Just another morming meeting deadlines in the pool.

Deadlines, deadlines, self-imposed deadlines. Sometimes, while the boy attends summer camp,  I sit in a small boat in the silly above ground swimming pool and deadline-away. Floating, bumping into pool sides and ladder and capsized toy boats titillates the creative side of the brain, apparently. Sometimes I look up from my slightly moistened manuscript and peek over the port or starboard sides of my ship, checking for sharks. Often, a tiny, sunken batman meets my eyes. And there are plenty of sharks, but luckily not real ones. Still, I might shiver, imagining…J. Cousteau would never have been proud of me.

If you’re looking for a good children’s picture book, try CORAL REEFS, by Jason Chin. Gorgeous illustrations for those parents trying to brainwash their children into growing up and founding dolphin rescue centers and building highly effective mini-subs with built-in DVD players, surround sound and convenient inflatable beds for those long trips down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Or deeper. Also looking forward to receiving Rachel Carson’s SILENT SPRING in the mail, which I still can’t believe I haven’t read. I just finished NEVER LET ME GO, which is touching and brilliant and frightening in an Orwellian manner and made me yearn for a Hollywood ending because I came to know the characters so well, or felt like I did. Many HOW DID HE DO THAT moments happened for me in this book. Kazuo Ishiguro is a master, though, of course, as you know. Diabolical when it comes to characterization. At least, he is for me.

And it’s back into the boat—oh! Look! It’s dark outside. Ha ha. I was speaking in (a) metaphor and didn’t even realize it.

Or did I?

Good night, and may your dreams be shark free.

Sincerely,
P (dolphin sounds) B.