That means it’s time for another writing confessional, brought to you by the Literate Kitten. My main accomplishment for the week was writing my dad’s eulogy, which I finished in the wee hours of the morning today. I found that writing at night was better, since everyone was asleep and I could write a couple sentences, cry, write some more, cry and not worry about anyone coming in and asking me why on earth I was crying at my computer. I’m happy with the result — although there are some tweaks left to do — and I think it manages to capture many of the things we loved about him and pay him tribute while still being amusing (appropriately so, of course).
And now I hope I don’t have to do anything like that again for a long, long time. Luckily I don’t have to deliver the eulogy — my aunt is going to do that — because there is no way I would get through it without turning into a big blubbering mess.
In other writing news, I continued to do novel research, which has had my mind churning with ideas. I am simultaneously really excited about everything I’ve discovered, and also sort of in despair because I haven’t been able to actually WRITE much on my novel. But this is my life. This is how it is right now.
Reading slowed down a lot this week. I finished Getting Things Done. There are a lot of helpful ideas but the big takeaway is: Write down EVERYTHING you need to do, because keeping things in your head creates “unfinished loops” that cause stress. I still need to sit down and do a huge brain dump of projects, chores, tasks, etc. but in the meantime I have been keeping things straight with my little Moleskine notebook, Evernote, Jott, and Remember the Milk. That might sound like a lot of systems to keep straight, but really it isn’t. Each one has its function.
I didn’t read ANY fiction this week which is rare for me! Must do better next week.
We are having some folks over for a business dinner tonight so I think I need to go take a quick nap before I start cooking. I can hardly keep my eyes open!
June 27, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Oh! GTD! Yay! ~hugs~
I’ve not used Jott in a while. I should start to utilize it again. And I’ve never gotten around to setting-up Remember the Milk. It’s on my list.
I don’t know anything about Evernote. I’ll have to check it out.
Good job on finishing the eulogy, too. That sounded like an emotionally draining task, to say the least.
June 27, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I feel for you about having to write the eulogy for your dad. I had to write the one for my mum and it was just so hard and when I spoke to my siblings about what to include I learned things about my mother that I just never knew.but delivering it was harder. there was however a great catharsis afterwards and such a good feeling from my family that made me feel privileged to have been asked to do it.
Hari Om
June 27, 2008 at 7:09 pm
You did well to write the eulogy. Please don’t discount that. And you chose a good time to do it for yourself. I’m glad you’re taking care of yourself. Remember to treat yourself gently.
June 27, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Must have been an exhausting experience writing that eulogy… I don’t know how I’d ever begin… take care of yourself and as Jan says, don’t discount it. I think we sometimes do ourselves a disservice by not recognizing when we’ve been emotionally vulnerable.
Hang in there!
June 27, 2008 at 10:02 pm
{Hugs}
PS Hope you had fun at dinner!
June 27, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I’m so glad you got through it and doubly glad that you won’t have to deliver it.
Thanks for Evernote — I have way too many lists everywhere, but the thing Evernote has been great for is quick notes when I either remember something interesting that I might someday be able to use, or I think of an interesting sentence, phrase or paragraph. I’m kind of diggin’ it.
June 28, 2008 at 11:47 am
Writing a eulogy is hard enough, all the more so for your own parent, trying to sum up his life and things you remember. I have found the less close you are to the deceased, the easier it is to write the eulogy. I feel for you.