so when you're writing for people who only exist on paper. I worry that they sound too much alike or too adult. I have to take myself back to the early 1990s yet again; what horrifying fashion trend should I inflict on one of my characters? Should Harper harbor a secret love of NKOTB even though she's so much cooler than boy bands?

I don't know any of these answers yet and that's what I love about coming back to this novel. When I first started it I had it mapped out and on a clear timeline because that's what you have to do to finish 50K words in thirty days or less. Now I have time to go back and add in details I wrote down but forgot. I have time to make these characters even more real. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved the story when I reread it. There are some romcom-y bits here and there but that's okay; they balance things out nicely.

Here's my request: over the next few months, I hope that you'll indulge me as I post some new parts of Transient Suburbia on the Island to test them out and get some reactions from you. I promise there will still be Lazy Movie Weekends, Your Resident Single Friend will stilll help you out, and occasionally we'll do everything wrong together. By the end of 2016, I hope to have the full novel ready to be sent out into the world.

If you want to get caught up on Transient Suburbia, you can check out my posts from last year (and one from a few months ago).

DC Days: Jump one more time...I dare you

When I was younger, I was much more into the holidays. I used to love putting up the tree and shopping and all the trappings of a winter extravaganza. Cookie baking and decorating rank high on my holiday list still as does watching holiday movies, Hallmark or otherwise. I hold college responsible for the decline of my holiday wonder; I always had to travel back home for the holiday break. Even in the pre-TSA, extra security days, holiday travel was not what one would consider fun. The travel may have been leading to fun but the actual logistics of travel sucked some of that fun (and magic) out of the experience. As I've gotten older, I wonder if my disinterest in the holidays comes from spending my holidays with adults. Since neither my brother nor I have children and we haven't been to Michigan for Christmas in six years (where my cousins' children live), I don't really spend a lot of time around the little ones at the time of year where they are most in awe of things and excited for celebrating. Maybe that's actually why there's an adorable child in every holiday movie; to help us remember the wonder and magic of the season.

Or something.

I have a friend who doesn't like holidays (all holidays and her birthday). It's because of "forced joy." That's what she always tells me when I ask. The forced aspects of holidays are what kill it for her. You know the feeling she's describing: you have to get excited because someone bought an inflatable Santa or went all out on their haunted house this year or hand crocheted doilies for Valentine's cards or whatever one does to really go all out for Arbor Day. The desire to outdo one another or to get things done earlier make the actual fun things about the holidays seem like chores.

That's why I love things like the National Christmas Tree. It's a celebration that's simple and elegant. It feels like the start of something wondrous. For 93 years the President and his family have participated in the official lighting of a decorated tree in the Ellipse, the National Park near the White House (it's also referred to as President's Park). Over the years, the celebration has grown to more than just the First Family, the National Park Service (NPS), and the Marine Corps Band. Now televised on PBS, the lighting ceremony boasts a celebrity host, bands and other musicians, and the occasional muppet. None of this takes away from the original intention of the ceremony: to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season and spread some holiday cheer. One of my favorite additions to this year's festivities was that Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest NPS Park Ranger (she's 94) was on hand to introduce the President.

I've been to see the tree over the years but I've never been to the actual lighting ceremony. The NPS opens up a ticket lottery a few weeks in advance. I never remember to sign up for it. I know someone who has tried to get tickets for five years straight and finally got them this year. Another friend, who just moved here in September, entered her name after hearing about it on the radio and she got tickets. I was excited that she asked me to go and liked her reasoning for wanting to go in the first place: where else can you witness the leader of the free world light a Christmas tree? We have a tremendous amount of opportunity in the greater DMV to do some super cool stuff and this ranks up there on the list.

We took Metro like good DMV residents and walked the few blocks from Farragut West to the Ellipse (past the sad shell of the Corcoran Gallery). I've never seen that many women without purses in one place at a time. Bags are not permitted at the ceremony so even I had to pare down my belongings into things I could keep in my pockets. We made it through security with ease and found our way to a nice spot in the standing room section. My friend and I are both short so no matter where we stood, we were not going to be able to see much. Our plan was to stay until to watch the Obamas light the tree. No need to stay for the concert; we could just watch it on tv later.

And then they arrived. No matter what type of public event I attend, concert, baseball game, tree lighting, I end up near people who complain about everything and anything. This was no different; the group behind us filled the role of annoying attendees. If it wasn't how bad the view was it was questioning why there wasn't any hot chocolate being passed out or why wasn't Reese Witherspoon on stage already. There was an entire diatribe on the nightmare that is Metro. And then they started complaining about the cold. When one of the speakers said something about winter, they both said at the same time, "It's not winter yet." Seriously? The younger woman kept jumping up and down like a small child (she was in her 20s) and the older woman (her mother probably) kept saying crazier things. The men with them (spouses I presume) said nothing.

I didn't say anything since that wouldn't really solve anything and shaking/punching them would have been inappropriate (especially when surrounded by lots of Secret Service). One of my pet peeves about living is this area is the amount of people who either don't take advantage of all the things we have access to here (free museums/historical sites/a zoo, tree ceremonies with the First Family, volunteering at the Inauguration and other random events) OR who do take advantage of such things but spend the entire time complaining about the place or event they are attending. It is every DMV resident's right to complain about Metro but why would you complain that it's cold outside at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in December? This is why we can't have nice things.

