Musings & Thoughts for Thursday, January 11, 2024, or: Notes from a Storyteller in New England (and a Quick Life Update)

Late Morning, Thursday, January 11, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire

Hi, there, everyone. It’s late morning here in my corner of New England on the fourth day of the regular workweek. Since it’s early winter still, the temperature here is 31°F (0°C) under mostly cloudy conditions. It feels colder than that, though; the wind-chill factor on this gray-skied morning is 28°F (-1°C). Today’s forecast is a mixed blessing: we can expect no precipitation, but the skies will be mostly cloudy, and the high is expected to reach 37°F (3°C). Tonight, skies will continue to be mostly cloudy. The low will be 22°F/-5°C.

On Writing & Storytelling: A Quick Progress Report

Yesterday was a good day for me on the writing front. After nearly two months of not being able to write any fresh copy in Reunion: Coda’s manuscript since November 17, 2023, I added two new emails to Chapter 12 (in the novel, the chapter is titled The Big Smoke and the Big Apple: An Epistolary Chapter of Love and Music – March 2000), which tells the story of Jim and Maddie’s temporary separation – she’s a pianist with the New York Philharmonic, and her job has taken her to London, where the famous orchestra is recording an album in Abbey Road Studios – via a series of email exchanges.

I sometimes regret having chosen to use this style of writing for this chapter, but I thought it would be interesting to see if I could use different techniques to tell a story, including telling the story exclusively through the written words of Jim and his new love.

I also figured that since this part of the novel is set in early 2000, I would give long-distance romances, especially Internet-based ones, a tip of the hat. In Reunion: Coda, Jim and Maddie don’t meet online or use a dating site like Match.com; they meet – the old-fashioned way – at a nightclub in New York. But their jobs – he teaches history at Columbia University and is a best-selling author of books about World War II, while she’s a talented pianist – sometimes keep them apart, so Jim and Maddie (who are in their 30s) use technology to keep connected whilst she’s in London (aka “The Big Smoke”).

It’s…challenging to tell a story via a series of emails, but other authors, including Bram Stoker (Dracula) and Matt Beaumont (e: A Novel) have written entire books using the epistolary style. I’m only writing one chapter in this way. I think I can do it, don’t you?

Here’s an excerpt from the batch of emails I began to write in late October:

Sunday, March 5, 2000 – A New Thread

Subject: Let’s play a game

Hi Maddie,

I hope you’re having a restful afternoon in London. I just finished grading the papers and quizzes for my class. It was a lot of work, but I managed to get it done. Now I have some free time, and I was thinking of you.

I know you’re probably still tired from jet lag (have you tried taking chamomile tea or lavender oil?), but I thought it would be fun to play a game with you. A game of limericks, to be precise. You know, those funny five-line poems that rhyme and have a certain rhythm. I’m sure you’re familiar with them, being a musician and all.

The idea is simple: we take turns writing limericks based on each other’s professions. You write limericks about famous generals of WWII, and I write limericks about composers. The goal is to make each other laugh or at least smile. What do you say? Are you up for the challenge?

I’ll start with an easy one, about Mozart. Here goes:

There once was a composer named Mozart

Who had a prodigious talent for art

He wrote symphonies and operas galore

But he also liked to party and score

And he died young, leaving behind a broken heart

How did I do? Your turn now. Write me a limerick about Eisenhower, or any other general you like. I can’t wait to read it.

Love,

Jim

JimWWII99@yahoo.com  

Sent Sunday, March 5, 2000 11:30 AM EST

Subject: Re: Let’s play a game

Hi Jim,

What a lovely surprise to find your email in my inbox. I’m so glad you finished your grading and have some time to relax. And what a fun game you proposed. I love limericks, they’re so witty and clever.

You did a great job with your Mozart limerick. It made me chuckle. Poor Mozart, he was such a genius, but also such a rascal. I wonder what he would think of your poem.

Alright, here’s my attempt at a limerick about Eisenhower. I hope you like it.

There once was a general named Ike

Who led the Allies to victory with a strike

He planned D-Day with skill and care

And landed on Normandy with a flare

But he also had a mistress, who was quite a dyke

Did I make you laugh? Or at least raise an eyebrow? I hope so. Now it’s your turn again. How about a limerick about Beethoven? I’m sure you can come up with something good.

Love,

Maddie

MaddieMusica*97@hotmail.com

Sent Sunday, March 5, 2000, 4:40 PM GMT

Subject: Re: Re: Let’s play a game

Hi Maddie,

Your Eisenhower limerick was hilarious. I did laugh and also gasped. I don’t think that rumor about his alleged mistress playing for both teams is true, though. (It is a funny limerick, though.)

OK, here’s my limerick about Beethoven. I hope you don’t mind a little dark humor.

There once was a composer named Beethoven

Who had a passion for music and a love for women

He wrote masterpieces like the Fifth and the Ninth

But he also went deaf and lost his mind

And he died alone, with no children

Too sad? Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I admire Beethoven, but his life was tragic. Maybe you can cheer me up with a limerick about Patton, or any other general you prefer.

Love,

Jim

JimWWII99@yahoo.com

Sent Sunday, March 5, 2000, 11:45 AM EST

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Let’s play a game

From: MaddieMusica*97@hotmail.com

Hi Jim,

Your Beethoven limerick was very clever, but also very depressing. Poor Beethoven, he deserved better. But I guess his music lives on, and that’s what matters.

Alright, here’s my limerick about Patton. I hope you find it amusing.

There once was a general named Patton

Who was famous for his bravery and action

He led his troops to glory and fame

But he also slapped a soldier and caused a shame

And he died in a car crash, what a misfortune

Too morbid? Sorry, I guess I’m in a dark mood today. Maybe you can lighten it up with a limerick about Bach, or any other composer you like.

Love,

Maddie

MaddieMusica*97@hotmail.com

Sent Sunday, March 5, 2000, 4:55 PM GMT

Quick Life Update

I’m pleased to announce that my replacement remote for my 4K UHD Blu-ray player arrived here on Tuesday evening. It didn’t come with batteries, and the AA and AAA batteries I brought from Florida are in one of the boxes currently sitting in the garage, so it wasn’t till I found two AAs in a kitchen drawer last night that I was finally able to watch something on Blu-ray in my bedroom.

In case you are wondering, I watched three episodes from the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. I would have started at 8 PM or maybe earlier if I had access to my substantial amount of batteries – I need plenty of those because I have wireless mice, a wireless keyboard, and another 4K UHD TV – not yet set up – that requires its own remote control. Alas, since I found the loose AAs after 7:30 PM and didn’t leave my office desk till after 8:30 PM, I probably started watching Strange New Worlds around 9 PM.

Although I tried to watch all three episodes in Disc One in one sitting, I was a bit drowsy by the middle of the second episode and barely got the gist of the third episode. I managed to turn the TV off with the remote – and this time I was mindful of where I set that device down. I don’t want to lose another remote the way I misplaced the first one.

And…that’s it. Today I expect to begin working on the novel around noon and quit before sunset. I seem to be calmer and more productive before the skies get dark and the temperatures drop below freezing. Yesterday I started a bit too late in the day to get four hours’ worth of writing – or at least trying to write – so today I’ll try to start my work day a bit earlier.

So, with that in mind, I’ll close for now so I can take an early rest break, eat lunch, then return here at noon sharp. Until next time, stay safe, stay healthy, stay warm, and I’ll catch you on the sunny side of things.