The Nice Thing About Strangers
Creative Non-Fiction Short Stories. :) Travel, Oldsters, Love, and Compassion.
I took off without leaving a note
I wasn’t sure what to write. If I were to leave a note, maybe it would say:
BE BACK SOON!
Or
So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye.
When I stopped blogging this winter, I wasn’t so sure. I’m still not sure. I’m so grateful for my readers, my subscribers, my opportunities, and the fact that lovely strangers from all over the world have made time to read my work. So I wanted to say something, and I hope it’s okay that 2 months later I am checking in.
So, hi!
After almost 5 years of writing Nice Thing posts with regularity, I felt a huge desire for a break. It came on without warning. (It may explain my lack of success in relationships. I just had to flee.) I’ve been focused on creative non-fiction for years now, and I realized how much I missed some of the other genres. I haven’t written a play in a decade. I haven’t written a poem in about 5 years. A 75% finished novel tugs at my sleeve. I needed a bit of silence to think of what comes next.
In the meantime, though, I read my book in a 5th grade classroom. I talked about the stories with my 1st grade teacher. I had a beautiful opportunity to read my book with women in a program that transitions them from homelessness to self-sufficiency. These are the reasons I have sheepishly returned to try again. One woman said, “Don’t be afraid to write a novel! You should go right to it!” So I will work on that project, and I will resume this one. The Nice Thing About Strangers helps me to step outside of myself, and that’s the reminder and the gift I need the most.
Thank you for your patience (if anyone is still here). I’ll be here at least once a week. A few new cities are on my agenda this spring, and I have a feeling Taipei is going to be a feast for photos and tales.
All my best,
Paige
Welcome back, Paige. Though with your book in hand, you really never left. Looking forward to your next projects and the Taipei coverage.
VP,
I am not sure what to expect in Taipei, but I am certainly expecting communication collapses on a regular basis. 🙂 Those always make for good stories.
Hugs,
Paige
I am glad you’ve started posting again. And keep going with the novel.
Thank you! I’ll keep working on the novel in bursts (then run and hide and return). 🙂 This is supposed to be the year that i come through on it, for Very Young Paige who always loved writing and never felt this much fear. 🙂
Thanks,
Paige
I hear you. Keep channelling young Paige!
Wonderful to see you back! Best of luck with the novel. Reading to school children is such a treat!! I am sure they loved your words.
Darlene,
Your support and encouragement has really meant a lot to me. I am grateful for you and for our friendship.
One of the boys said, “Oh wow, I bet I could read this book in one night.” Haha! They were very excited to have an author come to visit, and I get each student a copy for Christmas. I said they could pass them on to their family if they wanted, but their teacher said, “Oh no, they can’t!” 🙂
Hugs,
Paige
Delighted….looking forward to seeing the world through your eyes, one person at a time
Thank you, Marilu–
Even just reading the comments today has put a huge smile on my face.
Paige
I am still here and will continue to be here because I don’t have anywhere else to go ok I have other blogs to go to so will be there as well and of course at my own blog and at times I will go to the bathroom and even to bed so many places to go but still I will be here.
Hi Joanne,
🙂 LOL! I have missed you, my friend. I am glad to see you didn’t unsubscribe and leave me behind.
Hugs,
Paige
There is a time for everything and we need it . And you and your words – always worth waiting for
Ganz liebe Grüße, Paige …
Liebe Maccabros,
So lange haben wir nicht gesehen. 🙂 Vielen dank. Here’s hoping I can still deliver.
Lg,
pmj
Welcome back! I’m still here and will be looking forward to new posts! Hope you enjoyed the well deserved break
Thank you, Tomi! I am still looking through my notebook from the last few months to decide how to start. 🙂 I did enjoy the break. Lots of play time with my nieces, lots of reading, lots of work as well.
Thanks,
Paige
You’re the best, Paige.
Thanks, Walt! Nice seeing you on Twitter and I appreciate you being here as well. 🙂
Hugs,
Paige
You are on my short list. Ditto, I have cut back in the writing after taking a short break. Six years every day was enough, now it is just two blogs, two days a week each. I have also cut back on the reading, no more fifty or more bloggers, now just a short dozen of the best. My opinion, you are one of the best. Glad you are back.
Love, hugs and blessings … ME and the Boss
Me and the Boss,
Thank you so much for this nice note. I know we’ve been following each other for a long time now, and so I’m glad you understand why the breaks sometimes are necessary. That said, I’ll try to get back on the long list. 🙂
Paige
I am glad I came across your blog tonight! I look forward to spending some time looking through old posts of yours and your future posts!
Thank you, Lindsey! 🙂 I hope you’ll enjoy it. Welcome!
Paige
So, Hi there, yourself 🙂 Have courage – nothing to do but to go for it ! Life has a way of getting past us.
Pamela,
Hello, my friend! Yes, I need to get to work and stay at work until it is done. I literally have 3 unfinished novels and they are starting to weigh on me the way my notebooks full of Nice Things stories did. I think that means it is time. 🙂
Hugs,
Paige
Really?
I’ll have to think on this and write more later.
🙂
Well THAT butchered my original comment. I’ll try again. (sigh)
(Reads “if anyone is still here”. Tears sheet of paper from notepad. Crumples paper. Throws it at Paige.)
Really?
(Tries and fails to come up with words of gratitude and chastisement)
I’ll have to think on this and write more later.
(Writes “I’m so glad you’re here” on a piece of paper. Tears sheet from notepad. Crumples paper. Throws it at Paige.)
🙂
🙂 I like these paper attacks, by the way. I know it is hard to expect people to hang around when I haven’t been sharing anything, but I am so grateful you’re there–and with a real notebook too.
Thank you, Jeff!
Paige
Yaye, another blog to follow! I love reading your posts on FB, so this is another venue to read more about your travels and viewpoints! Stay safe in your travels and check out my blog whenever you get a chance. I don’t post a lot on it, but love sharing things on it when I do!