Lazy

That's what I've been lately.

I have given little thought towards writing the blog.

Mostly, I've been doing some research online.

After the first of the year, I'm going to be concentrating on a book project I started almost two years ago. It's a fiction novel set in the near future. The subject was good when I came up with it, and it remains a good subject.

The only problem I've run into is writing the future "history" that takes the reader to where the story begins. For a fictional novel, the story has to have some level of plausibility. The main storyline itself has that. However getting the reader to that point has proved more difficult than I imagined it would be at the outset.

Hence, the research.

History has a funny way of repeating itself in various permutations. The key for this book was to find a time where the circumstances the story needed actually occurred in one way or another.

It took some time, but I'm satisfied that I've found what I needed.

All I have to do now is write.

The story itself is, in my opinion, quite an action tale. It has heroes and villains. Not all of the heroes will survive. Some of the heroic characters are based on real people. People I know personally. They may not have done some of the things that will take place in the book, but rest assured if they had to they would.

One character in particular will be based on a retired Marine friend of mine whose two tours in Vietnam I stand in awe of.

BTW, he won't die in the novel.

In fact, I'm making one exception to one of my personal rules and will actually use his real name for the character he inspired.

Semper Fi, WD.

There are only two people I've shared the actual story with. I needed some feedback and I trust the judgement of both. I told them in confidence and did so about six months apart.

Both had the same reaction.

That was enough for me to move forward on it.

Then I stopped.

My brother Bruce was gravely and fatally ill with cancer.

He would pass away less than a year after I retired.

By the way, there will be a character based on Bruce. Anybody that ever knew him will know which one within three sentences of his "introduction" to the storyline.

After his passing, it was my intention to return to Memphis and finish this project up.

Then, as it is wont to do, life sort of got in the way.

I'm not complaining.

I've had a great run starting from the day I was delivered into the loving arms of my parents.

However, this project in its current stalled state has been bugging me.

I need to finish it and get it out into public.

In what is quite rare for me, I need to do it for me.

Honestly, I don't do a lot for me.

Don't need to.

Like the line in a song says, "I have more than what I wanted.".

So, after my birthday trip January 6 through January 10, I'll resume writing. First up is to review my outline and rewrite anything that needs rewriting. I'm a stickler for keeping the timeline straight. That alone is a good enough reason for even having an outline.

I'll leave you all with this one clue about the story:

Where do you get a navy when you have no navy left?

The answer will take your breath away.

I promise.

Until the next time, all y'all take care of yourselves.

Air Traffic Mike, ret.