As I sit down to write about my 2013 expectations, I realize that if all goes to plan, the next 12 months will be more life-changing than any previous year. Professionally, by this time next year, I could have three books sold. Dream big! Personally, in May, my wife will give birth to twins, increasing our family of three to five (seven if you count the dog and cat).
I will also turn the Big 4-0 in May. Even if I live to be a ripe old 80, my life is still half over. My hand shook as I typed that. And that is if I make it to 80.
With three young children, my son is two, I need to hang around. When I found out last fall that I would very soon have three children, my thoughts turned to Christmas celebrations with grandchildren. When you have one kid, there is always that small possibility that you may not have a grandchild, so you don't think about. At least, I didn't. Not everyone has kids. With three kids, my chances of bouncing a two-year-old grandson on my knee increase tenfold. If I'm alive, that is.
So my New Year's resolution is to do all I can to live another 40, 50, and why not, 60 years. I want to be around when my grandchildren are born and that won't be for awhile. I would love see my children and, health willing, my grandchildren get married.
To that end, I have decided salt is my mortal enemy. Now, I can't completely erase salt from diet, so I have decided to end my almost 40-year love affair with fast food, with drive-thru hamburgers, chicken nuggets, soft-shell tacos and french fries, oh, the french fries. The idea came to me from a high school girl named Megan Stevensen. Here is a story I wrote on her 'Hazards of Fast Food,' presentation.
http://www.southernminn.com/owatonna_peoples_press/news/article_e4b891ab-853c-5cc4-8fea-8bd7469cbec9.html
It's been seven days since I have last visited a fast food location. It's a good start. Now, I just need to quick texting and checking Twitter while I drive 65 miles an hour on two-lane roads.
Professionally, my agent, Sara Megibow, and I have been looking for a publishing home for my first novel, "Biggie." I hope "Biggie," finds the perfect editor in 2013. So many of my friends and family members have told me how much they enjoyed the story of an overweight, shy high school junior who changes his life to hopefully win the heart of a girl he has cyber stalked for five years.I would love to share my story with even more readers.
As Sara does her thing, I have been editing, "Riddle Park," a middle grade book I finished about an 11-year old, who copes with his parents' sudden split, by helping a group of outcast 15-year-olds win a tournament for the right to play at Wrigley Field. In addition, I am crafting a young adult story, titled "Jumping Off Bridges," or JOB for short, about an unlikely teenage couple who make a pact to commit suicide by jumping off of a bridge. I am currently on page 120. Need to keep writing!!!
This year will be interesting, nerve-wrecking and memorable, regardless of what happens.
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