I know it seems small and silly to complain about something like this; there are bigger issues in the world on which I should be focusing my attention. It's been a crappy few months in the world; an understatement I know. When so many horrible and challenging things happen, I like to take solace in small moments of calm and peace. That's the point of ceremonies like the lighting of the National Christmas Tree. It's something that is supposed to remind us all about the positive and the beautiful in the world. I was glad my friend wanted to leave immediately following the lighting of the tree; I don't think I could have dealt with any additional complaints or discussions about why Metro is the absolute worst. I understand everyone goes to things like this for their own reasons even if it is just to say they went. I wish people would act like they appreciate it rather than being awful. I know I can't control others but that doesn't mean I can't hope for something better for them. Maybe they thought my friend and I were being rude, leaving early and whispering to one another. Maybe I'm a Grinch. 

On the more positive side of things, seeing the tree lighting did inspire me to get a real tree this year. I bought one of those tiny trees Trader Joe's sells. Another friend had the genius idea to use earrings as decorations. I bought woodland creatures and hipster cats to complete the look. I think it turned out rather nicely.

If you're in the mood for more National Tree themed viewing, you can watch a wonderful Hallmark (I know, I need a life) movie called The National Tree starring Andrew McCarthy. In addition to Andrew McCarthy, there are plot elements that include a stowaway and an improbable sequence involving the tree and fire. It's got drama and love and the pomp of a nationally televised event. Basically it's everything you could ever want in a holiday film. Enjoy!

Your Resident Single Friend: Hallmark Holiday Movie Edition

Regular Island readers may recall that I have a mild obsession with Hallmark holiday movies. It's not unusual during the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's for me to watch lots of these movies even if I've seen them before; I even have favorites. Yes, they're formulaic and silly and totally devoid of reality and occasionally so traditional/stereotypical it makes my feminist heart hurt but there's something incredibly comforting about them as well. As I shared back in October, I've recently joined an online dating site and to say that it's been a disappointment would be an understatement. My paid subscription ends on, get this, December 24th. It's as if I've been dropped into the perfect scenario for a new Hallmark holiday movie. Today's post is in the form of a "script" for a new Hallmark movie (or what a short story version would look like if such things existed). Yes, it's cheesy and silly but so are all of their movies so it's perfect. You'll need to use your imagination to fill in some of the details and the montages I've indicated. I haven't figured out how to add a meddling older woman and/or an adorable child (staples of all Hallmark holiday movies) but there's always a way and a second draft.

For your enjoyment: The 12 Online Dates of Christmas

A medley of "rock and roll" versions of Christmas songs play over the opening sequence featuring people out and about in a nondescript city getting ready for Christmas (it could be New York or Chicago or Toronto or Cedar Rapids). Families are shopping, couples are pausing to window shop and drink hot chocolate, little kids look in awe at the decorations and at the idea that Santa will be here soon. Our focus shifts to a woman in her thirties (although she doesn't look it) in a seasonally appropriate green coat, juggling several bags, a cup of coffee, and her purse. She's attempting to find her keys and her phone keeps chirping at her, the sign of incoming emails. She sighs, puts down her bags on a nearby stoop and fishes her phone and keys from her purse. She removes her glove and enters her password to access her phone.

"I need to get those smartphone gloves this year," she thinks to herself as her hand immediately freezes. She's only a few blocks from her apartment but stopped to check her email in case it's from work. If she needed to do something to prep for tomorrow's editorial meeting, she wanted to know before she got home so she could plan out her evening.

There are two emails: one from her mother and one from It'sOnlyADate.com, the online dating site she joined back in October. She scanned the one from her mother quickly; details about the cruise her parents are going on for Christmas and then opened the one from the online dating site. She braced herself for yet another "you're not trying hard enough" email that the site thought were helpful. The email never specifically said "you're not trying hard enough" but it was always implied.

The email began friendly enough:

Happy Holidays Charlotte Adams! We here at It's Only a Date hope that you are enjoying the holiday season and gearing up for one of the busiest times of the dating year. 

"This isn't terrible," Charlotte said to herself. Not important enough to have stopped her walk home but now that she was stopped, she decided to continue on.

As we enter peak dating season, this is a friendly reminder that your subscription will end at midnight on December 24th. To take advantage of all the benefits of  your membership, make sure to visit your payments page and select the option for "autorenewal" so we can ensure no disruption of service. We wouldn't want you to miss out on of the person of your dreams! 

Need help with your profile or communications? Add our personalized profile services to your subscription. For an additional $10 a week one of our dating experts will help you maximize your profile and communications with matches. We'll help you be the best possible online dating you! Contact us today!

Happy Holidays,
The It's Only a Date Team

Charlotte sighed and put her phone back in her purse. Seriously, who writes these emails? She found it both amusing and sad that her subscription was set to expire on Christmas Eve. It was sort of maudlin really and very Hallmark holiday movie. She picked up her bags and resumed her walk home. She would call an emergency meeting with her friends this evening. They were the ones who encouraged her to join the site in the first place, threatening to create a profile for her if she didn't do it herself. She needed their dating expertise; she wasn't going to spend any more money on services from this site.

Cut to: Charlotte and her three friends, Marilyn, Beth, and Rebecca, sitting around the table at a cafe. The women each have a coffee in front of them and are sharing an enormous piece of chocolate chocolate cake. The conversation about the dating site is already in progress.

