Monday, October 18, 2010

Monday Musings...

posted by Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy

We writers live closely with the concept of "What if." It's the device we depend upon when we create our stories and characters. A method we employ to assist our creativity.

Perhaps my close alliance with "What if" is what leads me to contemplate the serendipity in life.

What if I had chosen Box #1 instead of Curtain #2?

Would I be better off? Or worse?

What if I had taken that left turn at Albuquerque?

Where would I be today instead of where I am?

Unfortunately, in real life, we don't usually get a "do over." But part of the beauty of fiction, both reading it and writing it, is that YOU DO!

Plenty of books and movies use the "do over" technique to full advantage. A couple of my favorites are the Back To the Future series and Peggy Sue Got Married. Plus my favorite "do over" books are the Outlander series.

I also especially loved the hour glass contraption Professor McGonagall gave Hermione Granger to allow her to go backward in time and take two or more classes simultaneously. I could have definitely used that a few times! Like everytime I've watched a really bad film or read a disappointing story and I wish I had those hours of my life back to spend more productively...

Sorry, I'm afraid that's a side-effect of too much "What if" -- my mind tends to wander. That's the only explanation I can come up with as to why I thought about a very strange poem when I sat down to write this blog:
The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens

I remember being forced to read and study this poem when I was in high school, and I thought it was the dumbest poem ever written. Now, after all these years of contemplating, playing with, and being exposed to "What if" I see all kinds of possibilities in this little ditty.

"What if" the wheelbarrow is the only way to carry sandbags to the levee, which is in danger of breaking because of all the rain?

"What if" the wheelbarrow is actually upside down and the chickens have a nest under it, and eggs are the only food source left?

"What if" those chickens are causing me to channel the GR?

See what I mean?

What is your favorite "do over" book or movie?

Do you ever wish YOU could have a "do over" and what would it be? Would you try to change an historical event or keep it on a personal level?

What's your take on The Red Wheelbarrow?

75 comments:

Deanna said...

Huzzah!

Deanna said...

Hello Auntie Cindy - wow! those are some really big questions to answer.

From the book perspective, I think the one that stands out is Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. Funnily enough, it was recommended to me by a guy who had read it and thought it was wonderful and that I might like it.

As to "do over" I think there are many things that I would love to do over and some things I regret having ever done in my life. However, I also realise I would not be who I am today if not for those experiences and I would not be where I am. There are mistakes I've made in the past and even some more recent ones that are driving some of the decisions that we are making in our life today, but all in all, life is good and the only way is forward.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Wow, Daz! You are quick on the draw!

Congrats on the GR. What if... he were actually a hen and laid golden eggs?!?!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Thanx for your honesty, Daz.

You are so right, if you change one thing, you change everything! Tons of science fiction and fantasy stories have been written using that premise.

LOL on the guy recommending you read Outlander. A doctor I used to work with once recommended it to me (not knowing I'd already read it). He started out by saying, "This book is called a romance but it really isn't..." Of course not! A MAN doctor couldn't possibly read and enjoy a romance! ;-)

AC

Jane said...

Hey Aunty Cindy,
I wish I could experience the LOTR trilogy for the first time again. I sometimes wish I had a chance to do over my school experience and be more studious and be more active in school clubs and teams.

Anna Campbell said...

Ha ha, you and the rooster didn't stay apart for long, Daz!

Oh, dear, I'm groaning at people saying Outlander is so good, it can't be a romance. Sigh. I STILL haven't read it (and I suspect I never will!).

Anna Campbell said...

Oh, dear, hit the enter key too fast there.

Anyway, going back to Outlander, none of which says the book isn't worth reading!

Actually I don't think I'd want to change history. The implications are too far-reaching and complicated! God is most welcome to keep his job, as far as I'm concerned! ;-)

Love the poem, AC! I did a couple of units of American lit in uni but we didn't touch anything nearly as nice as that - although I must say I did love the Robert Frost stuff we did. He's got the road not taken poem so I suppose he was thinking along similar paths (ha ha!).

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Jane!
Yeah, watching movies again just aren't the same for me either, but I've still watched LOTR at least a half-dozen times. ;-) As for the books, I've lost count. I clearly remember the first time I read them. I was 15 and I rushed through reading them in great gulps and to the detriment of my homework. If I could do that over, I definitely read slower!

