Entry 100: Exploring Uranus

I’ve never been good about keeping a journal. It all boils down to consistency. There are days when I skip making an entry. Life can crowd out the time I need to write down my thoughts about a day’s events. I’ve also been reluctant to pose as an expert on the writing process. If I knew anything of value about writing, my work would already be in print. I went out on a skinny limb of a tall in 2022 when I shared my 365 days of thankfulness. The exercise forced me to put myself out there with my soft belly exposed. Thank you for joining me on my journey in the written word. Therefore, I plan to keep a journal in 2023 to document my progress. I will call this post Entry 100: Exploring Uranus.

Note: I consider editing an important part of the writing process. Editing is where all the artistry happens.

My morning writing before I started Entry 100: Exploring Uranus

I only wrote a paragraph before Rooster and I decided to take the day off. Amazing Buchanan and the Beast can do without me today.

The book I am currently reading right now and Entry 100: Exploring Uranus

I have pages to read for my writer’s group next week, so I took a break from reading Salinger’s Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters.

What I’m listening to right now and Entry 100: Exploring Uranus

I listened to Chicago- Greatest Hits this morning. I needed the lively music to give me energy after the long night spent in the basement hiding from a tornado.

What I dreamed last night and Entry 100: Exploring Uranus

I dreamed last night that Rooster and I went to New Orleans with my oldest daughter and two youngest granddaughters. We stopped at a restaurant we’d never been to on St Charles. The slow service left the two young girls restless. They kept changing tables and playing with straws. The owner of the place brought out our drinks, and in the conversation that followed, he told us the city had made improvements to The Moon Walk down near the river. We took the street car in the opposite direction to the Audubon Zoo.

There was some confusion in the restrooms. The girls got into the wrong stalls. We then moved into the gift shop, where I tried to buy a stained glass Lion made in Madi Gras colors.

The adventure Rooster and I took and Entry 100: Exploring Uranus

A combination of factors has combined to make Rooster and me poor adventurers. Covid, age, and family responsibilities make spontaneous trips almost impossible. We made up our minds to drive to Muncie this morning. On our way, we saw evidence of tornado damage—one section of the highway had vehicles with emergency lights blocking the road. We jumped on the onramp to I-69 and drove the remaining miles on the interstate, where we saw a sign that suggested we “Explore Uranus.” Change of plans. Rooster told his phone to give us directions, and we drove to the spot on the Indiana map known as Uranus.

Regarding adventures, this exploration didn’t top our list of favorites. What this location amounted to was a fudge factory. They had tasty sugar-free fudge varieties, so the trip wasn’t a total waste of time.

The thing I am most thankful for at this moment.

We survived yesterday without suffering any damage from the storm. I know there are people out there who weren’t so lucky. I pray they get the help they need. We got lucky. The twister remained in a rural area outside of town, but there have been reports of at least five collapsed houses.

This old lady says

Life sometimes boils down to the luck of the draw. Sometimes you get lucky, and sometimes nothing seems to go right. Last night we got lucky, and today we visited a tiny corner in Indiana known as Uranus. Go figure.

Who is Molly Shea?

Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh.  To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.

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