Midnight in the garden of Brooklyn and I should thank Jackson Taylor, my phenomenal writing teacher, for insomnia this week. Before I sleep each night, I’m trying to write a bit more, up my game as he requested and I fell into the old habit of this blog. Um, literally 2 years, this weekend on the birthday of my little brother, Dinesh. This will mean I’ve taken a clean 2 year hiatus. I’m sure no one has missed this little manifesto of mine, however, Jackson, I will write and keep writing to live that life I dream of, to find that little corner of peace in the world.
So, here’s the assignment– write in the first person about someone who tells the truth without self-censorship. Um, that person could very well be me. When I was a kid, Amma used to always say, “don’t say it because it’s already on your face.” I’m painfully truthful and it’s hard for me to not say it like it is though my professional life demands that I do it diplomatically.
So, now, in my novel (yes, that’s right– this bad boy’s gonna birthed one way or another) I will do this in the form of a letter. Isn’t letter writing always a sort of confessional?
So, sadly, this is the return of the manifesto. May 2010. Something’s going to happen and at the very least, I picked it up again.
What happened in the last two years? I changed jobs and my hair is falling out (figuratively), I fell in love (and I’m still in love… weird to even say it since he’s pretty normal in my life these days), I moved into that damn house and it’s leaking, but I do love it. Obama became our President, which was an exciting night, I must say so, and I’m waiting for change. The economy tanked, education as the next civil rights issue turned a serious corner, healthcare did something seismic for most americans but not enough for me and I’m scared for the immigration debates. My parents decided to start semi-retirement in India. My brother and his wife would HATE that I’m writing this, but I’m going to be an aunty and I can’t help but be excited and since no one is really reading this I can have a little dance in my corner of the world. I traveled quite a bit internationally but for FUN and not for work– I went to Brazil which was phenomenal, Peru to see Macchu Picchu and my friend Fiorella with my friend Claire, who I later visited in South Africa. Not bad for quitting the international gig. Now I collect my miles on trips to places like Detroit and San Antonio (also places I’ve visited in the past couple of years… now for work). Oh, and this writing thing… yes, I am determined to finish a first draft of a novel. Scary. I write prolifically, but nothing is finished.
I turned 35. I turned 35. I turned … the manifesto’s getting old. I’ll laugh at that when I’m 40.
