Presenting the Letter "N" -- Normal

>> Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Karen Hughes wrote a book titled, Ten Minutes From Normal. The title has stuck with me and sums up the way I often feel.

Recently I attended the FaithWriter’s Conference. It was pure joy being a part of this awesome group of writers, as we visited in the hotel lobby or shared meals at nearby restaurants. There were comments about eavesdropping on conversations, or characters running amuck in our heads and we were just warming up, I started feeling I had finally found normal.

I overheard more than one person say the group made them feel normal. Linda Glaz, an agent with Hartline Literary Agency, injected a quote from Patsy Clairmont, “Normal is just a setting on the dryer.” Not sure my dryer even has that setting.

The conference sadly ended and I’m back home, just a few minutes from normal. I look forward to next year and three glorious days of feeling normal—okay maybe still a tad left of normal.

12 comments:

Rhonda Schrock, August 23, 2011 at 11:02 AM: Love it! I can so relate to this. What a great topic choice, Rita.
Anonymous, August 23, 2011 at 11:32 AM: Good post!
SO good meeting
you in person!!

Sunny
Niki Turner, August 23, 2011 at 12:00 PM: I can't think of anywhere in the Bible where God tells us to "be normal." Kind of makes me question where that pressure we feel really comes from!
Great post!
Patty Wysong, August 23, 2011 at 3:16 PM: LoL. The Faithwriters conf is one of those few places I actually feel normal. They understand the voices in my head and don't even look for the white coats.

It was beyond fantastic to finally meet, Rita!!
Huge hugs!!
Kimberly Russell, August 23, 2011 at 3:41 PM: The first year I attended the conference, I had a total epiphany: for once, I felt like I was around people that actually "get" me.

Sorry I didn't get to chat with you--next year for sure.
Laury, August 23, 2011 at 6:44 PM: Actually, I live about an hour from Normal. No kidding! :) Loved meeting you at the conference, Rita! Was a blast!
Lisa Mikitarian, August 24, 2011 at 4:59 AM: I'm with you on this one. Also, I love the tone of your writing.
Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, August 24, 2011 at 10:37 AM: Now I'm off to see if my dryer has that setting???? what is normal for a dryer? what kind of clothes are considered normal...sigh, now I'm thinking of a blog post.
Diana
www.pencildancer.com
Shelley Ledfors, August 24, 2011 at 7:14 PM: Ah, yes. I loved being around like-minded folks at the conference, too. I think FaithWriters are the best sort of normal. The regular meaning of the word is way over rated. :-)
Sparrow, August 25, 2011 at 1:24 AM: I used to think I was different and strange until I joined FaithWriters and discovered I was just a writer. I was almost disappointed that I wasn't as unique as I thought. Haha! It's so great to be around like-minded people who get us.

Love Niki's point about the Bible never asking us to be normal. In fact, that's why I picked the name "Peculiar People" for my collaborative writing group.
Barbara Lynn Culler, August 25, 2011 at 6:40 AM: Oops! I was attributing that quote to Erma Bombeck! (Years ago, that was a dryer setting)

"Normal" is so overated anyway!
Joanne Sher, August 25, 2011 at 6:01 PM: FUN post! I'm not normal except at the FW conference either. :) Love ya