It's 9AM
What are you going to do with it, she asked.
Fair question.
And the truth was far from glamorous.
The truth was, I’d put it in a cabinet next to five more empty ones just like it.
I was looking for an Atlas Mason Jar I’d left in the sink.
Every so often, we get spaghetti sauce in one, a certain brand of Four Cheese sauce, and I try to keep the jar after making dinner.
She pulls them from the sink or dishwasher and throws them in the garbage.
She calls me a hoarder for wanting to keep them.
And I don’t call her anything for tossing them.
Except wasteful.
Even though I’ll probably never use it for canning.
Or to fill with dry rice and beans and wax seal to store in the attic.
Just in case.
It has to do with how we were raised, I think.
And how we think, I bet.
She grew up in a small town in Eastern AR with both parents and grandparents around.
Spoiled with every wish and every want because she was the only girl in the grandkids at the time.
Spoiled more by being grandma’s favorite, with secret treats and duo only trips to Memphis to shop and eat.
She had no wants, no worries and so does not do so today.
Want or worry.
Except about me and this stupid writing thing I’m doing.
Her words, not mine.
Because it is stupid to want to be an author-entreprenuer.
A goal and dream not for the faint of heart.
So I save.
I save beans and bullets, and jars to put them in.
I save pennies and nickels and sometimes put them in a jar too, though I call it a piggy bank.
I save most of my mean comments for bad drivers.
And save most of my criticism for inner monologue, though I do, upon occasion, share it with the world.
Not about me, but about improving something around me, so that the beans and bullets stored up in the attic are never needed.
I think of it like a shoe string, which I have bundled up in a tool drawer.
Better to have it when you need it.
If you need it.
Maybe it’s the easier path I’m looking for.
A simple handwash today, and some shelf space for awhile for a just in case basis.
Just in case you need a glass jar to put things in.
The ones in the cabinet have had protein shakes and lemon sun tea, though not at the same time.
One has stored pancake batter, and another almonds.
Because Atlas Mason is better at keeping things fresh than a GV zip bag.
Which I tried to explain too.
Storage.
One word that can mean many things.
Speaking of author/entrepreneurship, I added 3 new books to the store that you need to grab.
But first, UPGRADE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION to substack and get them as a bonus, plus more every week sent straight to you.
I added a free audiobook PI PROBLEMS to YOUTUBE for you. Hit Subscribe button to get even more!
If you’d rather read it: PI PROBLEMS
THEN Add these to your ereader:
Servant of the Crown: An Epic Fantasy Novel (Heir to the Crown Book 1)
Prime Example (Rim Jumper Book 1)
The Event (The Survivors Book One)
Then go find a new author in this:
FALL CRIME AND LEGAL THRILLER GIVEAWAY
We’re on a bunch of smaller sites now with books you can buy, borrow and add to your collection. I’ll start sharing more links with you, in case you use them.
BATTLEFIELD Z on a dozen sites
AND