“When I move, you move….just like that.” ~ Ludacris

I’m not a big rap fan but every now and then, a song hits me just right. So it was a few years ago when Luda dropped this song. And I got all caught up in the chorus – “When I move, you move…just like that.” I remembered journaling about it, and sharing those same thoughts with some folks. I was mulling over some things at the time, praying AND actually listening and that chorus is what God dropped in my spirit at the time: “When I move, you move…just like that.”. I thought to myself, “Naw. God? Gone rap on me? No way.” When my pastor used that same sermon to illustrate God speaking to us about two weeks later, I laughed so hard at how God brought it back around.

On my last birthday, I told a friend I was considering moving. At the time, I was speaking of a physical move. Not sure if I was going to live the Richmond area, or the state. I was (am?) ready for a move. Time to “trade up” as far as houses and neighborhoods are concerned. So I was mulling over moving as far north as maybe Philadelphia (though knowing me, I’d stop at the Maryland border), or as far south as Georgia. Then the job thing happened and I let that slide.

It’s on my mind again so, I’m trying to work it out logically, be somewhat strategic. After all, not change ain’t always growth and not all movement is progress. I’ve been driving through local neighborhoods that I like, checking out the houses, researching what houses are selling for in my neighborhood, what they’re renting for. One of my friends finds it hard to believe that I’ll drop in on a model home or open house considering that I don’t have a job at the moment. Um, do they KNOW I don’t have a job? Besides, I don’t have a “job” at the moment but a sistah always has a plan. At any rate, this physical move won’t happen for at least 6-12 months at the earliest unless G-O-D shows up & shows out once again. I realize that, whether I sell my house or rent it out, there’s some work that needs to be done. If that’s the case, I’d much rather be here to keep an eye on it than to be miles away. Another friend sends me job listings from the DC area with a note that says, “You can always stay at your brother’s Mon-Thursday and go home on the weekend or you can catch the commuter van from Richmond every day”. *sigh* I could. To either of those options. We’ll see. We might need to “see” sooner rather than later cause a funny thing happens with your bank account(s) when there’s no steady income…the balance only moves one way. *gulp*

Physical relocation isn’t the only “moving” I’m working on. I got sidetracked as far as some sideline business moves were concerned. Passed on a couple of editing jobs. Let a couple of writing opps slip through my fingers. Let some kind of mental block come between me and my next poetry collection. I’m chipping away at that right now. I know which poetry collection I want(ed) to be next but I got stuck for a minute…just a little emotional residue that I need to work through. If that doesn’t work, I do have another collection ready for public consumption – well, except for the layout and a darn cover. Another friend called me a couple of weeks ago with an idea for a non-fiction book that I’m working on. I sat down last week and looked at the material I have on hand for that particular book. It’s more than I thought. Big surprise right? Another project to work through. That makes the fourth piece of non-fiction in the mix right now.
AND I think I found my muse again – or should I say my muse has come back home renewed and ready to roll as evidenced by a few scenes that I hammered out this weekend for my first novel. This story is coming to me in individual scenes like pieces of a puzzle so then I’ll have to figure out how to connect them. It’s wild. BUT…it’s working and that’s what matters most. I found this really cool shareware novel writing software online. It lets you do a character chart (I actually cut/pasted one of my favorite charts into theirs), a storyboard, story notes, chapters, POV for each chapter/scene, tracks word count per chapter and per project. And if you put in your start date, anticipated finish date, and your intended word count, it will calculate the number of words you need to write daily to meet your goal. There’s also a feature that lets you search for commonly overused words (ex. Words ending in “-ly”) and you can add your own to the mix. Cool deal huh? And I’ve not had a problem with it on my laptop. So for those of you who’re sending me those threatening emails, calling me, or trying to stare me down in the middle of Target – chill! I’m working on it.

It appears to be raining words in my world. Yippee! Yep, the muse is back and I intend to ply him with really good music, rich conversation, and a few other things I’m too shy to mention here. *snicker*

There’s more MOVEMENT but um, I need to MOVE…not talk about MOVING so, I’m out. For now.

And if you happen to see Princess So Fabulous, DO NOT mention that her Aunt is thinking about moving. I am NOT ready for that inquistion.