Last Chapter of Sundance Book – In Progress – Nearly Finished

Sundanceh
Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
Well, the time is nearing – I’m nearly done with the book. I’m about 70% completed on the last chapter. This last chapter is not really about cancer – it’s just me spitballin’ through some more of my Texas tales – there are many stories in this chapter that will be fresh and new to you, since I’ve never told you about them.

Hey, I gotta’ keep a couple of stories for later, don’t I? Don’t want you to get too bored with me? You’re a tough group and it’s hard to keep coming up with new material, LOL!

If the book were to somehow get published, there is another story that I’ve “Got On Ice” that I’ve been dying to share with you. It’s gonna’ appeal particularly to the ol’ timers, but the new folks will dig it too, after I fill them in on what’s behind it.

It’s very sentimental – and it’s a perfect fit for this book.

I added a chapter, so now we’re doing 17-chapters. I decided to add the John Force story as it was just too long for the last chapter and I did not want it to get lost in the shuffle with the other stories I’m talking about in there.

So many things I want to talk about, but we’ll do that in the next post – the post about the book being finished and all the stuff I want to share there.

I’m hoping to finish up the book by next week and try and get the post out to you a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving gets here. I should be able to make that, but if I can’t make that deadline, then I’ll more than likely table that post until the new year when everyone gets back from their holidays.

I’d like everyone to be around to be able to read that post – I have a lot that I want to share with you. It would mean a lot to me for you to be there.

Looks like I’m going to finish up in a little less than 5-months from creation to completion:)

It’s a little late for Halloween but I’m just about to start writing my creepy tale on the day I met the Grim Reaper in the hospital after liver surgery. You don’t wanna’ miss that one, do you?

Half a dozen stories behind that one and it will be a done deal. I’m hoping that you like some of it:)

Well, that’s all for today, I suppose. I’m getting an MRI on the 18th to rule out any brain met – don’t think there is anything up there. (Insert joke there) But, I want a clean conscience and be able to put that one out of my mind.

Meneire’s and the terrible vertigo spells appear to be a memory now as well. It left as violently as it arrived. I should be good for another 2 years now:)

Oh, BTW, this story got lost in the shuffle and I did not post it.

My last scan came back clear for the 2nd time post 3rd recurrence. I’m relieved but not relaxed – gotta stay focused and finish the book now and find someone who will take a chance on an unknown like me.

But, you guys still believe in me, right?

Ok, that’s good enough for me then:)

Take care – and keep watching, I could finish any day and open that post any day too – better if I could do it earlier than later - if I get the right wind, I’ll blow through it in no time.

Stay tuned to the Sundance Channel
“Story Matters Here”

-Craig
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Comments

  • lesvanb
    lesvanb Member Posts: 905
    congrats craig
    on nearly finishing your book and the clear scan!

    always rooting for ya.

    ride on
    Leslie
  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    Hey - congrats on the clear

    Hey - congrats on the clear scan! That's really great. Lots of smiles on that news. :-) Best of luck with the MRI, I'm sure it will be fine. (And of course we're looking forward book posting too.) :-) Take care, Cyn
  • jjaj133
    jjaj133 Member Posts: 867 Member
    CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE
    CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE GOOD NEWS. I am sure there is more to come. I cannot wait to read your book!
    Sending you a great big hug,
    Judy
  • jjaj133
    jjaj133 Member Posts: 867 Member
    CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE
    CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE GOOD NEWS. I am sure there is more to come. I cannot wait to read your book!
    Sending you a great big hug,
    Judy
  • jjaj133
    jjaj133 Member Posts: 867 Member
    CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE
    CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE GOOD NEWS. I am sure there is more to come. I cannot wait to read your book!
    Sending you a great big hug,
    Judy
  • thingy45
    thingy45 Member Posts: 632 Member
    jjaj133 said:

    CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE
    CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE GOOD NEWS. I am sure there is more to come. I cannot wait to read your book!
    Sending you a great big hug,
    Judy

    AWESOME
    Great Craig, Congrats. I look forward to read the whole book.
    Marjan
  • Lifeisajourney
    Lifeisajourney Member Posts: 216
    l sure hope you find a publisher
    it would be great to see you on all the talk shows....it would help a lot of people to learn about this disease.......Good luck.....Pat
  • johnnybegood
    johnnybegood Member Posts: 1,117 Member

    l sure hope you find a publisher
    it would be great to see you on all the talk shows....it would help a lot of people to learn about this disease.......Good luck.....Pat

    wow
    that book writing has not taken you very long at all.congrats on the latest scan and i do hope you have good luck getting that book published.i soooo want a copy.i will be waiting for the rest of the story....Godbless....johnnybegood
  • tommycat
    tommycat Member Posts: 790 Member
    heehee
    Stay tuned to the Sundance Channel
    “Story Matters Here”

    Love it---and big congrats!
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    Awesome
    Wonderful news on finishing the book and Awesome news on the clear scan. So happy for you on both counts.

