A Farewell to 2023
Terry Odell
Let me be the third poster to ring in 2024, TKZers. Kay and Debbie covered the goals/resolutions topic very well, so I’m not going there.
Someone, somewhere, sometime determined that the transition between December 31st and January 1st was more significant than any other turning of the days. Whatever, I hope your 2024 brings you more than your 2023. And I’m hoping for peace.
In my last post of 2023, I said if all went according to plan, I’d be in Prague the day it posted. Did all go according to plan? Well, I was in Prague, so the short answer is yes. But not everything went as smoothly as I’d hoped. If it seems I’m dwelling on the negative, please understand I had a wonderful time. But I’m a writer, and only trouble is interesting.
Hiccup number one. After boarding the plane in Denver, bound for Frankfurt, settling in our seats, we waited. And waited. Finally, the captain announced that there would be a delay because one passenger decided he didn’t want to make the trip. It’s not as simple as letting him leave, of course. His baggage has to be located in the belly of the aircraft. Another wait, and we were told said passenger had decided he’d join us after all.
My son, in talking with a flight attendant, discovered the passenger didn’t like that his headrest moved up and down and wanted off. Another passenger in a seat without a movable headrest offered to switch, and that solved the problem. We were now an hour or so behind schedule.
Our connection to Prague had enough time so we didn’t miss that flight, although we definitely got our steps in for the day. Have you ever been to the Frankfurt airport? Coming in to the Z gates and having to get to the A gates (with a stop at passport control) isn’t a walk in the park. But we found our gate. Which changed to another gate. Which changed to a third gate. And then we waited. And waited. The weather forecasts hadn’t mentioned the snow rolling in. Flights were delayed, and then, once we finally boarded, we had the pleasure of waiting in line for our plane to be de-iced before we could take off.
We arrived in Prague a mere two hours late. Our luggage had made it. Yay! Our driver hadn’t. Boo! The company was supposed to follow the arrival times and make sure we were met, but our driver gave up when he found out how late we were, and there was another 45 minute wait for a replacement. Dare I mention we were now smack dab in the middle of rush hour traffic?
But we arrived at the hotel, found the rest of our group already libating at the bar, and called it a positive outcome. After all, we were in Prague, and on the date we were supposed to get there.
My plan for this trip, aside from the sights and photography, was to gather fodder for a novel. Would the events of Day One be worth including? Not without adding some stakes, I would think. Like, what would happen if a character didn’t get to where they were supposed to be on time because a passenger didn’t want an adjustable headrest? Would readers believe it?
Overall, the trip was fantastic despite the rocky start. After three days in Prague (two actually, since this Day One was a write-off), we took a train to Vienna. More writing fodder there. After two days there, we set sail on a cruise along the Danube headed for Nuremberg, stopping at Christmas markets. Did you know that they can close a river to boat traffic? But that’s a story for another time.
Glad to be home, even though we arrived with Covid. Vaccinations and boosters probably kept symptoms relatively minimal, although the cough lingers on.
On the writing front, Deadly Adversaries is on schedule for it’s February 22nd release date. (You can pre-order it now.) I’d turned in my edits before I left, so the Covid brain fog and overall meh feeling didn’t mess with my schedule.
Have I started the new book? Not beyond coming up with some basic premises. Indie author here. No guilt, no deadline yet.
If you’ve read this far, how about some of the pictures I took on the trip? I’ll be working on processing the images for a while, but here’s a start.
So, TKZers, are you looking at a fresh start for 2024, or are you (like me), just going to plug along and hope for the best? Every day is a new beginning no matter what the calendar says.
How can he solve crimes if he’s not allowed to investigate?
Gordon Hepler, Mapleton’s Chief of Police, has his hands full. A murder, followed by several assaults. Are they related to the expansion of the community center? Or could it be the upcoming election? Gordon and mayor wannabe Nelson Manning have never seen eye to eye. Gordon’s frustrations build as the crimes cover numerous jurisdictions, effectively tying his hands.
Available for preorder now.
Terry Odell is an award-winning author of Mystery and Romantic Suspense, although she prefers to think of them all as “Mysteries with Relationships.”
Terry, welcome back and wishing you a quick recovery.
As always, your photos are lovely. Somewhere among them, a new mystery is waiting to be found. That castle in the mist looks like an intriguing setting.
Thanks, Debbie. I have hundreds more awaiting my attention, and a story to find.
Welcome back, Terry! Hope you have a speedy recovery. The trip sounds wonderful, and the photos you shared are fabulous. Between the trip’s little challenges, memories and photos, you have lots of story fuel.
