THE STORY SO FAR: PART 240

TIME IS A VERY SPECIAL THING—AND SO ARE GOOD FRIENDS

SOMETIMES LIFE CAN BE PARTICULARLY WONDERFUL

I wrote some time ago that no one does anything alone—even if they think they do. There is almost always a support system of some type or other—even if unsung and little known.

Despite the fact that writing is essentially a solitary activity—or my kind of writing is—I still don’t do what I do entirely alone. I have the support of my fans and a few close friends. My family is somewhat divided. Some of my siblings are supportive. My children, in the main, are not. Families are complicated things.

I would like to think I would continue even if I had no support—and I probably would—but, fortunately, I have never had to make such a decision. On the contrary, I have been much blessed. I find it hard to express how much that means to me.

When you reach my age, time has a particular significance. One’s remaining days are clearly limited and time, itself, seems to pass at a faster pace. On the other hand, as if to compensate, life seems to be more intense, more fulfilling. I can’t speak for my peers in that regard, but that is certainly how I feel.

Time has a particular significance for book writers, largely because books, generally speaking, take so long to write. On the one hand your brain is full of ideas and yet you know—if you are realistic—that you won’t have the time to accomplish all you wish; or even come close. Such thoughts evoke a bitter-sweet feeling—plus wry amusement because fundamental to being a good creative writer is never to run of ideas. To have written every book one’s imagination can conceive strikes me as descending into hell.

My personal compromise is to accept the fact that I will die gloriously unfulfilled—after an adventure filled life—but to leave behind an acceptable body of work. Posterity is not high on my list of concerns.

Arising from discussion about time, I was warned to look out for  a package. I expected a calendar or similar. The package contained an excellent Swiss Legend watch featuring capabilities I shall doubtless spend the rest of my life mastering.

I was, and remain, bowled over. It is an exceptionally thoughtful gift of great symbolic significance apart from its practical value. I feel an exceptionally fortunate man.

Time to increase my operational tempo.