A brief note first: This latest series of posts has given me an unexpected gift:  the feeling of reading “Double Take” for the first time.

When writing, editing, proofing, final proofing, final-final proofing any piece of writing, it’s natural to memorize it inadvertently. Now, 25 months after publication, I am pleased (and relieved) to find that my illustrated memoir, “Double Take,” is laced with nuggets of wisdom gleaned from many Pauses in a Busy Life. Enjoy.

September 2, 2014 – sketchbook journal ponders

There are so many pauses in a day, those times when you’re waiting for someone or something to happen. Doctor’s waiting rooms, waiting for the bus, waiting for your restaurant meal to be served, waiting, waiting, waiting. They are the familiar yet often unexpected moments of “Giddy-up-Whoa.”

Each one of these little nuggets of time can easily become a cell phone dive into email or social media, metaphorically lifting you out of your chair and transporting you to a virtual reality that has a 50/50 chance of being annoying. What if you had a better option?

Today I was at the laundromat and, having started the wash cycle, I saw I had about 30 minutes on my hands. 30 minutes “to kill.” (Ugh, that expression is grim!) The idea of just sitting here flipping through a vintage dog-eared People magazine was not appealing. For a moment I considered hopping into the car and dashing off to run a few more errands, squeezing every minute for all it’s worth.

But then I noticed it’s a beautiful autumn day. Hmm.

I decided to stand outside, lean against a nearby fence, and sketch the laundromat building itself. It is a rather unattractive building, so I gave it a makeover, changing the color of the exterior from dull grey to a lovely golden glow. All in a tiny, 3.5” x 5.5” sketchbook, using a water brush and tiny paint palette, items that live together at all times in my purse.

While I was sketching, my phone rang, and it was the manager of The Works Café. I had been scheduled to have an art show reception there four weeks from now, on October first, but the manager was calling to ask if I minded if he postponed it to November first. Minded? I’m relieved, I have so much work to do!

Gorgeous day, fun time sketching, a postponed deadline, and clean laundry. Could life get any better?

(to be continued…)

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 As always, thanks for spending some time with me “aloft.” Happy sketching!