"Obviously you should just renew your subscription and give it more time. Dating takes time, like looking for a new job. You shift through all the entry level options so you can find the right one." Rebecca took a forkful of cake.

"You're comparing dating to a job search? That just makes this even worse." Charlotte sipped her coffee, an excellent vanilla latte, and gave Rebecca a mildly withering look.

"It's just because both activities take time. You can't expect to find "the one" if you don't really try. And admit it, you haven't really been trying. You just rate people and hope for the best." Rebecca put her fork down and gave her friend an equally withering look.

"Fine. I have not truly done everything I could be doing on the site. Maybe I'm too old fashioned for online dating. I still like the idea of the guy asking the girl out and all. I'm not an instigator." Charlotte replied.

Beth chimed in, "I think you should let your subscription go and move on. I know so many great guys and can set you up." The women laughed; Beth was terrible at matchmaking.

"I'll pass given your less than stellar history with setting people up but thank you for the offer." Charlotte looked at Marilyn for an opinion. "You're being suspiciously quiet this evening."

"I was just thinking of what you should actually do. I think you should use the last couple of weeks of your subscription to the fullest. Ask guys out, reply to their messages or chats or whatever the hell goes on. Go out on at least twelve dates and then let it expire. After that, you can do whatever you want. You'll probably go on some terrible dates but at least you'll have given it a try." Marilyn finished her coffee and checked her watch. "I've got to go. I'm meeting Dan at Crate & Barrel; I'm helping him Christmas shop for his sisters." Marilyn had just gotten engaged and was trying to fit in with her fiance's family. The other women packed up and left too.

Charlotte lingered at the cafe after her friends left. This was one of her favorite places and it was right down the street from her apartment. Owen, the owner and baker, was amazingly talented and didn't mind if she worked on her articles when she needed a break from her apartment. He stopped by her table to check on her.

"Are you still working on the cake?" He brought her another latte too.

"No, but I'll grab a box and take it with me. My friends never do their part when we order cake." She smiled at Owen. "Can I ask you something? I think I need a guy's opinion on something."

"Sure. Always happy to be the "guy opinion" on things." Owen sat down across from Charlotte.

"If you were on an online dating site and a woman asked you out, would you go? Or is that too aggressive?" Charlotte thought she sounded like a moron. She was a smart, adult woman with a great job, nice apartment, and a pleasant life. Why was she so awkward when it came to this sort of thing?

Owen thought about it for a minute, "I think if you're on one of those sites you have the expectation that either participant in the conversation could be the one doing the asking. I don't know why you'd go on a dating site if you didn't expect a woman to ask you out or if you weren't comfortable doing the asking if you're interested or if someone expresses interest in you."

"Thank you. That's what I thought but the confirmation is helpful." Charlotte took a sip of her coffee. "I'm going to try a little experiment and see if you're right."

"Which site are you on? Or aren't you allowed to say?" Owen got up to grab her a to-go box for her cake.

"I don't think it matters. I'm on It's Only a Date. It seemed like the only one that wasn't oddly religious, for hookups only, or about getting married. However, I seem to be failing and only have until Christmas Eve to really use my subscription since that's when it expires. I don't think I'm going to extend it." Charlotte put the cake in the box and started putting on her scarf and coat.

"Well, good luck. I hope you find whoever you're looking for." Owen started clearing the table.

"Thanks for the advice and the coffee. See you tomorrow!" Charlotte left for home.

Owen watched her walk down the street. He always liked Charlotte and decided to do something about it. After closing he created his own profile on It's Only a Date. Maybe he'd be one of Charlotte's twelve dates of Christmas.

Imagine a montage sequence of Charlotte diving into her online dating account and going on the first six dates.

Seven days later: The women are sitting around the same table having coffee and discussing Charlotte's progress. This time Charlotte wouldn't allow them to share cake since they always left her with the leftovers. She was enjoying Owen's famous pecan pie. Since the last meeting, Charlotte had been on six dates and had six more scheduled before Christmas Eve. 

"So you've just been accepting whoever asks you out?" Beth still didn't approve of Charlotte's plan to date as many people in the remaining days of her online dating subscription.

"Yes and no. In some cases I ask them out if there's something about their profile I like. I've given them all nicknames." Charlotte finished her pie and smiled.

"And the nicknames are?" Marilyn thought this was all hilarious.

"Date 1: Possibly Has a Secret Family Guy because he has all these photos with women and children in them but doesn't explain who the women and children are so I assume he has a secret family." Her friends laughed. "Date 2: Rugby Guy which was confusing because all of his profile pictures were of him playing lacrosse. Date 3: Awkward Screen Name Guy - seriously used "yolo" in a sentence four times on our date. Date 4: Outdoorsy Guy. We met up for a hike and I thought I was going to die. Date 5: Acquaintance Guy - he's from one of the company's we use at work for online editing software. It was weird since we know each other but don't. And Date 6: Weird Dog Email Guy. He wrote me an email about his dog and then spent the entire dinner talking about his dog. She's a Springer Spaniel named Daisy. At least he didn't bring Daisy with him." Charlotte sipped her coffee while her friends considered her list. Owen waved from the counter. She had brought Possibly Secret Family Guy here and the ridiculousness of the date had made Owen laugh.

"Any promising options for second dates?" Rebecca asked.

