This is not a Dear John letter. It's just a note to say that I'm taking a break. I have a wonderful story idea, and can't find enough time to get it down on "paper". It's too hard to do when I keep thinking of all of the things I want to tell you about. Like:
- Lucia's Dragon Birthday Party last Saturday...
- and the fact that the morning of the party I pulled off Max's pajamas to find his body covered with chicken pox. And then it started hailing. And an hour later I broke a tooth.
- Max's incredible speech improvements since his surgery...in French. But not in English.
- My beautiful new office out in The Boulangerie.
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER- The fact that my foot still hurts 14 months after surgery.
- The great books I've read lately.
- The cherries that are weighing down our trees and what I'm doing with them.
- All of the flowers (and a tree) that I've planted in the last month that are STILL ALIVE.
- The new cafe in Bourgueil that I'm dying to go to, which actually looks like something you'd find in Brooklyn instead of a place where strong-smelling, tobacco-stained farmers go, like all of the other local cafes.
- And much much more.
I am fighting that urge tooth-and-nail. Because I want more. I need more.
I don't want to work teaching a subject that doesn't interest me to students who aren't interested for a pay that, if you break it down by total pay for the hours I have to put into it, I could make working at MacDohs (as they call it here).
Writing is what I love. I need to do it to feel "well". Sane. Happy. And if I could possibly make a living from doing something that is necessary to me...if I could use all of the time I spend grading papers that read, "the dolphins battle with the jaws since them is enemies", to instead write down all of the stories that are in my head...well that would be a beautiful life. Or, I should say, an even more beautiful life.
I have spent the last four years telling you my stories. It has been the best writing program I could have asked for. Your comments have shown me what has touched you, what has made you laugh, cry, and empathize with, as well as (just as importantly) what didn't strike you as all that interesting. You have helped me find my voice.
The compulsion to get a post out every day (at first) and finally just a couple of times a week has been an exercise in discipline. And now I need to find out if I can keep that discipline going when I don't have my blog to answer to...waiting for me to fill its pages, and hanging like a scimitar over my head if I haven't posted for a while.
I will keep posting photos to my Flickr account. And I will keep updating my Facebook page with "status reports". I can even hook that up to a Twitter account, if any of you are into that. But I'm going to put aside my writing time for The Goal, The Goal being the opportunity to offer you something better than this blog. To let you hold a book or magazine in your hands, and think, "I knew Amy back in the Chitlin' Days."
If I can't resist the urge, I might allow myself to come back in the autumn and post irregularly. If you want to be informed of upcoming posts without having to check back here, click the "Followers" button in the left margin to be updated when a post appears.
"A bientôt" and not "au revoir"!
Amy
Posts
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One of my all-time favorite books about Paris.
30 comments:
I'm sad that you won't be updating much anymore. I've been reading for about 4 years. You commented on dooce.com and your website name peaked my interest, so I clicked on the link. I'm glad it did! I can't wait to walk into a bookstore and actually buy your book. Until then, good luck!
Oh, and that is so wonderful to hear that Max is doing so well with his speech now!
(Sorry I deleted that last comment. There was a horrible typo.)
You rock.
Dear Amy, I've only been following your blog since May 2008, but since then I've read all your earlier posts. You're a natural talent and I will miss your witty sense of humour. I wish you the best of luck. Looking forward to your first printed edition. Martine
btw: You might remember that I got a little cross with you when you wrote in one of your posts that Grimbergen was a German beer. Well, to make it up to you, you just might find a 4-pack of Grimbergen on your doorstep in the coming weeks :))
Oh good luck! What about your job, are you quitting?
Bonne chance pour tous tes projets, Amy !
Et ce n'est qu'un au revoir...
Good luck and we'll miss you over here in Prague.
Looking forward to reading the book though, I know you can do it.
Good Luck, I enjoy reading your blog very much.May you get a lot written over the summer. That's great news about Max. I'm going to go sign up for the Prologue.
Alison
I just found your blog last week and really like it - oh Well..........Good luck to you!
Amy,
It is so wonderful that you believe in what you love! Go for it! (although what I really think is: Oh no! Don't give up on us!).
I think about you often, living in your country and you living in mine... Makes me feel better sometimes when it's hard... My husband and I are trying to buy a house! Looks like we're gonna be here for a while ;-) Hope to hold your book in my hands soon!
Keep on thinking of what's important for you!!
And come back soon!
Oh and your office looks great!
I discovered your blog just a few months ago and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It has been a pleasure to read and to know you have many other stories ready to go is fantastic. Good luck with your many ventures I have no doubt you will find success!
Well, it's a classic case of mixed emotions: I'll miss you, but good for you deciding to go for it!
Good luck, and here's hoping you'll miss blogging enough to pop in once in a while. We want to know what's going on with foot, children, house stuff, etc.
Totally understand, and fully support you in the pursuit of your dream, what will make you truly happy... I only wish I could figure out what that is for me, and I would pursuit it like that, wholeheartedly as well. Blogging has never become a compulsion for me, hence the long-ago abandoned blog on my end. It's a shame, because some days I do want to share a story and get it out there, but most of the time I can't seem to craft a post that makes me proud. Whereas you really do get enjoyment and pleasure out of doing this! And you should totally pursue it. I just feel guilty when I DON'T post! (Which these days is all the time...)