As for school, I've always wished I would have gone into MASSIVE debt and gone to my first choice of colleges -- University of Southern California. HA! I'd probably STILL be paying off my student loans, so probably just as well I couldn't have a do over there.

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hey Fo,

I've got to confess that I haven't read the last 2 installments of the Outlander series myself. They are MASSIVE books and the time commitment is a bit intimidating.

And I gotta tell you, I'm SICK & TIRED of anyone who thinks a "good" book can't be a romance! In my experience, most people who look down their nose at romance have never read one. :-P

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hard to believe The Red Wheelbarrow was written in 1923! I'd have guessed 1960s if I didn't know.

We were force-fed Frost in high school also, but HIM I liked! "The Road Less Taken" and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" are two of my favorites. :-) I wasn't nearly so keen on Carl Sandburg or Robinson Jeffers, however. Jo-Mama will probably take a ruler to me for that. LOL!

AC

Deanna said...

I was feeling lonesome for the GR and thought I'd take him out for a long walk in the lovely Sydney Spring sunshine.

And if he actually did lay golden eggs, you'll never see him again, though I'm likely to share the eggs.

Deanna said...

Anna, Outlander is free on Amazon Kindle right now for a limited time.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

LOL, Daz!
If the GR did lay golden eggs, we'd NEVER let him out of the Lair! :-P

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Well, I'm going to leave it to you DownUnder folks and the Early Birds tomorrow morning.

I know I've stayed up too late when I use the word "massive" in two consecutive comments. :-P

Keep the GR OUT of the TimTams, Daz!

Sweet dreams all,
AC

Anna Campbell said...

Deanna, I saw that. Thanks! Still won't be reading it any time soon ;-)

Anna Campbell said...

We didn't do a lot of poetry, AC, in these units. We did LOTS of really turgid books which had tragic endings. I remember liking Faulkner - he's so gothic!

Unknown said...

well done Daz, he must like it here.... I think it is getting cold in the northern hemishere LOL

Hi Auntie Cindy.. I don't think I would change anything as I think it is not worth looking back and thinking 'I wish' as life is too short for that.

Helen said...

Well don Daz I am sure he enjoyed his walk it was a beautiful day today and yes if he does start laying golden eggs lock him up LOL

Aunty Cindy
A very thoughtfull post I confess I have never read The Outlander series either and probably won't either I have heard lots of good things about it but I have so many wonderful books to read that there are just too many to go back and read in that series.

I had never heard of that poem and yes it is different and I don't think I would change anything in my life I think we need to make mistakes to learn and it is all part of living I try to live life to the fullest and have fun doing it LOL.

As for movies I too loved the Back To The Furture movies although I haven't seen them in a while.

Have Fun
Helen

Dianna Love said...

Way to go, Daz and good luck with getting those golden eggs. ;)

Good Morning Auntie Cindy - As a writer, I love playing with the what if's in a characters life, but when it comes to my own not so much. I've been asked in an interview if I had any regrets and I said no, because I believe all the things I've gone through - good and bad - shaped my life and had a hand in me meeting my husband. If I changed any part of that course i would very likely have never met him and that wouldn't be worth any do over. I've always looked forward, never back. :)

I do love time travel stories though.

Anna Sugden said...

Great post, AC. I'm with Daz - while in theory I'd love to go back and do over certain things, I wouldn't be the person I am and with the life I have. Also, who wants to go through all that again?!

I don't know about do over movies, but I love Sliding Doors - which, for those of you haven't seen it, is an awesome movie about what happens if one thing changes for a split second.

Love Back to the Future. Although it is a teensy bit irritating I also enjoy Ground hog Day. And, of course, the ultimate story of that type *g* - Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

Never read Outlander either. Probably never will, despite all the recommendations.

Joan said...

This is easy. My do over movie would be Sommersby with Richard Gere and Jodie Foster.

I have NEVER gotten over the fact that the town allowed him to hang!

jo robertson said...

Wow, AC, what a great post! I love that WCW poem. It's often used by middle school teachers as a "pattern poem," where students imitate the poem, using their own ideas.

So much depends upon _______
(participle)________________
beside _____________________

It's a lot of fun to "pattern" and younger kids seems to like doing it.

Whoa, whoa, Daz, the rooster's back in your tender care.

pjpuppymom said...

