... I dream of getting new flooring.
When I was a teen, I fantasized and wrote about exploring strange new worlds, seeking out new life and new civilizations, boldly going... anywhere off-planet.
When I was at university, the theme was saving the world and having hot sex with a variety of partners who thought the sun rose and set on me.
When I wrote Under a Texas Star, I was escaping my hospital room and nosy roommate.
Deadly Legacy gave me a way of dealing with my mother's death.
When I started A Bodyguard to Remember, what I most wanted was new flooring and fresh paint.
Our carpeting was dirt brown, indoor/outdoor stuff that was at least twenty years old. The previous occupants were smokers, drinkers and kept rabbits and cats, neither of which were particularly well housebroken.
The co-op cleaned the carpets and painted, of course, but some smells are hard to eliminate.
In fairness, we added to the cocktail. With two small children, you can expect spills. I'm not perfect either, especially when distracted while holding a full cup of coffee.
The worst happened after my father's stroke. We took care of him at home for a few years. Although he had quit smoking years ago, his sense of smell never entirely bounced back. He really didn't know what we were talking about when we told him he couldn't dry his Depends in front of the fan. Nor could he tell when his portable urinal ranneth over.

But the carpeting and our sinuses suffered. No amount of carpet cleaning or deodorizers completely removed the stains or smell. So, when I was standing at the corner, waiting to cross the kids at lunch (I'm a crossing guard too) I started thinking about ways I could speed up the replacement of our flooring. I came up with a dead body in the living room.
Being a writer, I had to work out who the body was, how he got there and what happened next. Since I hadn't totally given up on the fantasy of being desired by multiple men or saving the universe, a little bit of that crept in too... And the first Men in Uniform book was born.
Laff! Ali, I love how your motivation changes throughout the ages. I must think about that myself :) In your case, it certainly led to good books.
ReplyDeleteIt's like the joke about the man who offers to do anything for his lady love as long as she can express it in three words.
DeleteShe says: "Paint my house."
We certainly change our needs and desires as we age and circumstances warrant. Yes, we certainly must discuss floor colours and type next time we meet Alison. I have been dreaming of a lovely warm Brazilian hardwood.You?
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough, I got my flooring not long after Dad went into the nursing home. Our previous manager scheduled interior upgrades according to seniority. It turns out we had been living at the co-op longer than I thought - relative to other members.
DeleteNo warm Brazilian hardwood, but it is a warm, honey oak. (Albeit a dusty oak right now.)