My transition from one life to another has been an emotional rollercoaster. Like January’s weather, it’s high one day and low 12 hours later. It’s been a January like none I can recall.
Something I hadn’t anticipated when I was forced into Swedish Death Cleaning before I felt ready to part with my belongings was the organizing I had to do with all the stuff I wanted to keep. That’s a mouthful.
So organizing I am. In fact, I will wait to unpack my studio boxes until my granddaughters can help me. It happens to everyone at a certain age. Rather than spend hours looking for a crochet hook, you simply purchase another one.
In the end, I have baskets, tins, boxes, totes, and more places stuffed with assortments of knitting needles, sewing needles, crochet hooks, thimbles, threads, fiber tools of all kinds, books, patterns, and whatnots. We would gather at the kitchen table with some newly designated containers and begin sorting. In the end, I would hope to have a highly organized studio space.
Another organizational project that I have avoided for years and years is digital archives. Wow, talk about cleaning out your closet. I have spindles of CDs with countless photos of Mandan when I was the newspaper editor.
There are stories I started and put aside. There are journal entries, notes, and archives from previous jobs.
Now, without a garden to tend, I must be tasked with tending to the words I have saved for years. My goal is to start a Substack account with several containers for each of the different types of projects I have been inspired to write. I would love to get organized to finally do another book, or three.
When the time comes to announce my new platform, I will invite everyone along for the ride. You will be privy to the many imaginings from my mind under these sections:
• INDYchildren — Reflections on stage IV metastatic cancer, thriving, faith, and endurance.
• The Sowin’ Circle — Practical, homespun writing on gardens, kitchens, preserving, making do, and living close to the land.
• Unfolding the Loom — Unpacking a life, thread by thread, and weaving what still fits.
• Working Pages — Where lived experience is shaped into fiction, essays, and books.
Being a visual person, having these containers will keep me organized. My dream is to finish at least one, if not more, of the books I have started. You will be holding me accountable with your support.
I’ll fill you in on the details as soon as I gather my pages. I am off to Mayo on Tuesday, Jan. 20, for a scan to see if Wilbur has left the building.
So please, one more campaign to “Pray Wilbur Away.”
INDYchildrendotme 
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