"Acquaintance Guy has texted and it wouldn't be terrible. The others are all nos for me. I have six more dates lined up. Want to hear their nicknames?" Charlotte shared the next six names: Date 7: Decoupage Guy (apparently he enjoyed decoupage or sarcasm, Charlotte wasn't sure which); Date 8: Very Into Christmas Guy (they were going to a tree lighting ceremony); Date 9: Hates His Family Guy; Date 10: In Need of Some Grammar Lessons Guy (Charlotte should have turned him down but he was very nice online); Date 11: Marathon Guy (no running would be involved in the date thankfully); and Date 12: Awesome Profile Guy (no photo but his profile was the best she had read).

"Are you concerned that Awesome Profile Guy will be horrifying to look at? I think it's weird that he didn't put up a photo. How hard is it these days to take a picture?" Beth was trying hard to find a flaw in Charlotte's plan.

"It absolutely does not bother me. I'll take no photo over awkward selfie on a bed or weird photo of you on vacation with your bros. It might be better since I'll have no preset notions about him being my "type" which I don't believe I have anyway. His profile was funny, seemed completely truthful, and sincere. I'm holding out hope for Awesome Profile Guy."

"Did you ask him out or did he ask you?" Marilyn finished her coffee and was trying to decide if she wanted a refill.

"We asked each other out although I will give him credit for the date since he picked where we're meeting. I'm going to get a refill. Anyone else?" Marilyn nodded and Charlotte took their cups up to the counter.

Beth spoke in a stage whisper, "I think we should do some spying for these last dates. I don't like this idea but I think we should help."

"Or meddle but help sounds nicer." Marilyn didn't disagree. "We can rotate since I don't think I can spare six nights with all the holiday prep and parties I have to go to. Being engaged at Christmas is the worst by the way. Why didn't either of you tell me that?"

Rebecca ignored the question, "Plan of attack: we'll each take three dates. She'll tell us where they're at and then we can share notes over text and email and intervene if we feel it's necessary."

"Sounds like a plan to me. She's coming back." Marilyn changed the subject back to the upcoming dates. "So where are the remaining dates?"

They spent the rest of their coffee date talking about Charlotte's upcoming dates and everyone's holiday plans. None of them noticed Owen inch closer to their table. He was eavesdropping a bit, getting hints at what Charlotte did and didn't like about her previous six dates and her thoughts on the next six. He wanted whatever information he thought would help. He rather liked his nickname, Awesome Profile Guy.

Several days later, December 24th: Charlotte is in her apartment getting ready for Date 12: Awesome Profile Guy. The pile of discarded clothes has grown over the course of the late afternoon; she's been trying on every outfit in her closet for her date. Nothing seems to be quite right; she refused to buy anything new but is now regretting her choice. Her cat, Cheese, is watching her with feigned interest. Finally she comes up with a winning combination: black skirt, grey sweater with an incredibly flattering neckline, purple tights, boots, and a necklace she found at a vintage store. She feels comfortable and attractive. The final five dates were exactly as she thought they would be: fun, a little awkward, but not worth a second date. Acquaintance Guy never got back to her so Awesome Profile Guy was it. If this didn't work out, she would enjoy her single life and never try online dating again. And maybe get another cat. Her phone rings.

"Hey Marilyn. I'm just getting ready to leave. What's up?" Charlotte had met with her friends once more since starting the second half of her dates. Oddly they were all in agreement with her on each date, even Beth. She suspected they were up to something but didn't know what.

"Just wanted to wish you luck. Where are you going again?"

"We're meeting at the Holiday Market on Main and 14th Street. I'm supposed to meet him by the hot chocolate stand on the 14th Street side of the market. We're going to explore the market and then have dinner somewhere nearby." Charlotte applied some lipstick and threw it in her purse.

"Since you don't know what he looks like, how will you know it's him?" Awesome Profile Guy was technically on Marilyn's list but all three women were going on this one.

"He told me he'd be wearing a Star Wars holiday themed scarf and would have hot chocolates ready for us. He knows what I look like so it'll be fine. I have to go or I'll be late. I'll call you later." They said their goodbyes and Charlotte put her phone in her purse. "Cheese, wish me luck." The cat mewed at her and went back to napping. "Good enough."

Charlotte walked to the market at a quick pace. It wasn't far from her apartment and she didn't mind the cold. She was more excited for this date than any of the other eleven; something about Awesome Profile Guy made her happy. She thought this was a very good sign. The market was crowded more than she expected given that it was Christmas Eve; people were packed around the stalls and the food trucks. The ice skating rink was in the middle of the market and it was full too. Charlotte made her way through the crowds and to the hot chocolate stand on 14th Street. As she was approaching, she could have sworn she saw her friends ducking behind a vendor selling knitwear but she couldn't be sure. Marilyn always wore this very specific red coat and that was what caught Charlotte's eye. She shrugged it off as pre-date nerves and continued to the stand. It wasn't as crowded as the other parts of the market and even had a little sit down area with picnic tables. She didn't see a guy wearing a Star Wars holiday scarf. Was she early? No, right on time. She looked around a bit more, going around to the other side of the stand in case he was over there instead. No Star Wars scarf. She waited a few minutes, watching families and couples walk by. No single guys in Stars Wars scarves. She started to walk back around to the other side."He'll be here," she said to herself.