    Kim
  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member

    Awesome
    Wonderful news on finishing the book and Awesome news on the clear scan. So happy for you on both counts.

    Kim

    Congrats on the scan!!!
    Congrats on the scan!!! Way to go!!! The book sounds interesting :)
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    smokeyjoe said:

    Congrats on the scan!!!
    Congrats on the scan!!! Way to go!!! The book sounds interesting :)

    Hey Craiger....
    Bout time you quit draggin ur butt and got that book done..NOT!!! Seriously.... I cannot wait to read it. Cannot wait to attend the book signing party. I'm positive that brain scan will show...nothing...LOL. U know I luv u!!!!

    Jen
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member

    Hey Craiger....
    Bout time you quit draggin ur butt and got that book done..NOT!!! Seriously.... I cannot wait to read it. Cannot wait to attend the book signing party. I'm positive that brain scan will show...nothing...LOL. U know I luv u!!!!

    Jen

    Hi craig Congratulations for your clear scan
    Want to see this book finished, really can't wait!.
    Hugs Mate!
  • wolfen
    wolfen Member Posts: 1,324 Member
    pepebcn said:

    Hi craig Congratulations for your clear scan
    Want to see this book finished, really can't wait!.
    Hugs Mate!

    Craig
    Congrats on the clear scan. Now---Reading is my favorite pastime, so "git er done". Can't wait to read it.

    Luv,
    Wolfen
  • karen40
    karen40 Member Posts: 211 Member
    Congrats
    Congrats on both your scan and finishing up on your book.
    I enjoy your writings and love your insight. I aspire to have your wisdom.
    Uh-oh, I hope that wasn't too mushy. I'm really not a mushy person. lol
    Looking forward to your book,
    Karen
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    Craig
    Craig,
    I love the part about your clear scan!!!!!!!! You are such an incredible man. Put me on the list for the book.

    Aloha
    Kathleen
  • buckeye2
    buckeye2 Member Posts: 428 Member
    I can't wait for this book.
    I can't wait for this book. If your book writing is as good as your posts, it will be a hit for so many people. Being an educator I am curious as to how you acquired your writing skills. Have you always known you had this talent or something more recent. Congrats on the clear scan. Lisa
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    buckeye2 said:

    I can't wait for this book.
    I can't wait for this book. If your book writing is as good as your posts, it will be a hit for so many people. Being an educator I am curious as to how you acquired your writing skills. Have you always known you had this talent or something more recent. Congrats on the clear scan. Lisa

    Lisa:) Have I Got a Story for You...
    Hiya, Lisa

    Thank you for your support and the kind words. Writing has always seemed to come natural to me. I always marked high in English and Spelling class. And for reasons that are beyond my comprehension, I am able to take a subject and articulate it in such a fashion that it reaches people. Some people call it a gift - many folks have told me in the past that I missed 'my calling.'

    I wish I had been smart enough to believe in myself and had someone important to push me and encourage me to pursue writing at a much earlier age. But there was no one...

    You know your response had me laughing - I was thinking that Lisa is so good - she'll do anything to get another excerpt out of me:) LOL! LOL!

    But, it's funny you asked that question and since you are an educator - guess what? I just wrote a piece about one of my educators and my writing....so, what the hey, read this and you'll understand.

    EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER XVII - "Epilogue"

    This reminds me of another story that a lady sent me on the board when I first joined. She told me that in my writings that “I Paint With Words.”

    And I always liked that analogy; because in effect, that is what I’m doing when I sit down to write. My word document is my blank canvas and I use our rich vocabulary as the brushstrokes for the portrait that is inside my head, which I’m trying to bring to life.

    I’ve always liked the work of the painter, Thomas Kinkade. His moniker is “Thomas Kinkade – Painter of Light.”

    Well, maybe, just maybe, one day they will call me, “Craig Harrison – Painter With Words.”

    I like that moniker – it gently rolls off your tongue and sounds sort of distinguished, don’t you think? Hey, it doesn’t hurt to dream, does it?

