Here we are at the end of March, the end of the first quarter of 2023. Nancy and I have been trying to take advantage of the beautiful weather by spending time outdoors whenever possible. Last night, twenty days after the fact, we celebrated our fifty-first anniversary at Café Coconut Cove in Melbourne Beach. We had a wonderful dinner at the best table in the house, with the best server in the house, Marissa. The food was delicious, the company inspiring, and the setting couldn’t have been more perfect. I wish I could wine her and dine her like that every night, but, alas.

Early in the month, we had a visit from our grandson, Noah. It was a blessing to spend time with him. Unfortunately, he came down with a cold and spent three of his six days in bed. In the time he was able, we went fishing at Sabastian Inlet. He caught a rockfish. So did I. In fact, we caught the same rockfish twice. Okay, maybe it wasn’t a fish, but it was plenty strong. That rock made off with our tackle each time we caught it. We also went to the Dinosaur Store and museum in Cocoa Beach. Noah would like to get into paleontology, so his interest in fossils drew us there. We also took an airboat ride from Camp Holly, south through the Big Sawgrass and Little Sawgrass lakes, in search of gators. Saw a few, but nothing spectacular. We had a great meal together at my and Nancy’s favorite outdoor eating establishment, The Old Fish House in Grant. We had planned a day at the zoo also but gave it up for a day of rest. Besides, we live in a zoo, it’s all around us every day, like The Matrix.

Meanwhile, life goes on, on Croton Road. In fact, it has been very busy here this month with doctors’ appointments and caring for the sick and wounded. Nancy’s knee is improving steadily, and the surgeon was pleased with her progress. So am I. We have friends that were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident at Bike Week in Daytona. We’re trying to minister to them with meals, but it’s difficult as they live miles away in Southwest Palm Bay.

Here at the old folks’ home, Mom continues her slow decline into dementia, requiring an increased level of care from us. In addition, she wounded her leg on the car door and the wound became infected. We’ve been battling the infection most of the month. Really the battle is with her, trying to get her to take her pills. Mom is OCPD, and trying to change anything in her daily routine is like trying to get Monk, the TV detective, to search a dumpster. It’s frustrating and requires a great deal of time and patience.

As far as work goes, progress is slow, but I’m not blocked. I’m never blocked. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’m usually overwhelmed by the number of story ideas that pop into my head each week, stories I will never have time to write, but I dutifully make notes about the inspiration. No, this month has been different. Often, when I am writing, one of my characters, or several, or an element of the plot, will take over the story and start bending it, twisting the plot in ways I hadn’t intended until, sometimes, I become confused about where the story is going. That’s what happened this month with “Patriarch”. I’ve struggled with a confused storyline all month long, trying to understand the plot twists my characters were creating. Trying to see how each particular subplot plays into the central theme of the story. It’s been difficult. I feel as if I’m working hard to write about a mutiny taking place aboard Patriarch, while my characters are mutinying against me.

The solution to the dilemma was surprising, even to me. A new character has entered the story, a sentient AI who is conspiring with Patriarch’s Executive Officer to take over the ship. An interesting turn of events, but it put the story back on track, and now we’re headed for an explosive climax. Can’t wait to get this manuscript finished.

In the meantime, I’m nine weeks behind schedule and the clock keeps ticking. Finished or not, come hell or high water, on May first I will begin the final draft of “The Rift”, book two of the Gray Empire Series. The additional time required to finish and publish “Patriarch” will have to be accomplished in the background. The manuscript stands at 96,093 words today. As the work continues that number moves up on some days, and down on others, depending on the ever-changing storyline.

That’s it for this update. Until next month, think good thoughts, press onward regardless, and do good work.