It’s not surprising, at the end of the High Holidays, that my thoughts turn to change. Return again, we sang, return to the land of your soul. So I mused last night as I picked the last of the tomatoes from my drought-stricken garden, sharp, intense tomatoes that had survived weekly waterings with water collected from the shower as it warmed up. We plant our gardens in the spring with the optimism that they will grow and thrive and that we will be here in the fall to harvest them. And so it was again for me this year. I am blessed.
I am entering the autumn of my life as I approach the milestone birthday of 60. I am still producing the sharp, intense, drought-farmed tomatoes of life, to slaughter a metaphor, and I am content. Autumn has a whiff of ending, of sorrow to it, but it also has the intensity of harvest and celebration. Nothing, no one is permanent, so today I am entering the harvest, the Sukkot (Succoth) festival time of my life with joy.
This past weekend, while I attended the wine-harvest festival of Amador Big Crush, my newest book, The Duel for Consuelo, sold over 1000 copies. Sure, it was on sale, and on #bookbub, but for any and every reason, it sold madly. It hit #1 on the paid Kindle Jewish American books (it’s about Mexico in 1711, but there is a Jewish theme) and #17 in the enormous category of Kindle Historical Romance (there’s a love story in there too.) Whatever the category, it was up on top. Now, as the rankings ease down, as they must now that the sale and bookbub are over, I feel a loss, an acknowledgment of impermanence. The book is still wonderful, and costs less than a latte…
But I must return to the harvest. Enjoy the bounty of last weekend. Feel the joy of the grand sale, and return to the quiet of my life. I have such blessings–seven books, a great job, a fabulous husband, two terrific kids, my sister, her boys, my house, my garden, and yes, the next book is writing itself. But I see an easing of ambition. I have achieved what I strove for. It’s time to celebrate my harvest, impermanent as it is. Impermanent as we all are.
Really beautiful post, Claudia! And congratulations on the book sale! I understand exactly what you mean about impermanence. I always feel sad when wonderful things come to an end–holidays, family vacations, parties–as they’re microcosms of this whole business of living. And I’m so glad you have so many blessings in your life on a daily basis, as that’s what really matters, at least in my opinion. That really is something to celebrate.
Thank you, Mary!
Beautiful! But remember: 60 is the new 40. Well, maybe 45!
I’ll take 50!
Beautiful post, Claudia. At times, I’ve felt sad ‘it’s’ all going so quickly, and then I visited my 84 year old father in the hospital among other elderly folks…we are young. Feel the urgency alongside the quicksand in the vial of life and celebrate 🙂 x
Yes, I agree. Celebrate the moments of joy in life. I wish you many. And even the sad ones are our moments, and we have no choice but to feel them deeply. Thanks for taking the time right now to comment.