Thanks Heather

This letter is for Heather Hubler's challenge which is linked below.

Dear Heather;

I hope all is well in your world. I know we haven’t spoken in a long time and I’m sorry for that. I just seem to have a lot going on in my life right now. We just celebrated my granddaughters ninth birthday on Sunday– after returning from a three-day trip to Quebec. What a great trip that was! My wife and I and four close friends stayed in an Airbnb chalet on Mont- Tremblant, which overlooked miles of rolling hills alive with fall colours. The breathtaking beauty of this place, situated in the heart of the Laurentian Mountains, is truly inspiring. It would be the perfect place for a writer to unwind and become one with nature. There are several small French villages in the area that are filled with tiny shops and wonderful people and I would find it difficult to believe that any writer couldn’t find inspiration on those cobblestone streets. It was almost like traveling back in time– back to a time when life was much simpler and free from modern day worries.

As I walked the streets of those small villages, I let myself dream about owning a place in these mountains– A place where I could awake each morning with zero worries and excited to put pen to paper. Last night, I actually dreamed about the chalet we stayed in. I rarely remember my dreams but this one felt so real that I remember everything about it. I could see myself sitting in that chalet with its sixteen foot ceilings and twelve foot glass walls, looking out at the deck and hot tub and beyond that the multi-coloured mountains in the distance. Oh, how I wish I could afford to buy a chalet like that one but, alas, the two million dollar price tag is a little out of my reach.

I was working on an idea for my second story for the cross-Canada short story writing contest, feeling a little blocked, before this trip. But since getting back I seem to have found my will to write again. I guess I found inspiration there as the words are now flowing with an ease I haven’t experienced in a long time.

You know the contest I’m talking about as your input on my first story helped me to see things I didn’t see and resulted in a story that I felt proud to enter. Thank you so much for that, Heather, your willingness to help and thoughtful approach means the world to me. I am about half way done the second story, which needs to be entered before the end of the month, so don’t be surprised if you hear from me soon.

Also I’ve been trying to judge the Vocal awards without letting the disappointment of not making the cut influence my ability to read the entries with an open mind. For the most part I’m doing okay with it but there are moments when I say, “What? Why? How?” I know I shouldn’t feel like that but I can’t help myself. I think I may not enter another contest like this, on Vocal, unless they change the judging process and put more stories into the short list. I would like to see twenty stories make the cut in each category. At least then the real judges will have more say. And by the real judges I mean the readers. Sorry for the rant but it’s just how I feel.

Well I just got a call from my wife, reminding me of and adding to her honey-do list. So I better get to it. Happy wife, happy life and all that.

Thanks again for all your help and for being a good friend.

With love, your friend;

Gerald