Livin’ the Dream

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Grocery shopping is not my favorite pastime. I usually fly through the store, endangering the other shoppers with my risky grocery cart maneuvers. But for some reason, one day last summer I was in an easygoing mood, sauntering down an aisle, wondering where Kroger could possibly have relocated my favorite brand of English Afternoon Tea.

As I was plodding along, pondering the strange tendency of grocery store managers to confuse shoppers by reorganizing their stores, I spotted a young man at the far end of the aisle who was loading products on one of the shelves. When he finished his task, he walked toward me. He wore a Kroger apron over his clothes and had obviously been stocking the shelves with canned goods.

As he approached within a few feet, he nodded and said, “Hi. How are you?”

I responded, “I’m well, thank you. How are you?”

He gave me a wry smile and tipped his head toward the thousands of cans of fruits and vegetables on the aisle. “Livin’ the dream,” he said.

I chuckled at his cute reply. I supposed he was a high school senior or a college student who was spending his summer finding a spot for the Green Giant’s can of Niblets Corn instead of surfing the big waves in Australia or climbing Mt. Everest or joining an archeological dig in the Middle East. Or maybe just hanging out with his friends.

I wanted to tell him that maybe he was living the dream and just didn’t know it.

* * *

I suppose age has something to do with it. As I get older, I find myself identifying more and more things I have to be grateful for. Some of those are the big ticket items that we all dream about, but most are the simple everyday familiarities that are just part of our lives.

There are people who say that you should acknowledge a hundred things each day that you’re thankful for. I’m well aware of my many blessings, and a hundred isn’t nearly a big enough number. I thought I should list just a few from various aspects of my life, and I even wrote a little poem to introduce them.

A few are big. Others are small.
Some of them hardly matter at all.
But grateful for these I will always be,
For they’re some of the gifts that were given to me.

  1. The miracle of life
  2. My family
  3. A long marriage to a good man
  4. Health
  5. Friends
  6. Language
  7. Freedom
  8. Good books
  9. The time and resources to write
  10. Awareness
  11. Indoor plumbing
  12. Not having to get up at 5:30am to run three miles before work
  13. Music
  14. The end of summer in Memphis
  15. A good night’s sleep
  16. Running shoes
  17. Food (including canned goods)
  18. Peet’s French Roast Coffee
  19. Crossword puzzles
  20. Duct tape

* * *

In this season of Thanksgiving, the joy of writing ranks high on my gratitude list. The last few years of my life have been transformed by the desire to write mysteries. My days are structured around turning out a word quota, marketing existing works, writing TKZ posts 😊, maintaining my own blog, and continuing to educate myself on the craft of writing. It is both a focus and a fascination that I am continually grateful for.

I treasure the friends I’ve made in this writing space, and I’m indebted to many I’ve learned from. Thank you all.

Yeah, I’m livin’ the dream.

So TKZers: What are you grateful for?

* * *

Private pilot Cassie Deakin has a lot to be thankful for—like not being killed when she foolishly confronted a murderer while unarmed.

Available at  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, or Apple Books.

 

 

31 thoughts on “Livin’ the Dream”

  2. Yes, indeed. We have much to be thankful for–so many blessings on a daily basis that we often take them for granted.

    I’m thankful for the natural generosity of the writing community. Both here at TKZ and in general. While there may be another example of a group of professionals in another field that I’m not aware of, I find it phenomenal that the wide writing community is so willing to share tips and tricks based on their experiences as writers, both of the craft and trade. There is almost no subject that you can’t find assistance on via the Internet from other writers, and I’m very thankful for that.

    And I’m going to go against the flow of most who live in the desert southwest–I’m thankful for warm, even hot weather. We are in the midst of a cold snap (cold in AZ terms, not North Dakota terms. LOL!) and I’m already ready for the warmth of spring. Can’t wait to get into my car this afternoon and feel the warmth of the heat that has built up inside with the windows all shut. It’ll be the warmest it’s been all day. 😎 But I’m thankful that at least the better half of the year in the desert is nice and warm.

    Much to be thankful for.

    • Good morning, Brenda.

      I agree with you about the generosity of the writing community. It is a unique group, so willing to share.

      Stay warm this winter, and have a good week.

  3. Amen to everything you said, Kay! Indoor plumbing made me smile 😉 Terrific poem!

    I too am livin’ the dream and appreciate it every day. Writing and entertaining readers gives meaning to life.

