Time off... kinda

Though I am passionate about my writing, it does come second to almost everything else in my life. This week, I finally made good on a promise I’d made to my father-in-law a few years ago and built him a mini-carport that extends out from around his garage door. I know, sounds like a strange thing to construct. And it’s not really a carport because the only part of the car that’ll fit inside is the front end. So why use up the days off from work, not to mention the valuable writing time, building this strange shelter. Two reasons. 1) He’s a great guy and has hardly ever asked me for a favor in all the years I know him. That may be reason enough, but there’s more. 2) His Tempo doesn’t quite make it to the sidewalk without the carport, so this’ll take care of that few feet of driveway he has to shovel in the winter. What’s a Tempo? It’s a tarp-like shelter for the car. Why can’t he use the garage for his car? It’s full of his junk. How much writing did I get done this week? You’re looking at it. But that’s okay. I’ve learned not to be afraid of those weeks where little or no writing gets done. When I do finally sit down to catch up, I’ll be surprised and thrilled at how new the prose will feel, and that I hadn’t forgotten how to do it -- that, and the father-in-law’s joy at getting his mini-carport, finally, are reward enough.