It's Here!

It's a day buzzing with excitement in the Thompson household - the first official day of basketball season! The Tall One is looking forward to tonight's game with a mix of enthusiasm and sentiment - her first game of the season, and her last "first game of the season" for high school ball.

We're pretty much a basketball loving family. The WGH and I grew up in a state that eats, sleeps, lives and breathes basketball basically year-round. Ever see Hoosiers? My high school principal was a member of the real-life team on which that film was based, and actually had a cameo appearance in the movie. Several of our friends from our college band were extras - one trombone player who marched with us was actually one of the opposing team's players and had an actual speaking part (one line, but still ...).

We were the die-hard band geeks, the #1 supporters of our sports teams. Everyone has a "claim to fame" or "brush with greatness" story, right? Ours is that we were AT the game when Coach Knight threw the chair across the floor. The WGH was in the pep band and I was in the student section across the court from the bench. What an experience - 17,000 people, all deathly quiet at the exact same time. I've never heard silence so deafening.

On a brighter note, the WGH was also in the pep band, partying with the team on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in 1987, the night we won the NCAA Championship. Um, yeah, if you haven't guessed by now or don't know us or haven't read it here before - we're Indiana University alums. It's where we met - in the Marching Hundred. I knew he was the man I was going to marry when he tried to run over me with a snare drum strapped to his chest. Ahhh, the memories - 21 years ago and I can still see it in my mind like it was yesterday. ;)

So here we are 21 years later with a child who in less than a year will be a college student herself. Is it just me, or is that old saying about the older we get, the faster time flies actually true?

Today my goal is to get at least 1,000 words written. The meter on Book Two stands at 52,934. If I'm following the NaNo formula, I have 42,156 words to go ... or 2,480 words a day between now and the 30th. Hmmm. Is this doable? With everything going on in my life at the moment? Maybe. Quite possibly.

Yes.

I can do this.

So I'm a little behind, and have parents, basketball games, Thanksgiving and about six thousand other things going on, but by Jiminy Cricket, I am a writer, and as such I thrive on deadlines.

I can do it!!

You there - go read a book. When mine's finished, I'll let you know.

=) JB