The Magic of Beginnings by Rolynn Anderson

"And suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings." ~ Meister Eckhart

How fun it is to begin 2015 with a fresh focus!  A new chapter, I call it, complete with a fun subtitle.  In fact, guessing what 2015 will bring, is one of my pleasures.  I do set general goals, but I’m always charmed by the unexpected joys that come my way.

Many of you know that we’ve sold our big trawler  Four-month cruises were an important part of our lives (my husband and me…and many guests), for more than twenty years.  Some of my friends can’t imagine the two of us boatless, but we’re feeling pretty free and easy these days.  We can travel when and where we want to, including the summer months, and we don’t have to worry any more about what’s happening to our boat in its Washington State marina, while we’re living in California.  A heavy rain/wind storm hit our marina this month, and we only heard about damage on the dock weeks later.  Now, we’re down to one house and one yard, and I love the simplicity!

Magic of beginnings?  Oh yes!  My husband just bought a lovely convertible for me for my birthday, a car I’ve wanted since we came to live in California.  I had pretty much decided I wouldn’t be checking that particular box as “accomplished,” when my DH surprised me with the gift.  I swear, the car is magic, because I already feel ten years younger driving around in it.  Her name: The Empress.  Open to smells, sounds and unlimited sight, convertibles are such fun to drive!

For the first time in my writing career, I’ll put two books on the market in 2015.  I’m hoping for that magic to boost my spirit and my sales.

What’s something new and magical you’re hoping for in 2015?  If you write it down and tell me about it, it’s likely to happen! 

Happy New Year!  Rolynn

http://www.rolynnanderson.com

Lie Catchers: http://amzn.com/B00HJDS1LG

FALLING OVERBOARD-I'M GOOD AT IT! by Rolynn Anderson

We’re still Falling at Roses of Prose.  For November the topics are: Fall into Winter, Fall Overboard, Fall from Grace, Fall into Wrong Hands

Falling Overboard...I'm an expert.  I’ve been dunked twice in my long boating career, and I’m alive to talk about those experiences.  Embarrassing?  Oh yes!

Many of you know that my husband and I have just sold our boat after thirty years of cruising.  I never fell off INTREPID, the 42 foot trawler we just sold, and if you take a look at her, you can see she’s built to keep us aboard and safe. 

But our first boat, a 34 foot twin gas engine boat, came without railings, and even worse, it had cleats for tying lines screwed onto the surface around the boat…perfect for tripping up a person.  Yup, that’s what happened to me.  Worse, the accident occurred in the locks leading from Lake Washington to Puget Sound.  I was in such a hurry to grab the line from the lockmaster, looking up instead of at my footing, that I lost my balance and fell into the water.  I didn’t have a way to get back on the boat, so I had to climb the ladder to the top of the locks, where hundreds of tourists watch the action in the locks.  On this day, they observed me emerge off the top of the ladder, a drenched, red-faced woman.  I raised my hands and said, "No pictures, please!"

Two weeks later when we returned from our vacation, the lockmasters remembered our boat and hollered at me not to take a swim in the locks again.  How embarrassing!

The second time I fell overboard was off a rented barge in the Burgundy region of France.  We chartered and captained this barge with another couple, enjoying two weeks going up the man-made canal.  Gorgeous countryside, relaxing pace-a wonderful experience-until I fell off the boat on a rainy day in a lock.  You see, these canals have numerous locks we had to traverse every day, sometimes with a lockmaster to help, but sometimes on our own.  Once again, I was busy handling lines to a lockmaster when I slipped on the wet surface of the boat, lost my balance, and fell into the water.  The trouble was, I hadn’t figured out how to get back on the boat from the water, and there were no ladders up the lock wall.  Awkward, embarrassing and frustrating, for sure.

Truth is, falling overboard in the locks is dangerous because both water and boats are moving as the water sluices in or out.  In both cases, I was lucky to get out of trouble without injury.  And here’s the positive spin on falling overboard: I’ve done it twice and I survived.  In both cases I didn't panic and I found ways to get to safety.  But that’s it.  I passed the ‘falling in the locks’ test.  No more!

Sidenote: Check out LIE CATCHERS, my latest novel, set in Petersburg.  Here are the Amazon and Wild Rose Press buy sites:

http://amzn.com/B00HJDS1LG

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=235_236&products_id=5607

FALLING HEAD OVER HEELS FOR A RENOVATION by Rolynn Anderson

On Roses of Prose, our themes for October are: Fall into Danger, Fall through the Cracks, Fall Head over Heels, Fall on Deaf Ears

         I’m reminded of the line from the song: “You are so nice to come home to.”  That’s how I feel about returning from a four-month cruise on our boat…to our newly renovated California house.  You see, the paint had barely dried on our walls (in May) when we had to shut down the place and head to our trawler in Anacortes, Washington.  Weary from the hub-bub of renovation (to include tearing down a wall between the kitchen and great room!), we barely registered what we’d accomplished.  Instead, we had to put our minds to prepping our boat for our farewell tour to Alaska.

         Truly, it’s been a year of renovation.  I got new knees (the recovery was exhausting); we spiffed up our boat for sale and she had new owners within two months, AND we renovated most of the rooms of our house.

         Now, in October, boatless and with new knees, I can appreciate our hard work: planning our house redo, hiring the right people, collaborating with skilled and creative folks to manage unique touches…this was tough, stressful and demanding work!  But the results are magnificent.

         Yesterday, we hung artwork we brought from the boat.  We also installed a new chandelier, to match pendulum lights over our brand new entertainment island.  Besides little tweaks here and there and a thorough cleaning, we’re done.  We now get to enjoy the fruits of our labors after an amazing year of renovation.  And yes.  I’ve fallen head over heels for our New Home.

         How about you?  Have you chosen to renovate instead of buy another house?  Are you happy with your decision?