Apologies and Southern Novels

I have to apologize for my mistake last week. I knew the tornados that caused so much destruction across our state happened on April 27. I do not know why I said they were on May 4. I am not good with dates or names or geography. Throw in numbers and I am done for.
Maybe the number 27 was what got me. On May 27th Opelika High School will have it's commencement ceremony. You have heard already that one of my own will be among the several hundred in black and red. Perhaps the thought of that was at the back of my mind and I did not think two world changing events would happen on the same calendar number. It is more likely that I was not thinking at all. Sometimes it hurts my head. My apologies for the mistake.

I have toyed with the idea of writing a book. Call me Pollyanna but I think I may have a good novel in me somewhere.I have been pecking at one.It has a pretty good start, I really like my characters but after about sixty pages I am stuck. It would probably help to take a class or go to a workshop.
Like most Southerners, I have an admiration for Harper Lee. I have wanted to meet her for years but everyone says she's a tough cookie and doesn't do interviews. I suppose I could tell her I am not much of an interviewer myself so maybe we could just sit on her porch and talk, no questions about "THE BOOK" at all. I think I could do that, maybe...no, I couldn't. She would hate me for sure.
I actually wrote her a letter. It was cheery and personal...in a non personal, completely nonintrusive kind of way. I never mailed it. Yes I'm a chicken. I tend to be non confrontational and really hate rejection.
I thought about just going down to Maycomb, I mean Monroeville and stalking her, but I am certain it's already been done and I'm also certain she packs heat and has 911 on speed dial. I would be shot in no time.HLN and CNN would be all over it. The crawler would read, "Opinions Columnist Shot For Trespassing/Stalking/Asking Too Many Questions" or "Famous Novelist Shoots Deranged Columnist Hiding In The Hydrangeas"....they would interview my husband who would tell them he warned me not to go bother her. My sons would add that I should have ducked, but the good part would be my name and Harper Lee's in the same story! I am pathetic, I know. But, I may have just stumbled on the premise for my first best seller! "To Kill a Columnist"