McKenna Jeffries

I went out the other day to do some errands. The sun was bright, shining and it was hot. A few hours into my errands I was making good progress getting things done. As I walked along I noticed that the sky had become really overcast. Before I could wonder if I should think about heading home it started to pour. I mean pour like a waterfall. Although the weather man hadn’t said there was rain I always carry my umbrella with me. So I opened it but with the amount of rain I was still soaked by the time I found shelter. I wasn’t the only one caught unprepared and we were all dripping wet and wondering what had just happened. Lots of people around me were upset and cursing about this random weather change. I wasn’t upset I just got me a cup of tea and a seat near the window and watched the rain coming down. It was a beautiful sight. All that massive water, thunder and lightning.

My way of thinking of it is that things happen and plan changes. We don’t always have control so we need to just accept that it happened and move on. As I drank my tea and watched the rain my thoughts turned to how years ago I would have let things like the weather change upset me. Especially when I had plans to do something. With time I changed and realized that changes in plan or what happens around you can be a good thing. We might not always see it at the present time but eventually it will be revealed. Being upset or letting such things mess with you is not worth it. Now I do still get upset but I’ve learned not to sweat the small things. Like rain that I can’t control.

So as the rain continued to fall I sat, had a cup of tea and enjoyed my unexpected break in my busy day. It was fun to relax and watch people. Got my ideas flowing about what could happen during an unexpected rainstorm. Ah a kernel of a new idea. I wrote down some ideas as I watched the rain. When the rain stopped I went on my way and got what I needed to do done then headed home. With a new idea that happened due to something different than I had planned. A little change can be good.

A while ago as I headed to the train to go to my day job as usual it was still dark outside. Yet this time as I arrived at the end of my block I glanced up as I always did to look at the train another block away. But this time my breath paused as I took in the view before me. A full moon hung over the train tracks. A train was just pulling in under the this full moon. It was breathtaking.

I paused to take in the moon. That soft glow casting everything is a mystical looking light. It was surreal and wonderful. Not to mention inspiring. What is more romantic than a full moon bathing down on you?

I continued on my way to the train as the moon continued to shine. I had a spring in my step and the feeling it would be a great day. As the day wore on the feeling stayed with me. The day did turn out to be a wonderful one.

I found out that our family is expanding once again. My cousin is having another baby. I’m so excited. She is looking so radiant and glowing that special glow. Her other daughters are excited and her family too.

With this news of family growth it’s made me think a lot about families. I enjoy writing about family. Those families by birth/marriage and the ones you choose to call/think of as family. In many of my stories I explore various types of family dynamics. It is fun to explore the in’s and outs of family. The love, tribulations and triumphs they share.

Throw in romance into the mix and it become so much more. Families can create a great or troublesome dynamic with a newly forming relationship. It can be funny, crazy and always entertaining. I love exploring it all. I’m always creating more family ties in my stories.

Ah… the new growth to a family brings a whole new dynamic to explore.

This season has been a roller coaster of weather all over. The season has had some really warm days then it plunges into slightly cold, colder, and coldest. Also there has been the rain. Dressing appropriately for the weather has been a challenge. On day it is warm people start to loosen up and walk around with less layers to cover them up. But by the time it hits later in the day you need those layers as it gets colder. The Colder days get even more clothing added but by the end of the day you are stripping off layers feeling too warm. LOL.

Now on a day with a rainy misty day I like. When it isn’t raining too hard yet that you have to rush for cover or walk like they are in a race. You can be a little slow and enjoy the rain a little.

On such a day as I strolled to get to my day job I listened to the rain. There is a tempo when it its various objects. The car, street, lamppost or sidewalk. A sort of a melody that is interesting. It made my mind start to plan a scene for a book that takes place in the rain. It is everyday things that garner the best ideas. As I got inside my day job and got ready for the day I thought of this the rainy day melody and the things it has inspired me to do before. Take a long nap while it rained, bundle up and watch movies, organize my cupboards and any other number of things. Each time it rains it is a different melody that inspires me to do something according to what I hear in those drops of rain. The variety of stages of rain made me chuckle.

I always hope that when I get home later it is still raining so the melody can inspire me more. Or maybe it will lull me to sleep. Whichever I enjoy the melody.

Try and get out and enjoy the weather wherever you are today. Listen for the melody around you and let it inspire you. Let me know what happened and type of weather you had. Have a great day.

For the last few weekends I have been watching lots of the movies. As I watched I realized there were three common themes in each movie.

1.) Good Will towards others
2.) Family
3.) Romance

Each of the movies had all the themes above told in various ways but all meaning the same. During the holiday season is a time when strangers talk to each other or smile at each other. It also happens throughout the year.  I’ve had some fascinating conversations as I waited on line in stores.

