Last Tuesday / This Tuesday

Last Tuesday.

I’m sitting in an Adirondack chair, my feet resting on a well-weathered log here in Sisters, Oregon. It’s my family’s annual week-long vacation at the same beautiful house we’ve rented for the past four summers. My favorite spot. Just above the little creek. Most of my worries are 153 miles away. ✧✧✧ This Tuesday. I’m sitting in my office desk chair, a bit flummoxed. Usually I’ve written the newsletter article weeks in advance. Usually. Not this week. I’m looking at a blank screen. ✧✧✧ Last Tuesday. So I’ll be ready when inspiration comes, I bring a blank sketchbook and a pen with me everywhere I go. I sketch what I see. ✧✧✧ This Tuesday. “Are you writing about something that happened in Sisters?” Jane asks from my office doorway. “Trying to. I thought inspiration would hit me last week, but it didn’t. No ideas came to me.” “That’s unusual.” “I know.” “Why don’t you write about that?” “Funny thing,” I say. “That’s exactly what I’m doing.” ✧✧✧ Last Tuesday. I’m proud of the pen-and-ink drawing. I’m especially proud because I know, technically, it’s not very good. It’s good to be proud of not being perfect. ✧✧✧ This Tuesday. The same goes for this article. It’s not great, but it’s sure good enough. Good enough is good enough.