I love my family.

Here at Clarion South, I'm far, far away from my family. I mentioned to my daughter that encouragement helps, so at random intervals she's been sending me a text message on my phone: "Go mommy go! Go mommy go!"

Now I've got to finish this story by the deadline. My family is cheering for me, and I can't let them down. I have to seize this workshop and shake it like a terrier shakes a rat. I have to bash it, toss it high. (To paraphrase one of my own poems.)

And right now how I have to do that is finish this story. So if you'll excuse me....