As she turned to go back she saw two things at once: Owen walking towards her wearing a Star Wars holiday scarf (Wookies in Santa hats and what looked like Yoda as an elf; she couldn't be sure) carrying two cups and Marilyn's distinct red coat. She wasn't sure which image was more surprising. She opted to ignore her friends; she could clearly see all three of them hiding/not hiding behind a neighboring food truck and focused on the person she'd been calling Awesome Profile Guy.

"Hot chocolate?" He asked.

"Don't mind if I do. So, you're my date?" Charlotte took the cup from him and waited for an answer.

Owen smiled. "I figured why not? We've always gotten along well in the two years you've come into the cafe so I thought I'd give it a try."

"You could have just asked me out without having to go through the hassle of the website." Charlotte sipped her hot chocolate.

"Yes, but then I wouldn't have gotten an awesome nickname. The nickname makes the online profile worth it. Would you like to walk around or sit?"

"Walk. We have an audience." She gestured towards the food truck and her friends. "They mean well but are a bit overprotective. I have a feeling they've been following me all week. Also, sorry about the nickname thing. You probably heard us talking about you and the other dates." Charlotte was trying to remember if she or her friends had said anything really embarrassing. "I'm sorry if we said anything super embarrassing."

Owen laughed, "I'd probably do the same thing with nicknames. Actually I refer to you as "Writer Girl" to my friends. Done it for years. And that was more embarrassing of an admission than anything you said to your friends."

"That makes me feel better, I think." They walked closer to the skating rink. "Do you always go on dates on Christmas Eve? I'm usually not here but my parents went on a cruise this year." Charlotte was spending Christmas day with her friends and their families.

"I don't date much and have never been out on a date on Christmas Eve. You said your subscription was ending today so I went with it. It's kind of perfect don't you think?" They stopped just short of the ice skating rink entrance. It really was lovely; sparkly and bright. It was exactly like the end of all the holiday rom-coms she watched incessantly in the lead up to Christmas.

"It's like a holiday card. In a good way. Let's sit over there and watch the skaters; I'm terrible at skating or I'd suggest we give a whirl." Charlotte led the way to an empty bench.

"I can't skate to save my life. I'd probably break something." They drank their hot chocolate and began a running commentary on the skaters. Their conversation eventually veered into more first date type topics. Charlotte noticed her friends only one more time, exiting the market quickly waving at her as they did. She took it as a good sign that they were leaving; it meant they approved or at least were going to leave her alone on this one. It was getting colder and the pair decided to go to dinner. Most places were closed because of the holidays but they eventually found a 24 hour diner that was open and not too crowded. They ordered coffees and breakfast for dinner and spent the rest of the night talking and not paying attention to the time. Charlotte finally realized it was almost midnight.

"We should probably go. Our waitress looks unhappy with our presence despite our additional purchases of apple pie and french fries. That should have been a gross combination but it was surprisingly good." Charlotte smiled at Owen.

"It's not like we ate the pie with french fries on top. They were adjacent items. I see your point on the combination and our waitress. We should go." Owen paid the bill, leaving an excellent tip. They waved at the waitress as they exited. She did not wave back.

It was snowing lightly as they exited the diner. "Do you want to walk or get a cab?" Owen asked.

"Walk. Walking in the snow seems like a very Christmas Eve thing to do" Charlotte replied.

"Okay but remember that statement in a few minutes when the snow picks up and we're both miserable." He took her hand and they walked towards her apartment.

"It's not going to get worse." Charlotte was convinced, although she did not share it with Owen, that there was some sort of Christmas magic working this evening. It had been a perfect evening, after she'd gotten over the shock of date twelve being Owen. They'd known each other for years; it just seemed right. The snow did not get worse but they were at her apartment building much too quickly.

"Here we are," Charlotte stopped in front of her building. "I had a really great time tonight. It was unexpected but I'm glad you're Awesome Profile Guy."

"Good. This would have been a terrible idea if you ended up hating me or something." Owen smiled at her, the same warm smile that had been greeting her for years.

"Well, I'd like to go out again if you're game."

"I think that's a great idea. I'm guessing tomorrow is out of the question with it being Christmas and all. How about the next day?"

"What no three day rule? I'm kidding of course. Yes, the 26th would be great."

"Then it's a date. Merry Christmas, Charlotte."

"Merry Christmas, Owen." As they kissed for the first time, the snow picked up dramatically.

"I told you it would get worse." Owen teased.

"Or better." Charlotte kissed him again as the snow whirled around them.

The snow whirls and swirls around the pair as Christmas music plays. We follow a swirl of snow up into the sky. End Hallmark Christmas movie.

NaNoWriMo: What does it all mean?

I first visited Dinosaur Land in 2014 which I decided to go on an Instagram Vacation. My plan was to go from Arlington (where I live) to Baltimore (a city I love) to Richmond (to visit friends). Along the way my plan was to stop at roadside attractions and unusual points of interest like the American Visionary Arts Museum (a must see in Baltimore). I photographed the pineapple that greets visitors to Charm City and Nipper the RCA dog. I stopped at the Giant Roller Skate (but did not skate; need to go back to do that) in Bealton,VA. However, Dinosaur Land was always the true destination.

