A new challenge
November is the designated month for those who want to try their hand at writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. Entering this ambitious exercise is totally free, but you have to enroll via the internet (nanowrimo.com for information and instructions). I used a computer at the library because I’m not connected to the net. The time to enroll is by midnight, October 31, and that is the time you can begin working on your book project, which is due to be finished by midnight November 30.
This will be my first time accepting this challenge, but it will be the third time for Juanita Sterling and if you have unanswered questions, she has graciously offered to try to answer them, or to find the answers elsewhere for you. Her number is 561-1099.
We are planning to have occasional meetings at the Fredericktown library to share ideas and progress, etc. This idea was conceived too late to invite interested writers to the first meeting, but we’ll be sure to post future meetings, and who knows? We may need encouragement and fresh ideas a lot more later than we do now.
Helen Pogue has passed away after enduring a long illness. She, Melva Roberts and I made a pact one time, that because we loved this song so much and because it expresses our feelings so clearly; that when one of us died, the remaining two would sing it at the funeral of the first one to go, which seemed to reach so far in the future as to be almost unimaginable. Well, the time came and Melva passed away first, and though we didn’t sing the song, Helen and I did remember our pact and we were encouraged by the words of the song, as we remembered Melva and the good times we had together. Now Helen has left and I’m the one remaining. No, of course I wouldn’t be able to get up and sing that song, but I’ve got it playing in my mind even now, and as the years fly by, and more of my friends and family go to be with the Lord, I find myself thinking often of the victory over death that awaits every child of God. What a victory! What a song!
When I hear that trumpet sound
I’m gonna come up outa that ground
Ain’t no grave gonna’ hold my body down
Ain’t no grave gonna’ hold my body down
Our fathers both worked for the U.S. Forest Service, so Helen and I met when we were kids and have been friends ever since. She was a good seamstress and the best cook, ever. She loved church, music, traveling and camping on a river bank. Most of all Helen loved God, family, and her many friends. Always in her heart was Cottner Mountain, where she was raised and where her dad manned the Cottner fire tower for many years. When she was able, Helen loved to go back and visit her old home place, which flooded her with memories of the days when Mom, Dad, brothers and sisters were all there together. I like to think of Helen now in her new home place, which will be even better than the old, because now she will be with the loved ones who have gone before (and the ones who have yet to go) forever and ever. No more parting. No more sickness. No more sorrow. Everybody together, safe forevermore on that happy golden shore, and what a day, glorious day, that will be!
