Bucket List or Karma List

Her once white blond hair was now the color of wet sand. The light streaks that showed in the kitchen's harsh fluorescent light were not sun highlights. They were evidence of the passage of time. As she pointed them out to her companion of 25 years years, she said, "If there's anything I've been meaning to do, I'd better get to it."
     Companion replied, "Ah, a bucket list or a karma list."
     She went to work and sent an -mail to to a local newspaper editor whose church she had once attended. She said she had always wanted to be a writer. She asked how a woman near 50, with two advanced degrees, neither in journalism or fine arts, or even communcations, could become a professional writer without having to go back to school.
     He replied "Miss you. Come back to church." Then he asked, "What do you want to write?"
     She shared her list of works, a couple of articles in a newspaper nearly 20 years ago, lots of research papers. She said that she was most intersted in human interest stories and that she was probably most qualified to write about aging and social programs. She said that she had an interest in social history (especially the histories of disenfranchised people), nature and photography and that she enjoyed research.
     He responded "I don't have any openings right now. If you would like to try a freelance article I could work with you. They run 600 words and pay $50."
     She wrote back, "I'm not looking for a job." Followed by a smiley face. And then, "I am looking for freelance opportunities." Followed by another smiley face.
~~~~~~~
     For nearly as long as I can remember, well since high school at least, I have wanted to be a writer. The twists and turns of life and my own internal messages about what is and is not possible have kept me from doing the one thing in my life that I have always felt I most wanted to do.
    Lately, I have been researching the history of the Santa Fe Trail for a novel of historic fiction that I hope to write. Someday.
    Today I decided that I don't want to wait two or three years to finish a book that I have no guarantee anyone will read. Today, I took an active step toward following my dream. If all goes well, I'll get some experience working with an editor and a get few by-lines under my belt. A bucket list or a karma list? Time will tell. Wish me luck.