March in the DMV is a strange month. It's hard to predict the weather; it can be gorgeous and spring-like or hold onto winter with an impressive death grip. I once described it to a friend from New Orleans as "what would happen if February and April had a baby and that baby hated sunshine and happiness." As I was driving from Arlington to White Post, VA (where Dinosuar Land is), it started to sleet and snow. The route takes you down 66 through the Shenandoah Mountains so you can imagine how much fun this was. By the time I got to the parking lot, it stopped sleeting but was still bitter cold. Dinosaur Land was open; I was the only visitor. The young man who sold me my ticket told me to be careful but to enjoy. I stepped through the entrance into a strange and magical place. I walked around the park, taking pictures, reading the signs, and wondering why more places like this don't exist. It made me feel like a kid again and that was before I browsed in the gift shop.

No one is going to build Dinosaur Land today (unless it resembles something more like Jurassic Park) but I'm sure glad Joseph Geraci thought to do so in the early sixties. I've been back twice since 2014 and plan to go at least that many times next summer. Places like Dinosaur Land represent a lot of things: nostalgia for the good old days, a specific type of American entrepreneur, and the belief that simple entertainment is the best kind of entertainment. It's the ideal place for hipster kids to take selfie (and me too - I have some Dinosaur Land selfies too) but also a fun thing to do with little kids on a pleasant summer day. Places like Dinosaur Land make me think about my childhood and driving from wherever we lived to Detroit in the summers and the sort of hazy veil that sits on top of childhood memories. We never stopped at a place like Dinosaur Land but we had adventures and enjoyed the fun of the road.

As I started prepping for NaNoWriMo this year, I had a hard time getting into my original idea. I liked the idea but I when I sat down to write a character sketch or timeline, I got stuck. While I think it's a good idea, it's just not ready to see the light of day. Yet. So with two weeks until the start of the month, I threw out that idea and decided to go with something else. I decided to write about a Dinosaur Land-like place in a similar type of town in Virginia but tell the story from the perspective of a young girl, Iris, (and later her as an adult) whose family owns a roadside attraction called Land of Legends. She grows up there and its really the only place she knows. She wants to be an artist not run a park in the middle of nowhere. When she returns as an adult the realities of running such a business sink in; it's fallen on hard times and the land is worth more than the family legacy. Iris has to decide what to do with the park and how to preserve the history of her family.

Land of Legends features Iris's family, including her father, grandparents, aunt, and two cousins. There's a boy who returns later on but not as a love interest, a grumpy cat named Ethel, and the legends themselves. The park features a Yeti, Bigfoot, dragons, a kraken, mermaids, a maze with a Minotaur, fairies, and a family of unicorns. Imagine growing up with that in your backyard and with the expectation that you will run this one day. I genuinely liked every character I wrote even the bratty little girl who tries to climb on the unicorns. It was fun to write but as with any writing, it was also work. I struggled through 1997, the summer Iris turns 13. Getting through the middle was the most challenging part of the story. I also made the decision to kill a character although the character that died at the end was not the character I originally planned would die. That's how these things work; you have a plan but things happen and you change course. However, I kept going and I finished the first draft. I wrote a fun, little novel. It's not going to change the world but it changes me.

Which brings me to the end: what does it all mean? When I tell people about NaNoWriMo and about "winning" (which is what they call it when you get your 50K word goal and finish), they seem rather let down. I assume it's because they think winning means my novel will be published. That's not how this works. I get where they're coming from; when you write a novel people expect you to publish it. Maybe I will one day but that's not the goal for me. I have done this for the last three years to push myself to take an idea and turn it into something complete. I like the structure of the month; I have to discipline myself to write and commit to the project fully. Writing is not just a hobby for me but since it's not my full time job, taking this month to really dedicate time to an idea and to crafting characters and to seeing them develop makes me incredibly happy. It gives me purpose and fulfills my need to do something creative every day.

The other reality of this is that it doesn't stop because the month is over; not the novel or my writing. I write a weekly blog, I write for work, I write things I don't share publicly; I will always write even if no one reads. I'll take a little break from the novel but will return to it at some point to revise and edit and decide if I want to do anything else with it. I've been working on revising last year's novel, Transient Suburbia, on and off since the summer. My goal for the coming year is to finish the revisions to that novel and do something with it. I don't know what that something is but I want to see that novel out there in the world. I have two weeks off in December and most of my time is going to be devoted to working on that novel because I believe in it and I love it. Eventually I'll do the same thing with Land of Legends and my first NaNoWriMo novel, The Metro Counselor.

The 2015 Stats:

• Started on: November 1
• Finished on: November 23
• Total days: 19 days (I wasn't able to write four days for various reasons)
• Best day: November 22 - 8171 words
• Worst day: November 18 - 184 words
• Total words: 50078
• Pages: 95
• Chapters: 26
• Number of times I watched the kraken scene from the 1981 film Clash of the Titan: 40
• Number of pairs of themed socks purchased: 3 (Yeti, Bigfoots, Unicorns - all from Target)
• Packages of peanut M&Ms: 2
• Bottles of wine: 2

I'm happy to share my "finished" NaNoWriMo novels with anyone interested in reading them. I wanted to post the whole novel this year but it didn't really lend itself to being posted on a blog. 

Coming soon to the Island: the conclusion of NaNoWriMo, The Eye Shadow Experiment (no, I did not join a band but it is an excellent band name), a check in on how online dating is going, and my guide to not hating the holidays. 