Congrats, Daz! He must be one tired rooster after bouncing back and forth between North America and Australia! Of course, considering how rambunctious he usually is, that might not be such a bad thing! :)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Heeeey! Daz got the Rooster! Congrats, Daz...or should that be condolences. Ha!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

What a cool blog and cool poem, AC. I'm not much one for do-overs since I figure, as Daz said, it's forward moving that gets us going.

I love the poem and you're right, wow is THAT one full of what-if's.

Like Jane, I might be more studious, then again, I might be more fun-living and free-spirited. (I was a bit of a study-hard-book-geek, no-party-girl.)

All of that would have changed who I am now, though, so I'll keep the bitter with the sweet, and try to keep an open ming going forward, I guess.

WOw, that's too heavy for during-coffee-thought-processes...

Grins.

pjpuppymom said...

AC, I've often thought about do-overs and whether or not I'd accept if offered the opportunity. I don't think I would. Sure there are things in my life I wish I'd done differently, but they have all contributed to making me the person I am today and I like that person.

Fo, this is just too spooky. Southern Cal was my #1 college choice too but got tossed aside due to (1)money and (2)my mother refusing to allow her only daughter to go to school that far away from home.

Joanie, I'm with you on Sommersby. Horrible, horrible ending!

My book do-over would be A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux. I loved the book but hated the ending.

***SPOILER***
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
I don't care if Nicholas's soul was in Colin. I wanted her to stay in medieval England with Nicholas! One of my most favorite and least favorite time travels all wrapped up in one.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

AC said I wasn't nearly so keen on Carl Sandburg or Robinson Jeffers, however. Jo-Mama will probably take a ruler to me for that. LOL!

She'll have to take a ruler to me too, then. Grins.

Frost, yes and welcome. The others? Not so much.

My fav discovery in American Lit was Thurber. OMGosh, so funny and so keenly insightful w/o being pompous about it. Grins.

English Lit was still my fav, and other than Frost, my fav poem is still Richard Lovlace's 1649 To Althea, From Prison.

"If I have freedom in my love,
And in my soul, am free,
Angels alone which soar above,
Enjoy such liberty"

Ahhhhh. Lovelace.

Trish Milburn said...

I love the idea of do-over stories, and while it's not a true do-over, I love the movie Never Been Kissed with Drew Barrymore.

Christie Kelley said...

Very interesting post, AC.

I'm not sure I'd "do over" any part of history either. The complications such an act might cause could be worse than the actual results. So I think I'll stick with history as it is.

I'm also in the "haven't read Outlander" camp.

I loved Back to the Future. But I hated Ground Hog Day.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

OMGosh, Fo!
You are a far better woman than I am if you can slog through Faulkner. :-P

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Barb,
It is indeed chilly here in NorCal! In fact, it actually rained yesterday and more is headed our way, so I have a feeling the GR will be settling in sunny Oz for awhile. ;-)

And you are sooo right about life being too short! Just get out and DO instead of worrying about "Do Overs."

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Helen,
You make an interesting point. Perhaps we do need to make mistakes in order to complete the learning process. I've definitely made my share, but they usually turned out good in the end. ;-)

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Dianna,
Glad you could drop by today!

I agree about meeting wanting to BE SURE you met your DH. Funny thing about my DH and me. We went to the same college and were in teacher training the same time (he was one year ahead) and yet, I don't think we ever me. Then he worked at the grocery where I shopped for about 4 years but I don't remember seeing him there either. Of course, I was married to someone else at the time, so I admit I wasn't looking... Still pretty interesting that our paths kept crossing.

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi VA!
Gotta agree with you about NOT wanting to do over certain time periods. I'd NEVER wanna repeat high school, nor my divorce. UGH!

Sliding Door is a great play on "do overs" in that the slightest thing can change everything. And after you mentioned Christmas Carol, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the other Christmas favorite, It's a Wonderful Life.

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Morning Joanie,
I TOTALLY AGREE with you and PJ -- the ending of Sommersby SUCKED!!! Loved everything else about the movie except that. :-P

AC

Nancy said...

Daz, congrats on the bird.

Cindy, no do-overs are coming to mind. I know lost love regained is a popular romance theme--I just can't think of any right now. But that would be a do-over.

