networking. it's what we do now in michigan.

yesterday, while garage sailing.. i overheard a lady complain that she was starting a new antique business in an old barn and couldn't find help... she was pretty livid... in her words, "teenagers nowadays don't want to work." my ears perked up and without thinking, i bellowed... "my son would love a job!" long story short, we exchanged phone numbers and she offered my son a job on the spot. starting today. making $8. an hour. hauling furniture and lumber and cleaning out the barn below. what sealed the deal was the fact that he was a homeschooler with flexible hours. not to mention my comment of self-reliance.

since my son is only 12 and since i didn't know these people whatsoever, (although i did run a background check on our state police website), i decided that i would stay there. not near him mind you, but on the opposite side of the barn. i warned him about what to watch for and to leave if at any point he was uncomfortable. but, insisted he not act as if i were there.. which meant not coming over near me at all.... no, none of that. he had a job to do and so did i.

i just had to sneak and take this snap of him loading antiques for a customer. he's the one in the orange shirt.


my job? i planted myself next to this silo and shade tree, and worked on my chidren's novel. i hit a few brick walls while writing... so, i went back and tweaked some things. i am elated with what i have written so far... but at a point where i'm spinning my wheels.


i love this banged up piece of garden artwork outside one of the barns. look close, the ladies arms are made from table legs... the rest of the artwork remains a mystery?
quite possibly, there's an opportunity for the both of us this summer? tommie earning money and learning about antique furniture, working for someone eles and me sitting next to a silo.... with the warm breeze taking me across the pond... to where my novel takes place.
smile, wink, nod.