The fact that you have stories rolling around in your head is definitely a sign that you need to get them on paper too! Something else that has never been the case for me...
I of course will miss your posts, but I'm impatient to read your first of (I'm sure) many books to come! So I'm off to send you an e-mail requesting the prologue...
Oh, and I loved reading your updates here as well -- the chicken pox incident, OH MY GOD! And Max's progress -- it's wonderful to hear how well he is doing now! I'm sure more English will quickly follow.
I've been trying to follow Emma around the apartment as she gathers up the dust and junk on our hardwood floors, and some days I feel like I'm going bonkers. Other days, I wouldn't trade it for anything!
Amy, you don't know me but I feel I have to write something... I'm just a French guy from Normandy who moved to Canada a few years ago. Stumbled across your blog a few months ago through Google when I was looking for testimonies about bicultural/bilingual couples (was trying to figure out my English-speaking Canadian girlfriend - by the way we're still together). Took to liking your wit, looks, comments, family and pictures and now you're gone :( It sucks... Oh well I guess I have to move on (sounding like a drama queen aren't I?!). You've got so many interesting and exciting things coming up in your life! Not blaming you on the teaching thing, I'm a teacher myself and can't wait to be done that line of work (looking at the language industry now). Best wishes, come back soon, Jean-Baptiste DUPRÉ
Okay--you're killing me. Now what am I going to do about this addiction?
But I completely understand and support you wholeheartedly. I definitely look forward to being one of those people who someday says "and I knew her back when...". Much love and success, I can't wait to buy (and promote) your book.
I'll be in Paris next week, so if you happen to jump over, write to me and we can have a cafe!
Amy
belated birthday wishes to Lucia- have been following you for the past 2 yrs and have registered as a follower so that I can still "peek" into your family life in France .
Good luck in your writing endeavours and awaiting to the published version of that forthcoming book
Amy, I'm glad you're taking a break (maybe even a permanent one) to focus on being a full-time writer. You've got the talent, and time itself is the only thing you need to make that dream come true. Good luck and write every day, no excuses!
amy
i'm so sorry about max's chicken pox. did you have to cancel the party? Looks like you still had it! The cake was darling! Especially Lucia in the picture!
good for you to take a bit of a break...everyone needs it every once in a while. but i expect that you'll be back as i don't think it's in your blood to stop all together :-)
Love you
Gretchen
I found you via one of your comments on Dooce too! Isn't that strange?! Out of all the thousands of comments she gets - at least two of your faithful readers found yours and got hooked to your blog. :D
I have loved reading about you and your life, especially since we are both doing the multilingual child-thing AND trying to survive in a francophone country/region. I have learnt a lot from you and you planted a dream in me of owning my own falling-apart French cottage. Maybe one day!!
Keep us posted on Facebook and on Flickr - I look forward to hearing news about the book and everything else. I'm absolutely buying a copy when it's published!!
Good luck with everything! We'll still be here when you're ready to come back to the blog. :)
LOVE!
Ida in QC
Amy I am going to be VERY sad not having you as a regular part of my life. You fascinate and amuse me.
It's been an absolute pleasure reading about you and your family.
Good luck with the writing. I am sure of your success.
Amy, I totally understand. I gave up reading most of the blogs I followed so that I would have more time to work on my novel, and for the first time in a long time, I'm making progress. Your blog is so well-written and entertaining that I still kept up with it.
I'm wishing you much success and luck with your writing career and hoping you update occasionally.
Amy, best of luck to you! I didn't comment often, but read your blog frequently and enjoyed it. I hear you about blogging, I started one a long time ago but felt too much pressure to post (although my audience wasn't nearly as large as yours . . . just my family and friends). I'd love to read your prologue. I'll send an email. Thank you for all your stories!
What an inspiration! Thanks for sharing your experiences...I know the best is yet to come! (P.S. I think of this as "pulling an Ayelet." [as in Waldman] If only I could give up READING blogs to concentrate on...anything! Seriously, you rock!)
Hey,I do not see where the cocoa or wine bar is in your new office space!?...and it looks like you have a lot of wall space,do you need a filler like a Brooklyn Bridge picture? ;-)
Thanks for all the great stories and I cannot wait for the main feature.Happy writing
Thank you for the outpouring of comments and emails. I am truly overwhelmed by your support and faith in me. I sure hope I can live up to your expectations!
My wonderful agent, Stacey, will start pitching the rewrite in the next few days. Maybe one of these days we'll have some good news. I promise to let you know.
I hope you enjoy your break! Can't wait to see you again!
Enjoy the break!
I wish you luck with your pursuit. I started reading your blog about 6 months ago and feel you're living my alternate life.
As a girl from Georgia, now living on a farm, with time in France and a French degree, I feel so in your skin. Not to mention I'm having my own mid-life questioning session.
Awww..I'm sad that you are going AWOL! Will really miss reading up on all your exploits in life! Feel like you are living out one of my dreams for me :-)
I have been reading for about 2 years now, and you writings and photos and life adventures have really given my lots of hope & inspiration, so I really look forward to reading your book one day soon...
Will follow on FB and Flicker! Good luck to you!
I have enjoyed following your blog. Best of luck from Rancho Santa Fe, Ca
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