If I took a personal do-over, I would go to my undergrad college as a freshman instead of going somewhere else and transferring. Then I would've gotten to know the people in my own class much better.

It was do-overs that led me into writing. I started with fan fiction (but what if the story ended this way? but what if, after the story ended--?) and then moved into original worlds and characters.

Nancy said...

Anna, I also thought Sliding Doors was a great movie about possibilities.

Nancy said...

Joanie, I'm with you on Sommersby. That ending reeked.

I heard the original plan was for the movie Australia to end with the Jackman character dying, but that changed because of test audience revulsion. Don't know if it's true, but I do know I wouldn't have watched that movie but once if that character died.

Like Sommersby. Once was enough.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Morning Jo-Mama!

I knew you'd be familiar with this poem. ;-) And hmmm, isn't following a pattern what all us genre writers do? A very loose pattern to be sure, but we do repeat certain elements.

What do the rest of you think?

AC

Nancy said...

I guess The Parent Trap is a do-over movie? I liked it, though I kept thinking those parents should have knots yanked in their tails for the way they handled custody and non-visitation of their girls.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

OMGosh, Nancy!
Kill of Drover?!?! That would NEVER DO! Thank goodness someone with SENSE prevailed. ;-) I also heard that in The Mummy, the character played by Oded Fehr died in the original go-round and too many movie goers protested so they brought him back. GOOD MOVE! LOL!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

LOL, sorry to hit you with heavy thoughts before you finished your coffee, Duchesse. ;-)

Yes, hard to believe, but I didn't party much during college either -- most likely because *I* was footing the bill... But I'm unsure of the benefit of consuming a lot more cheap wine (talk about the bitter and the sweet) and doing less homework!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hey PJ,
That was ME who wanted to be a USC Trojan! It used to be such a pretty campus (haven't been there in years), and not that far away for me, but YOU??! I don't blame your mom for not wanting you clear over on the West Coast. Of course, we won't mention the COST! KOFF*KOFF*

And I am in TOTAL AGREEMENT about KiSA. LOVED the story, but I wanted her to stay with Nicholas!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

"If I have freedom in my love,
And in my soul, am free,
Angels alone which soar above,
Enjoy such liberty"


AHHHH yes! Thank you for that Duchesse! My fave from that period was John Donne... BEFORE he went all religious. ;-)

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hey Trish,
I loved Never Been Kissed too, but then I'm a big fan of Drew Barrymore. I think she does comic, romantic, action, and even serious drama (ever seen the film Grey Gardens?) equally well.

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Wow Christie,
Another one who hasn't read Outlander?!?! I know you'd LURVE Jamie Fraser. He's one of the most YUMMY heroes EVER!

And I agree about Ground Hog Day. GREAT concept, and I enjoyed about 2/3rds of the movie. The remaining 1/3 was annoying as H*LL! ;-)

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

OOPS! Sorry Nancy, I meant to say "kill OFF" in my previous comment to you. :-P It is still early here... at least for ME!

I loved the original Parent Trap with Hayley Mills. (boy, am I dating myself here of what?!?!) But the Do Over (with LiLo) not so much. ;-)

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hey Y'all,
I think it is a very telling commentary that none of us would really want to change where we currently are, even if certain aspects of the journey might not have been pleasant.

I'm sooo glad all us Banditas and Buddies recognize that we are special people and we shouldn't mess with that! :-)

AC

Donna MacMeans said...

LOL AC -

When I was in my twenties I had a philosophy that said I never wanted to say "I wish I would have (fill in the blank)". Not a bad philosophy in your twenties, but now I realize it's impossible to live without a few "I wish I would haves".

I wish I would have majored in history, or literature, instead of Accounting (but then I would have had to pay for my education). I wish I would have abandoned the idea that my first book would sell sooner and gotten on with number two quicker. I wish I had discovered romance novels way sooner than I did (grin).

But all in all, I wouldn't change anything. Who knows - changing that one bad decision could void a mess of good ones.

Trish Milburn said...

Cindy, they were originally going to kill off Oded's character? No! I love him -- yummy, yummy, yummy. :)

I really like Drew too. She just seems like such a fun person to be around. I can still remember seeing her in ET when I was a kid at the drive-in theater with my parents and sister. I haven't seen Grey Gardens yet, but we did just see Whip It this weekend, which has her and Ellen Page, who I also really like.

