I sent you an email this morning wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving. I truly meant that and hope that you had one. Mine was ok, but as with every day, there is an emptiness without you in my life that no amount of food, faith, friendship, family or fellowship can staunch.
I read, as I do every day today and am still learning something new each and every day. Today, I read this article: http://io9.com/5901156/the-first-ever-vending-machine-stopped-people-from-stealing-holy-water. I was amazed to learn of Heron of Alexandria and some of the many inventions, including this one, the world's first vending machine, long before I imagine most of us would think of such an invention existing. And what did the world's first vending machine dispense? Holy water. Crazy! Now we have vending machines that serve most anything, but I've never seen one for Holy Water. With out insatiable appetites, that's not a commodity that we consume much of currently. I might have to read some of Heron's books that have survived the long march of human history.
I am also writing every day quite easily. I have my novel over 1/8th of the way done approximately. I know there will be much real work to be done following the completion of the first draft, but finishing the first draft will be a huge accomplishment for me. I heard back from one journal that they didn't want to use the poem that I sent them but that they do want to see more of my work. I take that as a victory. I keep pumping away, writing, submitting and marketing. That last one cannot be ignored, building audience and readership is a key ingredient that decides which writers of equal talent will make it.
I saw the latest Hunger Games movie. It was ok. Not the best of the bunch certainly, but not a bad movie. It was a bit sad to see Hoffman in there knowing that his acting talents will no longer there on the screen owning a role. He was such a huge talent in the field of acting.
I finished another book today - the Motivation Manifesto. I really appreciated how clear, concise and to the point the book was. There were some places where I thought the author used a few too many examples that seemed to be more about filling up pages than truly educating, but perhaps other readers will appreciate and connect with different reasons. I will be sending you this book now that I am done. I think it's one that you would enjoy and learn from.
I've come to learn what a crazy world the world of online dating is. That's right dating. I make it clear that what I am really looking for is friends, but I am open to a deeper relationship. While you are my soulmate and the only one that I will ever marry or be in a forever relationship with, I am not opposed to having someone in my life for more than friendship. I am not certain though that I will ever be able to use online dating as a means to that end. In all the months now that I have been endeavoring to do this, I find these are the most likely results:
1) You express interest and here nothing - that's really disappointing to me. I always reply, even if it's simply to say, thank you, I appreciate your interest, but I am not.
2) You invest a lot of time and effort, but they never want to meet - in fact, when you suggest that, they just disappear into the ether.
3) They are crazy - these are the rare few that I have met, gone out with and then was like whoa, they are nothing like they presented in all the previous communications.
I guess there are probably sane, stable and good people, but I have yet to have an experience that is that way, it's always one of the three above.
Tell me how I ignore all of the references I still receive to you? The email messages that come from people with your name . . . the year you were born popping up unexpectedly . . . those with your name that cross paths with me or are on the news . . .the shirt for my favorite football team that's style is called "Alexa" . . . I try to ignore it all, but it's impossible.
As Thanksgiving 2014 closes, I want to say thank you to you as always. I always count you among the blessings that I have in my life. While I would prefer that you and I were together enjoying Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the four years that you were with me in person and am thankful to know that my soulmate is you - the creative, intelligent, kind, caring, sensitive soul that I will always love and have with me in spirit. Yes, I still ask: Will you marry me?
Goodnight,
MNP