Ginger Snapped

She skipped being grateful for the entire month of November. Instead, she was sick. Should she be grateful now? Now, when the wind howls outside, and it's so cold that the snow squeaks when you step on it? Now, when she's been stuck inside for days, listening only to the sound of the fan on the fireplace insert whir and the goldfish flip-flapping in his tank (how does he do that?)? Now when she thinks bears have it made (for hibernation purposes only, raw fish eating habits excluded)? No time like the present. An alphabet of gratitudes: A. Alligators? No. Alimony? Definitely not. Axes? Yes. Axes that split wood that burns brightly and keeps the fan on the fireplace insert whirring. B. Bandannas? Sure, why not. Headpiece of choice while camping. C. Chocolate. Dark chocolate with sea salt, milk chocolate with peanuts, hot fudge, chocolate shakes, chocolate mousse cake...it's all good. D. Date night with the Gingerbread Man. ("Not the gumdrop buttons!") E. Elephants...

Just when I thought I was on the homestretch with this novel, I discovered I need to change the setting. Need, Ginger? Really? Yes, really. And this morning, after I had gotten accustomed to this need, I discovered I need to change my point of view. And this revision, my friends, is much more intense that simply changing the setting. Needs and wants. Needs and wants. Why do I keep going back to needs and wants...

Flipping through websites, I saw a blip on yahoo that said female singers make history. There was a headshot of three of them. I don't know who they are because I live under a rock, nor do I know what sort of history they made. In that split second after I read that headline, the thought flew through my mind that I want to do something great . Not for glory or money or massive amounts of chocolate or to get my picture on yahoo with the headline "Female person makes history," but just because. I want to do something great to make the world just a little bit better than it was before. Is that an odd desire? I don't know. So I sit here wondering if all people have the desire to do something great. And what do they do about it? And what constitutes greatness anyway? It's not all peace treaties and stock market victories, speed records, Hollywood contracts, and entertainment achievements. On some days, it seems like patiently assisting with the homework of a very fru...