Some big changes have happened recently. My book is getting published, for one. There are other things that have happened in the past couple of months related to my family and the day job. At each juncture I have taken an internal survey. Amber, I say to myself, this is a big-fucking-deal, how do you feel?

But change isn’t always accompanied by fanfare. My 4 year old came up to my the other day and said, “Hey, mommy.”

I said, “What do you mean, mommy? You call me mama.”

He laughed. “I’m not a baby, silly.”

I blame pre-school for this. Evil, evil pre-school, where he learns words like “mommy” and the wonderful phrase “stop it”, which he is prone to yell even if no one’s doing anything.

Another such quiet moment happened earlier this week. Sherry Thomas, of whom I am a massive fangirl, is coming to speak at my RWA chapter in November. *cue happy claps* But the thing is, my manuscript needs some help now, not later. Okay, realistically, probably I’ll have a brand new manuscript that needs help later too.

So when I found out she was speaking at the Austin chapter next week, I figured I would go. Just like that. I thought, I’ll drive up there by myself, attend the meeting, sleep at a hotel and drive back in the morning.

Okay, that doesn’t sound so impressive, maybe, but it was a big deal for me. For one thing, the hubs and I have been attached at the hip for, oh, the past ten years. We HAVE separated for certain events but only when it was mandatory (due to business travel or something like that) (and also one break up period which will not be discussed) (it was a long time ago!). Anyways, this is the very opposite of mandatory.

The other thing I realized was how very serious I’m now taking my writing. I avoided labels in the past. I wasn’t concerned about whether my writing was a “hobby” or a “career”. I even managed to sign up for RWA 2012 without realizing how seriously I am now taking this writing thing. Apparently the trip to Austin tipped the scales.

What I’m trying to say is that they grow up so fast! Babies and manuscripts, I guess. There. I have tied these subjects together with a knot. *pulls tight*