Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. I thought you had left early for your cruise.
JOE: I'm waiting for February for that.
CALLIOPE: Where have you been?
JOE: I have been most of my efforts into writing and publishing lately. I had to take some time out to prepare for Christmas.
CALLIOPE: Such as?
JOE: Wrapping and sending presents, attending the Rochester Philharmonic Christmas Pops Concert and dining with friends, as well as baking and visiting people and, less interesting, finalizing my Medicare coverage which starts in a few days.
CALLIOPE: Do you have all that out of your system now?
JOE: Not quite. I have family gatherings tonight and tomorrow.
CALLIOPE: What about the rest of today?
JOE: You will be glad to know that my next matter of attention when I finish here is to do some writing in Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: Glad to hear that. I thought it was on the shelf.
JOE: God forbid. I hated to take time off, but I could not find a way to delay Christmas. I'm not quit that fanatical to have to write every day and people be damned.
CALLIOPE:I guess it's good you are keeping some perspective. Better get back to work before the parties start again.
JOE: Agreed. I'm on it.

(Cognac still- Tio Pepe- Herez, Spain)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.

CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. How are you this morning?

JOE: Good. I have already been busy.

CALLIOPE: Doing what?

JOE: I started working on preparing my earlier book, Young Man of the Cloth for publication with some revisions.

CALLIOPE: What prompted that?

JOE: I wrote it partly for myself and partly as a lead-in to The Pastor's Inferno.

CALLIOPE: You didn't experience any sexual abuse in the seminary, did you?

JOE: No. But since I had experience as a seminarian, I thought it fit in as a way to demonstrate my understanding of what it was like in writing The Pastor's Inferno.

CALLIOPE: That makes sense. Did you learn anything this morning?

JOE: Yes. I learned to appreciate how far I have come in preparing for publication, especially in formatting. I also prepared a table of contents which formerly eluded and frustrated me.

CALLIOPE: See what happens with practice?

JOE: I do. Now on to today's activities.

CALLIOPE: Such as?

JOE: I am pretty busy with psychology today. I have an evaluation, one regular session and a board meeting to attend today. I would also like to get in some exercise.

CALLIOPE: What about writing?

JOE: I am hoping to have some time. I am in the middle of a chapter right now.

CALLIOPE: Do you think it is a good idea to end your day's writing in the middle of a chapter?

JOE: I do. I find it harder to start on a new section. If I leave off in the middle of a chapter, it is easier to pick up my train of thought and continue without a lot of deliberation. Well, on with the day's activities.

(Waiting for the train- London)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.

CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. How goes it today.

JOE: Good. I learned what I needed to about Medicare supplement plans yesterday for the moment. I also weathered a board meeting.

CALLIOPE: Do you find all this distracting from your writing?

JOE: Yes and no. It takes time away from my writing but it does give me some other things to think about. I met several people in various stages of dealing with Medicare and got to know a little about their lives. I also got a sense of all the things lacking in our mental health system.

CALLIOPE: So what do you do with all that information?

JOE: File it in case I need it at some point. I have come to realize I can't save the world but knowing its ills helps me focus on things I can address through my writing.

CALLIOPE: How do you see your role?

JOE: To help people think about ways to envision their lives and also to realize that there might be other ways to view things and to interact with people.

CALLIOPE: Do you feel you are accomplishing anything?

JOE: Sometimes I do. I receive favorable comments from people I meet in my wanderings. But sometimes I am overwhelmed with the problems in the world and wonder if anything can make a difference.

CALLIOPE: I guess all you can do is your part.

JOE: I agree. I am trying to stay focused on that rather than all that needs to be done. If I do my part, maybe others will do theirs.

CALLIOPE: So how about the book?

JOE: I finally finished the chapter between my husband and his brother. It took a while, but the writing came easier yesterday. I guess it varies from day to day.

CALLIOPE: Yes it does. How about today?

JOE: I have fewer distractions. All I have on my schedule besides writing is a trip to the farmer's market, working out at the Y and doing some laundry.

CALLIOPE: So what's the writing plan for today?

JOE: I will focus on my wife meeting with her sister and finding a conducive spot on Chappaquiddick for their conversation.

CALLIOPE: Have you been there?

JOE:Once I drove out to the end of it with Carol stopping to look at Ted Kennedy's famous bridge spot. It is about as far from civilization as you can get on the Vineyard, but should be a good spot for a heart to heart.

CALLIOPE: I am looking forward to seeing what develops.

JOE: So am I. I guess it is time to get on with it.

(Ferry from Nantucket to Oak Bluffs)