NaNoWriMo: The Home Stretch

We all know that Pumpkin has a lot of feelings. She's never been shy about "telling" me exactly what she thinks of my life choices (the eyes really tell the story) or the food choices I make for her (we went through a spitting food phase a few years back - not pleasant). On the plus side, she's fairly low maintenance; she doesn't need me to pay attention to her all the time. I appreciate that about having a cat; she's the right mix of aloof and needs attention. It's why we've gotten along so famously for the last thirteen years.

Pumpkin hates my computer. She doesn't even like laying on it like all those cats on the Internet; she prefers the cable box and the heater for her napping needs. You can imagine then how much Pumpkin actually loves National Novel Writing Month. I can see the dislike in her little cat face every time I sit down to write in the evenings. I imagine what's going on in her head, "Oh no, that stupid clicky-tappy thing is back again. She's not going to pet me or give me treats for hours. And when will she go to sleep? I have cat things to do and I can only do them when she sleeps. Look, shiny thing! Hey is that a bug? Oops, nap time."

Or something. Maybe it's just all "food, nap, sun patch, litter box, pet me, food, water, treat, nap, nap, nap, knock something over, nap." I don't really know but I do know that Pumpkin gets cranky when I spend too much time on the clicky-tappy thing. She's shared this opinion multiple times with me this month as I work on completing my third NaNoWriMo novel. Her two favorite activities: guarding my notebook and being in the way (usually by standing over my keyboard). I could pretend like she's helping ("This book needs more cats!") or concerned for my well being ("You need breaks.") but that's really just me projecting. The fact is that this year's novel is much harder to write than the last two. There are ten days left and I want it to be over now.

November has been a surprisingly busy month. I was in Indianapolis for four days for a work event, I got sick immediately upon returning from that work event, launched a brand new week-long onboarding program for new hires (that's my job job) while sick, went to the winery with my family, and watched the Saints get trounced by the Redskins (this last one hurts the most). During the previous two years, I did virtually nothing during November but write and go to work. I like the discipline of coming home from work and spending four or five hours immersed in a world that doesn't involve people complaining to me about training, sitting in traffic, or creating yet another spreadsheet to track information no one really cares about. I like these evenings of creating and having fun and being annoyed by characters who seem to be taking over even if that was never the intention. It just seems like this is year is kicking my ass.

And it's not because I don't love this idea as much as the past two years although I will admit that last year's novel is my favorite. I like the idea of Land of Legends and enjoy the characters. I even found a way to weave in the children's book I've always wanted to write but haven't. I created a map of the park and a timeline so I could keep dates straight in my head. I did my character sketches as in year's past (although a lot of what I sketched is very different from how some of these characters ended up in the novel). I struggled with the first part of the novel set in 1997 (the year I graduated from high school). It went on for too long and I think this is where the novel took over and I lost control. I finally had to end 1997 and now I feel like I'm back on track and can get to the end.

I have 17,249 words left to hit the 50K mark. I think I have about 19K left to actually finish (it's hard to say since I have two ideas for the ending). I have nothing to do this weekend except write. In theory, I could finish tomorrow. That would mean writing around 8600 words each (to 50K) or 9500 words to really finish. The most I've written in a single day this year is 5767; the most I wrote in a single day last year was 6202. There's no need to rush but I've finished early every year and it would be cool to do that again. However, 9500 words in one day is a lot. I do enjoy ambitious goals so I'm probably going to go for it. That's the spirit of this month anyway - the world needs my novel.

What's happened since the last time I shared a chapter? Iris is all grown up now, living in DC and working as the education director for a museum that only exists in the world of the novel. She's writing a children's book in her spare time about a dinosaur toy named Walter who goes on adventures with his owner, Sam. Iris has been called back home to Land of Legends; her grandfather is dying (yes, I'm killing a character this year) and someone wants to buy the land from the family. The don't want the park; just the land. Iris's family has kept her in the dark on both of these items and she's feeling a little left out of the family. We've also met Ethel, the Mason family cat (so Pumpkin gets her wish of more cats in the novel since there were zero at the beginning). That's where we are today. I have to decide which of the endings I want to use, bring back Charlie Briggs (sorry Julie, he's not an actual unicorn), and decide the fate of Land of Legends. Sounds like a good weekend to me.

I will win this thing. November doesn't get to kick my ass.

Coming soon to the Island: the conclusion of NaNoWriMo, The Eye Shadow Experiment (no, I did not join a band but it is an excellent band name), a check in on how online dating is going, and my guide to not hating the holidays.

NaNoWriMo: The end of 1997

Skipping ahead again to chapter twelve, the last chapter of the Part One of this year's novel. Iris, our heroine, has turned thirteen, got a present from a boy, and decided to be an artist when she grows up. On her last night before 8th grade, she takes one more trip to the unicorn grove. Next up: Part Two, grown-up Iris, and the getting to the end of this year's novel.

Chapter Twelve

Tomorrow would be her first day of eighth grade. Iris was excited to start another school year and to experience a taste of of high school. She wasn’t sure what to wear on her first day; should she try to look less like a thirteen year old and more like a sophisticated new freshman? Frankly, she didn’t even know what that meant so she kept with her standards, simple and not flashy. Aunt Bronwyn had taken Brigid and Iris school clothes shopping a few weeks ago. She let Iris buy a bunch of black t-shirts and sweaters (more than her dad would have allowed) and some fun skirts that were much more teenage girl than middle schooler. Iris always planned her first week of school outfits so she didn’t have to worry about what to wear; it was hard getting back into the swing of school and set schedule after a summer of having to be nowhere in particular.

