Just keep swimming. Persistence and Disappointment

Welcome back to Saturday's Adventure story. I mentioned last month we planned a trip to the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum. We made it. Despite every pothole and traffic jam, we arrived unscathed, but for a few jarred nerves. May 14th was our 25th wedding anniversary. In the past, we've taken trips to celebrate, and this year was no exception. Jamestown NY is located in Upstate, NY near Lake Erie. Bonus, I've never seen a Great Lake and looked forward to my first experience with it. 

One of the things we love is history. Architectural, American, the things that make us the great country including the bad parts such as war. One of the biggest impacts of our modern American culture is the arts. Especially, the mediums of television and movies. From the beginning these have captivated and touched our imagination and emotions. Humor is subjective. Often inspiring. It eases tension and brings people together if done well. Tasteful, tacky, slap-dash or sophisticated some comedians transcend it all. One of my hero's is Lucille Ball and not only for her talent in front of the cameras. She was a wife, mother, savvy business woman. Strong and unwilling to compromise on what she knew was right for her. Of coarse there were ups and downs. She was human as are we, but can we take a look at this icon of Americana?
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The museum opened in 1996, but I didn't read about it until last year. From that time on, it was one of the top trips we planned. I definitely love Lucy, and always watched her show growing up. That said I really didn't know much about her. She had her disappointments and victories. Imagine if she listened to the person who said this to her...​

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My own story becoming an author is also one of persistence. Since putting fingers to the keyboard my first manuscript nine years ago, Aimhirghin, Kingdom at a Crossroad, is still a work in progress. I struggle to get Felice, Shield-Mates of Dar, in the hands of readers. Recently, I discovered that Rock House Grill could take six months to a year to become available. But like Lucy, I'm not willing to give up. Years ago, I was tested for personality type. The results were task and goal oriented. My editor at Wild Rose Press mentioned early on, I was efficient at getting things back to her. In that way, I'm kind of like Sheldon Cooper of the Big Bang Theory when he can't get the third knock it. Tis a blessing and a curse.

Anyone remember this episode? There was undoubtedly disappointment in most of Lucy's schemes. She and her sidekick Ethel were always cooking up something. Trying to break into show business or make a couple of bucks. Somehow it never seemed to work out for her on the show.

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 Talking about disappointment, do you recall above when I mentioned never seeing the Great Lakes? Here's the best photo I could get of beautiful Lake Erie...

Could have been a pond for all I could see. The fog was more persistent than I was. We plan to return up to this area soon. I've never seen Niagara Falls either. Life can be full of disappointments. Rejection of query letters is a big one for writers. I just lost a competition for Cover Wars with my book cover, Felice. But, our regular lives can be full of disappointments too. We don't get the raise or promotion. Kids lose the big game. Family members do something to bring you down.  Quitting is not an option. I work in a medical office. You know who does the best after getting a terrible diagnosis? I'll tell you. It's those who refuse to give up. Who has the Dory chant now going through their head? "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming." 

I saw a sign the other day. Don't let yesterday take up to much of today.   Good words. Sometimes hard to do. 

Here's a slide of some pictures I took.

Oh, by-the-way, this was a camping trip after all. Here are some photos of the lovely place and areas nearby we stayed.

This was our set-up and each night we were treated to the sunset through the trees. In the mornings Hali needed her coffee before anyone spoke to her. Okay so I anthropomorphize a bit. Notice the Owlie mug. I loved walking through the mists at Erie State Park. Couldn't you imagine stepping into one of these scenes and entering Middle-Earth?

Recommended Movies
Pursuit of Happiness
Shawshank Redemption
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National Comedy Center

Lucy Desi Museum

Quote of the month
​Failures, repeated failures, are finger posts on the road to achievement. One fails forward toward success. C. S. Lewis