Do you ever have a song that plays over and over in your head? “Memories, light the corners of my mind, Misty watercolor memories of the way we were.”1 You probably recognize the song, “The Way We Were” sung by Barbara Streisand from the movie of the same name.
No doubt, my brain hit the REPLAY button because I hit the SEND button this week. With a mixture of excitement and anxiety, I emailed my memoir manuscript to Inspiring Voices for their initial review and recommendations. Like a first time mother, I nursed and fussed over my newborn baby for many months. My manuscript baby was changed over and over again. When I least expected it, another change would demand my undivided attention. It was finally time to hand my manuscript over to someone else’s capable hands.
My next monumental task was to find the photos for the interior. I do not exaggerate! You would agree if you saw the disorganized state of my 60 plus years of photographs. “Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind… Smiles too painful to remember…”1 I had put off that sorting task for years because I didn’t want to deal with stored up memories. It turned out easier than I expected, since I dealt with my emotions as I wrote my book. The next challenge was to find the ten interior pictures allowed by my publishing package. It was not easy to distill my life into ten snapshots.
The memoir writing process has been a profitable mental and spiritual exercise. It has helped me to forgive and put “The Way We Were” in perspective—to see the BIG picture of how God has been at work in my life. As I am freed from dwelling on the past, I can move forward into the exciting future God has planned for me.
1The Way We Were, Lyrics by Alan & Margaret Bergman and scored by Marvin Hamlish, 1973.
I am so excited for you! You have to let us know the expected release date of your published book.
ReplyDeleteYour choice of songs is truly fitting in regard to the journey you made in writing your story. You continue to build our anticipation for reading it. You asked about a song that stays in my head...it is "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms." No explanation needed.
ReplyDeleteGlad you were finally able to turn lose of the baby God and you birthed. It will be interesting to see how God plans to use the story of your life. I am convinced that everyone has a The Way We Were. What is important is How We Plan to Be, with God's help.
ReplyDeleteHe's the Lily of the Valley alone with Nothing But the Blood of Jesus turns in my head a lot.
Since I learned too use a recurring song as prayer and praise I welcome them. One is How Great Thou Art.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written, Frieda! You communicated so much in these four paragraphs. The way you expressed what it meant for you to go through your pictures and how you couldn't have hardly done it before, but because of healing you were surprisingly able to now was meaningful to me. I can't wait to read your book!
ReplyDeleteOn another note, please forgive the superficiality of this, I'll share the song that won't get our of my head lately. This song is to be blamed on my 11 year old daughter's liking to this song and therefore my constant exposure to it. This song went viral recently along with the American Swim Team's music video of this song.. "Call me Maybe." The tune is very catchy and the phrase in this song that just cracks me up is ... "before you came into my life, I missed you so bad. I missed you so, so bad."
I can't think of a particular song but it was fun reading about yours. I'm so proud of you for moving forward with your book. I know it's been a a lot of work but also a labor of love. Can't wait until it is published.
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