I love spending time with my family those I was born into and those I choose as family all year round. We get get together to cook, laugh, talk, eat and reminisce about the times past. It is a fun time and to see everyone makes me feel all warm and happy inside.

Ah the romance. Each year I sit and watch my family and friends with their loved ones. The love they have is tangible. Some have been married for many years. Others newly married or dating. All the same the love is there. From husband to wife. Parents to kids. Friends to friends. Family to family. That is all what we are.

The message of good will towards others, family and romance. Enjoy your loved ones.

The other day since it wasn’t too cold of a day I took a stroll around my neighborhood. I’ve walked my neighbor many times and seen so many interesting things. This time I turned down a street I hadn’t explored before and to my delight and surprise I came across a small park. I had no clue it was there.

After walking around a little I took a seat on one of the benches and people watched. As I mentioned it was a rare warm day in this cold winter we are having and others were out enjoying it as I was. I even had a conversation with some of the other park goers. I spent a little while in the park before I made my way home. As I went home I wondered how I had missed such a neighborhood treasure. Imagine a park within walking distance.

I made myself a promise that the next time there is a warm day I would go back to the park and take a book with me. Also I am looking forward to summer so I can spend some time there. I plan on exploring more of my neighborhood. Can’t wait to see what other neighborhood treasures I can find.

Happy Halloween!

For those of you trick or treating. Hope you get lots of candy. I’m looking forward to the eating some sweet tarts, candy corn and tootsie.

I have a tendency to read the end of a book before I start to read the beginning. Yes I know it is weird but I like to know if the end will be worth it to read the book. Meaning I like to know if there will be an ending that will be worth it to read the book. Now I don’t do this for every book I read just some of them. I have no rhyme or reasons for books that compel me to read the back of the book I guess something moves me and I flip to the back.

I still remember when I told one of my friends that the ending of a book we had both bought a copy of was good. Since I had told her it was good an hour after we bought it she asked how did I read it that fast. When I mentioned I read the end she gave me a strange look then asked why. I just said I wanted to make sure the end made the book worth reading. Since she is used to my quirkiness she just laughed and shook her head.

I do have a few friends who have this  “must know end syndrome” like I do and they get it. However those of my family and friends who don’t have the “must know end syndrome” tease me about it. If I am around them when I buy a new book and the end need moves me I just roll my eyes and still flip to the end. LOL.

Those moments that I don’t go to the end of the book and then don’t get the payoff for the story I get a little … umm… vocal when I tell my friends or family. Of course being the smart mouthed people they like to be they point out why didn’t I go to the end of the book before hand. Now there is no answer I can give to that since I have no clue what makes me read the end of one book and not the other. Sigh. It is a weird compulsion. LOL.

So what are your reading quirks?

Lately when I take a break from my own writing I’ve been escaping. I escape into books, movies. TV’s or video games. Just something that takes me away from the regular day. There are various ways I escape.

On the last  long weekend I had I used it to escape. I didn’t turn on the TV or even read. Didn’t go near my computer either. I used the time to actually have some me time. I pampered myself with a decadent breakfast and also planned my lunch and dinner. Then I sat and enjoyed my breakfast. After I lounged around my house and listened to music. Sometimes I even got up and danced around my house. I went out and had my hair, nails, and toes pampered. When I got back home I napped, talked to friends I hadn’t spoken to in a while, ate and just lazed around. I did this for three days and it energized me.

Taking a moment to escape from the regular grind made me ready to dive back. It was fun.

So what do you do to escape?

Summer has been a blast. Busy with family and so on. Also had a b-day. (grin) Another year and some reflection. I took some time to take stock on what you have planned for the rest of the year. There is so much possibilities. I’ve been exploring those moments of possibilities. I re-evaluated what was on my writing plans. I revamped the old plans into a new one. I’ve organized the books I want to complete before the end of this year and the time frame I want to complete them in.

One of the things that I’ve want to complete is a story that keeps nagging at me. So I finally had to sit down sketch out my thoughts in order. I’m still working on a title for the story. Now that the idea is down I can’t wait to write. With the concept done I’m ready to actually sit down and write the story. And yes it is about a family of sorts.

Various readers have mentioned to me that they like my work because I write about families. To me family is the corner stone of everything. No matter if you’re close or fight like crazy it’s all about the family dynamic. And not just the typical ones either. After all there are many types of families. Those by blood and those you choose to call family. The rest of this year I am writing books to help build my various families I have created and make some new families. Stay tuned for more on them.