Susan Sey said...

Every time I yell at my kids I wish I had a do over.

In my writing life, though, I'd like the opposite. I'd like to find a way to skip the pain of drafts 1-4 & move directly to the polish of draft five. Or whichever one is the final. :-)

pjpuppymom said...

Oops! Sorry, AC! Guess I wasn't quite awake when I read the USC post.

pjpuppymom said...

I loved the original Parent Trap with Hayley Mills. (boy, am I dating myself here of what?!?!) But the Do Over (with LiLo) not so much. ;-)


Me too.

pjpuppymom said...

I haven't read OUTLANDER either. One of these days...

Trish, I love "Never Been Kissed!" That's one I could watch over and over.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Donna,
I believe you're right about not being able to avoid a few "I wish I would have"s. Just not humanly possible...

And I wish *I* had majored in accounting (or some other business major) instead of history! ;-) Studying history is lots of fun, but as for job projects, repeat after me: "Ya want fries with that?!?!"

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

LOL Trish!
I agree, between Oded and Brendan, The Mummy series was chock full of delish eye-candy. ;-)

I've only seen Ellen Page in a couple of things, but she seems very versatile. LOVED her in Juno and am looking forward to watching Inception.

AC

Beth Andrews said...

I love playing the What If game, AC! But I wouldn't choose to do over any event in my life or in history for all the reasons already mentioned *g*

Back To The Future is a favorite do over movie here as my youngest daughter got hooked on it a few years ago. It was fun to watch it again with her after having not seen it in years.

Of course, my favorite What If movie is It's A Wonderful Life :-)

catslady said...

I have Outlander in my tbr pile. I kept waiting until I had all the books but she was still writing so I have another one to buy and I'm not sure if it's the last or not?

"What if" is great for writers but since I don't have a way of changig things, it usually does me no good to think what if in real life.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

I know what you mean about the kids, Susan.

About the time my son hit puberty, I started to understand the logic behind those species who devour their young...

A fast-forward button for revisions would be nice. But I'd like it even more to speed through those first 97 rejections (or in my case 997) and get closer to a YES. ;-)

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

PJ,
Another one who hasn't read Outlander?!?! I'm really surprised by how many have not read it. Well, you are in for a TREAT when you do. :-)

And here's a fun "What If" for ya... What if...we'd both gone to USC? We'd have been there at the same time, I'm pretty sure. What if we'd met back then?!?! I KNOW we'd have been BFFs!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Beth,
Glad you could stop by! I haven't seen Back to the Future in ages, but not long ago there was buzz about the actor originally chosen to play Marty McFly. Nope it was NOT Michael J. Fox! Can you believe it?!?!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Wow Catslady,
Add you to the growing list of Banditas and Buddies who have NOT read Outlander. I even have an audio version of the first book. But it is abridged, so I don't listen to it that often. :-P

You're right, "What If" is only effective in fiction. Not in real life, I'm afraid.

AC

jo robertson said...

AC said, "I wasn't nearly so keen on Carl Sandburg or Robinson Jeffers, however. Jo-Mama will probably take a ruler to me for that."

No ruler today, AC and Jeanne. As you know, my fave poet is Emily Dickinson.

But oh, yes, Jeanne, Lovelace!

Stone walls do not a prison make
Nor iron bars a cage

Shiver!

jo robertson said...

AC said, "And hmmm, isn't following a pattern what all us genre writers do?"

Hadn't looked at it that way, but I think you're right. The best writers probably follow the pattern in such a way that it isn't obvious.

jo robertson said...

I don't think I'd want much of a do-over for my life, not in the major things at least.

But I do wish I'd taken more opportunity to sing earlier and taken dance lessons and the like. Not given up so soon on piano lessons.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

YAY! No ruler smack from Jo-Mama!

Oh yeah, I LURVE me some Dickinson... "Because I could not stop for Death he kindly stopped for me..." Appropriate for this time of year. ;-)

I think the main reason I didn't like Sandburg is the teacher made us listen to a recording of him reading some of his poems. His strange mid-western accent had us California kids howling.

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Jo-Mama said: "The best writers probably follow the pattern in such a way that it isn't obvious."

