The Christmas Letter

I had an in depth discussion the other morning at Lionel on my frustration with writing the loved and hated Christmas Letter. Ever since my kid was born, I've attempted to create the perfect Christmas Letter to send out to friends and family.
This year it would seem, I'm just doomed. I wrote the letter - hated it.
Rewrote it, and it was better.
Went to the store to buy holiday letterhead, and was informed that there was some sort of holiday letterhead shortage. Seriously? Yes. 5 stores later, I find some at WALMART that is at least tolerable, though not all-holiday friendly as it has fat little santas doing cartwheels across the bottom of the page. I can't even believe I went there, honestly. I avoid it like the plague, especially at this time of the year. It is done however, and that's that.
Print 'em, stuff 'em, and send 'em off to folks around the country that probably don't even read it. It's all for naught.
Still, I love this time of year for the fact that I GET them. I know that at least I read them when other people send them. I can't help but feel annoyed at people when they pick out a pretty card with tons of glitter on it, then just sign the inside and mail it off to 100+ people. I mean, you're going out of your way to spend the money on the cards, and the stamps - at least send a picture. That's good for about a thousand words, or so I'm told....

Meet Lionel

My biggest fan, Lionel, in profile

Ever since I was a small child, I was considered to be gifted in the way of articulation. Whether it was on paper, or by mouth, it was a talent I posessed. In the 8th grade, my english teacher told me that I had some of the smoothest writing he'd ever seen in a person my age. As I got older however, I didn't improve upon myself. I didn't graduate from mainstream school, I didn't go to college, and I never got a "real" job. I hopped around from one 'dream' to the next, never really finding fulfilment in any of it. I became a mother 3 years ago, which was a true calling for me, and I couldn't be happier. However, as the days pass, the whispering inside of me about writing again gets louder and louder. I have written hundreds of amazing books... in my head. When I put pen to paper, however, I'm stuck. I can see it, feel it, but I can't write it down how I read it in my mind's eye.
I discovered Lionel Ritchie in my shower when we remodeled our bathroom about 2 years ago. Am I crazy? Perhaps. But this is actually a little sliver of marble on my shower wall that absolutely looks like Lionel circa 1987. Moustache, hair, you name it. So I started talking to him. Running my thoughts by him, if you will. And it has gotten me to this point - I'm trying to get over a writer's block by starting my writer's blog. If it doesn't rekindle my ease of writing, maybe nothing else will. But this is me, dedicating myself to completing SOMETHING that I've started, and pursuing getting it published. I feel like it is something that I have to do.
So I'm pledging my goal here in my writer's blog....
I want to complete, and attempt to publish something by my 30th birthday. As I turned 28 six months ago, I'm definitely pressed for time. But it's now or never, and I want it to be the now. So wish me luck.