After deciding on her new jeans, black t-shirt, and a green sweater for her first day of art class (the second day of school), Iris sat down to write another letter to Charlie. She wasn’t sure if he had received her thank you note/drawing yet but wanted to get in the habit of writing to him. She had the idea after dinner with Dad; having a pen pal could be fun. Her dad told her about his junior high pen pal and how he and her mother had written to each other during college. It made her parents seem way more romantic than they actually were. Her dad also agreed to take Iris to DC over  fall break in October. She wanted  to see some exhibits at the National Gallery of Art; Dad wanted to visit some of his friends from college who lived in Alexandria. It all worked out. They loved road trips and she was looking forward to making mix tapes and planning their snacks. She hoped Charlie would be able to come to the museum with her or hang out at some point before she left. That’s why the letter was important.

Dear Charlie, 8/24/1997

How are you? Did you start school yet? My first day is tomorrow. I’m pretty excited to go back to school this year; I get to take art classes at the high school two days every week. It’s kind of cool that I get to do that.

My dad said that we can come to DC over my fall break in October? Do you have a fall break? We’ll be there October 15-18th. If you’re around maybe you can come to the National Gallery of Art with us or Natural History. Those are two of the museums we’re going to. We’re staying in Alexandria with my dad’s college friends. They’re really nice and I get to stay in this cool attic bedroom they made in their new house. Let me know if you can come. You can call me if you want to. My phone number is 540-212-6678.

Did you like the picture I sent you? I drew some other ones with a female character added, like a dragon slaying duo. I was thinking of making them into a comic book. I’ve never made something like that before but it seems like a good idea. Dragons are pretty cool.

Write me back and let me know if you’ll be around in October.

Your friend,

Iris

She sealed the envelope and got it ready to mail. She set it with her backpack and art case by her bedroom door. She could put it in the mailbox on her way to the bus stop in the morning. She was ready for this school year to get started.

After dinner with her dad, Iris felt better about herself and her goal of being an artist. She could focus on getting better and finding her personal style in her art. She could stop drawing her babyish unicorns and mermaids and decide what type of artist she really wanted to be. She spent more time over the weekend working on her dragon pictures; she thought they could make a really great comic. Granted she had never read comics before but she had a sense about it. Her dad had a box of comics in the attic. He brought them down for her to look at for inspiration. Most of his were about superheroes like Superman and Batman and the Amazing Spiderman. She liked the panels and the way that format jumped off the page at her. The dialogue didn’t have to be long. She worried about the writing part but short dialogue might not be so bad. Just one more part of her goal.

The whole family was coming over for dinner later tonight. Iris decided she wanted to make a final visit to Land of Legends to mark the official end of summer. She had some time before she had to start helping with dinner. Other than her walk with Grandpa, she hadn’t been to the park much since the Fourth of July. She felt like she needed to say goodbye to the park somehow. She looked around her room for something to mark the end of this era for her. She spotted her glass unicorn figurine sitting on the window sill. She decided she would bury the figurine and a drawing in the grove by the unicorns. If she was lucky she could come back in twenty years or something like that and dig it up. Like a time capsule.

She looked through her recent drawings and picked one o f her unnamed heroine riding a unicorn-like horse into battle against a ferocious, evil red dragon. She turned it over and wrote a note to her grown-up self:

To the older me, 8/24/1997

Hopefully I remember to come back when I’m older and find this package in my secret hiding place at Land of Legends. I buried this a few days after turning thirteen and a day before the start of 8th grade. This was a fun but weird summer. I made a new friend, Charlie, over the summer. I got to wear lip gloss for the first time and I decided to become an artist. That’s what I want to be. Whenever I come back and dig this up again I hope that this dream will have come true. It would be cool to be a real artist.

Remember that this is were the drawing started - Land of Legends. If it weren’t for the unicorns and the kraken and the dragons being an artist would never have occurred to me as something I could be.

Anyway, I hope I have a really cool place to live like an apartment in New York like on ‘Friends’ or a house somewhere cool. Always have Fruit Loops for breakfast on Friday.

Love,

13 Year Old Iris

Iris went down to the office and found a small plastic mailing envelope for her time capsule. She folded her picture/letter and wrapped the unicorn in it. It all fit snugly in the envelope. She taped it shut and wrote “Iris Mason, 8/24/1997” on the front with a Sharpie. She made one more stop in the tool shed for a small shovel and made her way to the front of Land of Legends.

She followed the same path that she had walked so many times before. The one she had taken with Charlie and with Grandpa; start at the Yeti’s Cave, walk to the Walkway of the Gods, through the minotaur’s maze, and use the trick exit to get to the other side quickly. Walk towards the beckoning mermaids and other Creatures of the Sea. Iris paused at the Kraken, saluted the sinking ship, cut over to the dragon, and caught the Fairy Trail to the Fairy Forest. There weren’t many visitors on the grounds so Iris was able to move quickly to her final destination. No one was in the clearing by the unicorns; she was able to climb into her hiding place unseen. She dug a hole big enough for her envelope time capsule. She tucked it in and covered it with dirt. She made a wish for her dreams to come true. “I’ll see you in the future when everything I wished for has come true. Don’t go anywhere.”

Iris crawled out of the grove and took one more look at the unicorns and fairies she had spent so much time with over her first thirteen years. “I’ll be back sometime. I promise.” She turned away from the display and went back home.