December 18th

Today I have spent time working on the trip to Park City. Specifically the 2nd day starting with Josh and Grandma Lillian's discussion and Hannah's explanation of the honey mooners wall. The idea of the honey mooners wall actually came as I was picturing the layout of the cabin and combined with a wall in my own home.

In order to see the cabin more clearly in my mind I took pencil to paper and drew it out. Being as nonartistic as I am it is not beautiful or most likely possible (so please don't attack me for not being an architect). Soon it came to life and I could see each room. Now that the cabin was created I could move forward with the story.

Soon after I had drawn out this cabin my family spent an afternoon cleaning the garage (I know you're asking, what in the world does cleaning the garage have to do with the story? Be patient I'm getting there). In the process we found an old picture of my mothers grandfather, that had been buried in a box that had not been opened since we had moved into this home. It was decided that we would find a frame and hang it. In my home there is a wall that has several black and white pictures of my extended family (great grandparents and such), so logically this picture would join them. As I pictured the found picture hung up along side the others I saw another picture. It was Jack and Lillian sitting together on a black stallion. It would be perfect to have a wall with the family pictures in the cabin. But since this was no ordinary picture it needed to be surrounded by similar pictures. And so the honey mooners wall was born.

Like every other day that I spend working on my book I have also spent time pondering how to lengthen my introductions to the main characters and to fix portions of my story that are mostly just notes on how I would like the story to go at that part. So much has to be done, and I am constantly editing every part of the story. I hope that one day, if nothing else, I have a completed book.

I have also been developing the reasons for Josh's move to Utah. At first I had no idea what could force him from a great job where he had earned respect and clients and seemed to have everything going for him. I considered a death, even as dramatic as the death of a girl friend. But that of course seemed a bit much. So recently I have settled on the idea of Charlotte. She of course is not the reason for his leaving, but she represents it and is almost the essense of his unhappiness in Boston. At this point I don't want to ruin what's in store for Josh and Charlotte, and I am sure that there is much more that needs to be created in their relationship.

Coming up next is the writing of Ann's accident and the events that completely change how Josh and Hannah's life continue.