Yup, I think we are all striving for that. ;-)

And I wish I'd kept up with my music too. I played the flute (actually was pretty good because practicing got me out of doing the dishes), until I discovered boys... Oh well!

AC

Unknown said...

Whoa, Cindy!

Deep thoughts for a Monday.

I probably wouldn't change anything in history, although there are so many things I'd be tempted to change--I mean if you think of horrible stuff--the holocaust...the witch burnings...the inquisition...the black plague...it would be hard to face the chance to change those things and choose to let them happen. But if I did change them, who knows what I would UN-do? I'd fear causing far more catastrophic events. I guess the Star Trek policy of non-interference has been hammered into most of us by now.

I haven't read the Outlander series (it's a time constraint issue) and so can't comment on those. And I don't know if I have a favorite "do over" movie or book. I do like the Harry Potter one. I want a necklace like that.

And actually, the Star Trek movie where they go back in time to save the whales is a really good one. That would rank right up there on my list. I can't pick a favorite though. I'm never any good at picking favorites except for "best first kiss" which has always been LOTM.

Unknown said...

Jane said:

I wish I could experience the LOTR trilogy for the first time again. I sometimes wish I had a chance to do over my school experience and be more studious and be more active in school clubs and teams.

OH, now that's one I WOULD do over--getting to see LOTR again for the first time. That was awesome. And I would also like to do over some school stuff, but I'd go the opposite way--I'd have more fun, be more confident, and do so many things I did not do then. If I had the skills I have now and the opportunities I had then, I'd be deadly. (grin)

Unknown said...

OH! Somebody mentioned Groundhog Day. I forgot about that one. I love that film. That's a great play on the whole do-over concept.

Unknown said...

Hey, Practical Magic, one of my favorites, has sort of a do over theme...in that you CAN'T do over certain things, or they'll turn on you.

Okay I'll hush now....

Louisa Cornell said...

I see he went running back to you, Daz ! Talk about a do-over!

Great post Aunty and I do love that poem. SO many possibilities and all determined by so many factors - time, place and point of view. It can encompass everything from the sublime to the ridiculous and I think that is what makes the poem such a masterpiece.

I love Frost and I am also a big fan of Edgar Allen Poe.

And La Campbell you KNOW I LOVE Faulkner. If you want an interesting twist on Southern Gothic, a sort of "What if Faulkner did paranormal pulp Gothic?" Read Michael MacDowell's Blackwater Saga. They were published by Avon in the 80's. There are six books in the series and none are over 200 pages. MacDowell was a close friend to Stephen and Tabitha King and his family actually requested Tabitha to finish his last book (not in this series) Candles Burning after MacDowell died. I call them "junk food for Faulkner fans" and I loved them!

The thing about do-overs in real life is that they, as in all things, have consequences. However, given the chance I would have returned to my writing sooner. However, if I had I might have missed some of the people most dear to me these days - like the Banditas and Buddies. I try very hard to remember that life is a journey, not a destination. Do I wish I had a better tour guide sometimes? Sure! But then I might have missed some of the sights that still resonate in me and make me who I am.

One big do-over, get a degree in some more marketable job skill to avoid Walmart Purgatory!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Evening Cassondra,
I'm VERY tempted about doing over some of the "bad stuff" too. Like saving more of the passengers on the Titanic, or getting the people OUT of the towers before they fell... But ya just never know about the "ripple" effect. :-(

I LOVED that particular Star Trek movie too... Spock wearing that headband to hide his ears, and the ship "cloaked" in the middle of Golden Gate Park. Such FUN scenes!

Oh and LURVE Practical Magic too! Thanx for reminding me of some great movie moments. :-)

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Louisa!

Glad you were able to join us today. :-) I think E.A. Poe's "Annabelle Lee" is one of the most hauntingly beautiful love poems ever written! Thanx for reminding me of it.

And LOL on having a more practical college major in order to AVOID Wal-Mart H*LL! Are you listening, Donna?!?! Being a CPA is really a GOOD THING! ;-)

AC

pjpuppymom said...

And here's a fun "What If" for ya... What if...we'd both gone to USC? We'd have been there at the same time, I'm pretty sure. What if we'd met back then?!?! I KNOW we'd have been BFFs!

Wouldn't that have been something? Though I think you may be a bit younger than I am. I graduated H.S. in 1969. And you're right, I'm sure we'd have been BFFs! :)