We’ve done this with each of the girls now, so it’s becoming something like a rite of passage, but today was our Youngest Daughter’s “Special Person Day” in first grade. In this context, the child in question brings in pictures, favorite books, toys, etc., to talk about what makes them special, culminating in the family (and siblings, at least if they attend the same school) coming to the classroom to be videotaped for an interview by the class. It’s a fascinating experience, and somehow you manage to learn something new about your own kid. Today I learned that the daughter that likes making movies and board games wants to learn how to make video games. Sure, she’s seven, but Dad here is taking that as a big hint.
It strikes me I’ve done (almost) a post a day all year. I know, they’re not as great as Tobias Buckell’s daily progress reports, which are usually replete with graphics (including the sight of ice creeping through a lock into his house, its so cold where he is), but they’re something. There’s a lot of momentum at the start of the year, a lot of gumption and good intentions that usually get buried beneath real life, stress, and work. I’d love to say these daily notes are going to continue, but only time will tell. But I’ll do my best. Just like I’m doing my best at keeping at the daily writing.
Which brings me to another interesting topic. I don’t know how long I can keep it going, but I’ve hit a stride the last few days that’s really exciting – 1000 words in 30ish (25-35) minutes. And this isn’t just me repeating the same words over and over like a bad Nicholson impersonation, these are honest, story expanding words filling the void that is a blank page. I’m actually afraid to push myself too far past that thousand words each day for fear that the next day, I’ll discover I’ve used up all the good words. Silly, I know, but we have our habits and superstitions.