    A few days ago, a dear friend texted that she is facing major cancer surgery. She said she looked forward to reading my new book b/c it would transport her to another place since where she is right now isn’t great.

    That’s the most important job a book could ever do and I pray it accomplishes that for her.

    • Good morning, Debbie!

      What a beautiful reminder of the good deeds a book can do. I hope your friend’s surgery is successful.

      I have Fruit of the Poisonous Tree on my iPad and I’ll start it this week. Can’t wait.

  4. Wonderful post, Kay! I agree with everything on your list. In my case, I’m extremely grateful to have been married to my soul mate for nearly 43 years. Like you, I’m grateful for my writing, which, no matter what the fortunes of publishing, is always ready for me. I’m grateful for all my friends and family. Grateful for my long library career. That said, I’m grateful for my retirement, which gives me more time and opportunity to create my own schedule. I’m grateful for excellent medical care which helped me recover quickly from a foot fracture this summer.

    And, I’m very grateful to be a part of this wonderful writing community.

    I hope you have a great week!

    • Good morning, Dale.

      That’s a wonderful list. I like: “I’m grateful for my writing, which, no matter what the fortunes of publishing, is always ready for me.”

      You reminded me how grateful I am for fellow mystery writers! 🙂

  5. I am living the dream–the dream of being a full-time fiction writer. Thanks for reminding me. This blessing was the silver lining of a Stage 4 ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2016. It came with a rare motor neuron disease caused by the cancer, both of which forced me to retire from a day job that involved a bullying supervisor. That retirement came with a pension. That and disability benefits allowed me to throw myself into my lifelong dream of being a novelist. That I’m still here against all odds after almost nine years is also a true blessing. I’m watching my four grandkids grow up and celebrating anniversaries with my husband, who shoulders most of the household responsibilities now. Right now I’m watching much needed rain fall here in South Texas and thanking God for it. I’m a relative newcomer to this group, but I also count it as a blessing. Reading the blog is one of the first things I do every morning after breakfast. Happy Thanksgiving all y’all!

    • What an inspirational story, Kelly. How fortunate we all are that you were able to realize that lifelong dream, even though it came at a cost to your health.

      I often think of rain as a gift from God. Happy Thanksgiving to you!

    • Good morning, Jane.

      It’s so unfortunate that stress causes us to lose sleep which, in turn, makes us feel more stressed. Here’s hoping whatever those pressures are will lift away.

      Have a good week.

  7. Like so many of you, I’m thankful for my faith, church home, family, and that I’m livin’ the dream of writing full time and have been published for the past 10 years. And I honestly don’t know of any other type of creatives who share knowledge and encouragement the way writers do.

    When I was a potter, I noticed few of the successful ones wanted to share techniques or glaze recipes unless you were their student. Unlike the writing community, which shares freely, I am Thanking God for you all…and Duct Tape.

    • Good morning, Patricia!

      This writing community is generous and supportive in so many ways. “I am Thanking God for you all…and Duct Tape.” That says it all. 🙂

  8. Judaism has blessings for everything. Including a blessing that Gd hears and accepts our blessings. There are 13 blessings to be said at sunrise. As we are approaching 410 days since the Hamas attack on 10/7/23 I will highlight just one.

    Blessed are You, Adonoy our God, King of the Universe, Who releases the imprisoned.

    The family is well and living their lives. The youngest has completed her second year of college.

    • Hi Alan,

      Yes, the Amidah. My husband and I participated in a walk/run a few weeks ago here in Memphis to remember the hostages and keep hope alive. Pictures of Doron Steinbrecher and Naama Levi are in front of the candles on the sideboard in our dining room. We won’t forget.

      Glad your family is doing well.

  9. I can say “yes” to almost all of the items on your list, Kay!

    One other thing occurred to me: living in the small town I grew up in, here in the Pacific NW…truly one of the blessings I enjoy. I’ve spent a bit of time elsewhere, L.A. to be exact, and, echoing Miss Dorothy, There’s no place like home.

    Thanks for reminding us, especially considering the tension-filled world in which we live, that no matter what, we can still count our blessings. No one can take that away from us.

    Happy Monday!

    • Good morning, Deb.

      Growing up in a small town is truly a blessing. Although I grew up in a city, my family and I spent many, many weekends on my great uncle’s farm in rural Georgia. Memories of those days are vivid and highly nostalgic to me.

      Have a great week.

