I am not going to address my two year hiatus from writing. Well, I will. But in little stories that come out here and there. I am not going to write a long "catch up," or update. It will be pretty clear from my writing that things have changed an awful lot in the last couple of years. A move. A love. A puppy. Lots of new friends. And lots and lots of adventures. I haven't been "sleeping at life" during my hiatus from writing. Rather, I have probably lived more adventures in these last two years than I have at any other point in my life. But I don't have to tell them all at once. 

The brilliant Peter Kelleher+me.                   Bridge at Canalfest photo by Richard Gleason              KD Puppy

The format of this blog is not going to change. Its going to be me writing about whatever I feel like writing about, whenever I feel like writing. I hope you will join me in jumping back in the water. I love to swim, and I hate to swim alone. 

I announce with great pleasure that I am now blogging for one of my favorite stores: Cats Like Us.  You can read my first post here: http://catslikeus.com/blog/articles/vintage-clip-earrings-a-love-affair. Its about my love affair with vintage earrings.  I hope you enjoy it!

I started the book. 

I have had the bones of it in my head since midsummer.  But then incredibly interesting stuff just kept happening. Stories that just had to be in there.  I knew that I could go on like this forever. The voice in my head kept saying,” FORTHELOVEOFGOD. Just write it.  You can write another book with this additional material.”  But it felt related, all part of one continuous story. 

The book is about my incredible Alice in Wonderland type journey over the last year or so.  How I kind of lost myself, found myself again, and the amazing cast of characters that I encountered along the way. Adventures I never could have imagined. People and situations I could not possibly have dreamed up if I wanted to.  

I kept thinking that at some point there would be a pause or a logical stopping point. And suddenly, I knew. Today is the day.  I started.  It flowed.  I put a lot down.  I really, really, got started.  And now, I can’t wait to write more. 
 

I put this as my status update on Facebook: “I started the book.  Some of you are in it.” 

I laughed a bit as I typed it.  I wondered how many people would wonder whether or not they were going in the book.  Mostly, people who have crossed my path over the last year were pretty amazing, in the best possible way. I can also imagine just a couple of people turning white as a ghost upon reading that sentence.  I must admit I am human enough to relish the thought just a tiny bit. I will paraphrase a quote that I read somewhere:   "If you wanted to look better in the book, you should have been nicer to me.”  (*Side note: I was unsuccessful in finding the author of this quote, so if you know, please tell me) The good news about this past year is that the people who treated me poorly in any way are only minor or incidental characters to my story.  They may or may not make the cut.  They certainly did not make the cut remaining in my “real life.”

The truth?  I only know for certain that two specific people are going to be in the book.  Those two people are spectacular humans. The rest will reveal itself as I write it.  I am feeling wildly curious to see who makes an appearance! This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime.  I can't wait to take you all with me.  

Ive been keeping a low profile here at Ethel Betty.  I've had a rollercoaster of a year.  My marriage did not work out.  This is the first and last time that I will talk about that particular subject other than to say that we are both doing well.  I am considerably happier than I have been in a long time. I wish all good things for my ex. For the most part we are handling things with amazing consideration and cooperation.
 
I have had some unbelievable travels and adventures, hobbies, new twists to my career, lots of amazing experiences with friends old and new.  My crushed and broken heart was slowly and magically healed along the way. Some day I plan on writing about the most amazing spring, summer, and fall of my life, the many ways the Universe showed me hints of my next chapters, and the unbelievable cast of characters I encountered in my own real-life version of Alice in Wonderland.  I promise you wont be bored. But all of that's gonna take me a while to fully process and put on "paper."
 
I have continued writing with some fun projects including artist profiles for Spark Magazine, a fashion column for Hot Jam Media, and some more pedestrian business articles but I needed to take a break from any more personal writing. 
   
I really wanted to start this blog from today.  I wanted to take the articles I wrote last year and delete them from the internet.  But, they are all valid experiences that I wrote the truth about at the time. Instead, I am explaining the break I took from writing and the joy I feel at starting from today at a new chance for an even better life.
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For a while I was too sad to write. And then suddenly there was so much happening so quickly I could hardly make sense of it. But almost exactly a year from the day I started this blog, I am back.  I am stronger, healthier, and happier and better than ever.  I am glad that I can take all of you with me on this next chapter.

I cant wait to see what happens next!