Thanks, Dale – I’m at the “feel like I’m getting over a head cold” stage, so things are looking up. But Covid brain fog is real, and it’s taken me a while to feel like I can put two thoughts together.
Your pictures from the trip are amazing! Such pretty lights and architecture. Happy New Year, Terry!
Thanks, Priscilla. Like with writing, you’re only seeing the shots that made the cut. There’s a lot of editing behind the scenes! Glad you liked them.
Happy New Year, Terry, and welcome back. Glad you had a safe and enjoyable trip despite the glitches. (Really! A passenger who was going to deplane because he didn’t like the headrest? You really should include that gem in your next book.) The photos are beautiful.
Hope you recover quickly and have a productive writing year.
Thanks, Kay. I’ve narrowed down my story premise to three possibilities, so I need to let those marinate for a while. A short while. Usually, the best ideas hit when I’m writing, not planning.
Glad you’re back safely, Terry. And I hope you recover from Covid quickly.
I love your pictures, especially the one Debbie mentioned, the castle rising up out of the fog/mist while perched on a mountain. There has to be a clue to your mystery in that building.
In answer to your question, I am looking for a fresh start in 2024, planning a new series. I like how you ended one sentence. It would make a good T-shirt: “Indie Author Here. No guilt. No deadline.” Enjoy each day for what it brings. Or “Enjoy the Journey!”
Thanks, Steve. That was a ‘grab shot’ from the ship as we cruised by. When I looked at the image after I got home, it demanded a black and white rendition as well. Still trying to decide which I like better (which is why I left them both in the gallery).
For me, it’s all about the journey, whether it’s traveling or writing.
Great pics, Terry! Your trip there reminded me of my return trip from Georgia after filming three episodes of a true crime series. Because of one unruly passenger, the “quick” connecting flight (35 min. flight) took two and a half hours, which made me miss my plane home. Had to dish out $200 for a room at the airport. I’m still at a loss for why the airport didn’t cover my expenses. Fun times. Not.
The airline should have covered your stay, Sue. I’d have protested and filed a claim. Since we’ve been upping our traveling, we’ve signed up for an insurance company recommended by our son where we pay a modest base rate, and then add any additional coverage for things we don’t think we’d get reimbursed for. Trip interruption is something we always add.
Happy New Year! Glad you’re recovering so quickly from Covid…it is rampant in our small town so I’m mostly staying home.
I loved your photos, especially the one of the door with the face in one of the panels. So different! You’re making me itchy to travel again, maybe not by plane, though…
Thanks, Patricia – about the only way we can get to the places we want to go means air travel, so it’s a matter of hoping for the best, but being prepared for the glitches. For our upcoming New Zealand trip, we’re going to arrive three days prior to the start of the tour just to be safe (and recover from jet lag, do a little of our own exploring).
Following Patricia’s door face comment, did anyone spot the lion’s face in the building, bottom row, second pic from the left. Speaking of New Zealand, Terry, be sure to schedule a trip to Phillips Island so you can see the world’s smallest penguins. 12 or so inches long. They come out of the water at sundown, first one or two and soon in droves. They have a set trail, and woe be unto any human that gets in their way. They do not deviate. They missed our toes by about three inches! No flash cameras allowed because they will blind the critters.
Depending on the size of your screen/monitor, the rows might not be laid out the same for everyone. But the images are numbered, so you can tell us which picture you’re talking about, Peggy.
Most of our trip is an organized tour, but we’ll see about checking out the penguins. We did see the fairy penguins on a trip to Australia many many years ago.
Here’s to a rapid recovery Terry. In answer to your question every day I start out with one thing in mind to do and it always turns into ten.
I’m trying to up it to two or three.
I still can’t get over this climate thing. Here it is January 3 and the grass is still sorta green and I’m moving stuff around in the garage with no more than normal clothing and a hoodie. This can’t possibly be winter.
Thanks, Robert. While we were gone, we got about ten inches of snow, and there’s still some hanging around on the north side of our house. Our temperatures have hovered around the freezing point, although it’s up to 37 outside right now. It’s definitely winter here.
Good luck with your daily “to do” lists. Funny how they multiply, isn’t it?
Welcome back, Terry. And that first hold-up on the plane has so many possibilities for your book. I’m sure you’ve thought of them all.
Can’t wait to read this one.
Thanks, Elaine. I have to write it first, but as soon as I do, I’ll let you know!