  10. A great post. The more I think about it the better it gets.

    Fresh air and ice water for a couple things. The kindness of neighbors. The genius of medicine. Enough food on the table. Being an American. The values in the Beatitudes. St. Jimmy’s in Edison, New Jersey. The heartfelt apology, the acceptance of the same. Reconciliation.

    I’m writing a story about reconciliation and it is the most difficult thing I’ve ever tried to write.

    The things we are thankful for are all because they are things we engage with or things that lift us up by their existence or both.

    • Beautiful comment, Robert. What a great list you came up with.

      I love that you’re writing a story about reconciliation, and I want to read it when you’re done.

      Have a great week.

  11. Things I’m grateful for:
    ✪ After losing our church early this year, we’ve been given another fine place of worship by a completely different denomination.
    ✪ I received an excellent engineering education, BS & MS, at a well-known university, for a total of $5,000 in tuition. Today, that sum would cover about one month.
    ✪ I have interesting writer friends, including a retired LAPD Captain, a retired MD, a brilliant ex-schoolteacher mentor, a publisher/writer/editor, and an ex-OSS Veteran who served in England and China, 1944 & 1945.
    ✪ I live in a small house on a hill where the air is clean and the views are beautiful.
    ✪ I’ve just published what may be my best work. Last week, a reader told me that my book has helped him with a long term problem.
    ✪ I’ve owned some interesting cars, mostly red.
    ✪ I meet for coffee weekly with caring, intelligent people. There are donuts.

    • Beautiful list, JG. You have a lot to be grateful for.

      This one caught my attention: ” I’ve just published what may be my best work. Last week, a reader told me that my book has helped him with a long term problem.” You’ve given someone else something to put on their list. What is the title of your latest work?

      • ❦ Thank you for asking, Kay. The title of my new book is:
        Why Alcoholics Relapse: The Guardienne Concept
        ❦ I’ve occasionally referred to the Guardienne here at killzoneblog, mostly in its relevant creative aspects. In brief, It is a region of the brain consisting mostly of the limbic system, along with some dedicated memory and connections to other regions. It is continuously alert, faster than the frontal cortices, autonomous, intelligent, and amoral. This concept explains déjà vu, hypnic jerks, somnambulism, alcoholic blackout, multiple personality disorder (“MPD/DID”), bipolar disorder, etc., and partially explains several other behaviors.
        ❦ The concept echoes Jung’s statement, “The question arises: ‘Has the Unconscious consciousness of its own?’” –ETH Lectures
        ❦ There is experimental evidence of this dualism in the work of Hans Stuyck, et al, “The AHA Moment…” DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104946
        ❦ The paperback and Kindle versions are on Amazon and can be read free via Kindle Unlimited (“KU”)

        • I’ve always been interested in your comments about the Guardienne. I just got a copy of your new book, and I look forward to reading it. Thanks for the info.

        • I should also mention prior similar concepts, e.g., RLS’s Dr. Jekyll (Jee’-kill) and Mr. Hyde. The latest include:
          ❦ Richard O’Connor’s “automatic self”;
          ❦ Timothy Wilson’s “adaptive unconscious”;
          ❦ Daniel Kahneman’s “System 1 and System 2.”

  12. Inspirational, Kay. Agree 100%. I think the right mindset comes with life experience. As we age, we look at the world through a different lens and are thankful for special moments rather than merely searching for big wins.

  13. I love this post! Thank you so much, we all need regular reminders to remember all the blessings in our lives. I’ve had some troubles recently with my small son who is being bullied at school… it’s hard to watch as a mother. Amid the dark thoughts I remembered to think of all the good we have, and it’s so much! Among the things I thought of was your though exactly: indoor plumbing. Anyone wants to drink, just open the tap (here in Germany, it’s excellent water quality). And to think of people carrying jugs from wells… ooof! It really is a miracle to just have a seemingly endless supply of fresh water in the house. Another thing I keep rejoicing over: the washing machine and the dishwasher. With three kids, there is lots to wash. And I have an old lady in church who tells me how she had to do all the washing by hand, and she had four kids, and they didn’t have disposable diapers either… it humbled me greatly, thinking how often I complained about having to “do laundry”, when in reality it is this lady who had to do laundry whereas in my case, the machine is doing the actual laundering…
    And then I’m always so thankful for this writing resource! So many times the articles here took me out of a rut. Blessings to all of you!

    • Lilly,

      Thank you for your kind words. Your examples are perfect — we take so much for granted in our convenience-filled lives that we forget to be grateful.

      Hope you have a lovely week.

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