    Thinking about that story takes me back in time about thirty-years ago. I was a young man of twenty-one, who was taking a second- year creative writing course in college. I had submitted a paper for an assignment to the professor and he had called me into his office after class to discuss it.

    His critique of my work was particularly harsh and his style was not very motivating or inspiring. He basically skewered me and sent me on my way. Being the sensitive soul that I am, I was crushed that my work had not met someone else’s expectations. I thought what I had written was pretty good and his words ended up dashing my hopes for good.

    My voice fell silent and my pen was stilled and I never wrote anything again.

    That was until a year after my first cancer diagnosis, when I wrote a piece for my family and friends and was a reflective piece about what had changed in me that past year. I ended up writing a couple more pieces similar to that, but my audience was limited and how much can your relatives really say after so long?

    A couple of years after that, I found the cancer board and after meeting the folks and building relationships, I began to feel the creative juices flowing once more and I had topics that I wanted to discuss, so I began writing there and the folks were very accepting of my writings and validated my thoughts and feelings on cancer.

    That process took twenty-six years from the day the professor slammed the door in my face until I felt comfortable enough to share my thoughts and feelings to my friends in the cyber-world. That’s a lot of water under the bridge, if you know what I mean.

    From my friend’s love, support, and encouragement, they gave me the sorely needed confidence that I needed to step out on the ledge and write this book, so that we would have the opportunity to try and reach the multitudes and offer help to them.

    Otherwise, this book may never have gotten written. Having confidence in one’s abilities is a lot different than experiencing validation and acceptance of one’s work through another person’s eyes. Even though I thought I might be able to do it – I needed to hear it from the group, before I could possibly believe it for myself and more importantly, believe in myself once more.

    This has recently led me to wonder where I could have gone had someone taken an interest in me and helped guide me during that critical stage in my development? What if someone had recognized my raw potential and got behind me and encouraged me? Where could I have gone? What could I have become?

    As Marlon Brando once said, “I coulda’ been a contender.”

    I know there are a lot of teachers out there and bless you one and all. I feel teaching and mentoring is a good calling and maybe more beneficial than we realize when we are actually doing it.

    This part of my story lends credence to the fact that lives can be changed by a negative word from someone in authority. The results can be devastating and that person could end up never realizing their full potential from that type of encounter between student and teacher.

    So, please remember to be encouraging and nurturing to your students – don’t admonish them – just be there and support them - their lives can be greatly influenced by you, for either good or bad, so let’s make it a positive experience. Believe me when I tell you, that people never really forget those kinds of hurts – they stay with you in some form for life.

    That memory is thirty-years old, but reliving it while I wrote this, I can honestly tell you that it’s just as fresh today, as it was three decades ago. It was a crucial juncture for me then and I got derailed as my life slid right off the tracks from a few callous words.

    But, that was then – and this is now. I’ve been given another chance to give my writing a try to see if it has any kind of merit to the public and see if I can reach some of the potential that I was born with and use this gift that I was given to reach out and touch as many lives as I can.

    It’s taken me fifty-years to reach this point in my life. I’m a ‘late bloomer’ as it turns out, but I feel like those words from the Carpenter’s song, “We’ve Only Just Begun…”

    BREAK-BREAK-BREAK-BREAK

    And to answer your original question, I always felt like there was something there, but it's been my friends here new and old, who finally gave me the confidence to believe in myself, because so many have believed in me. And I so hate to disappoint anybody:)

    Thanks for your continued support - almost there!

    -Craig
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    karen40 said:

    Congrats
    Congrats on both your scan and finishing up on your book.
    I enjoy your writings and love your insight. I aspire to have your wisdom.
    Uh-oh, I hope that wasn't too mushy. I'm really not a mushy person. lol
    Looking forward to your book,
    Karen

    Hi Karen:)
    That wasn't too mushy at all - in fact I liked it. I like it when folks peel back that extra layer and reveal something from the inside - that makes me happy.

    I certainly appreciate your kind words and your confidence in me. Your sentiment comes through loud and clear:)

    -Craig
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    Thank You - Thank You - Thank You !!!
    It's so nice to see all of your lovely faces on this post. Thank you for your continued support. It means so much to me. There's going to be alot to talk about - you know me, never at a loss for words:)

    I can't wait to talk some more with you about this - I'm very close now to finishing....just a couple more small stories and then wrapping it up and tying a bow around it.

    It's amazing really - I suppose I still can't believe that I nearly have done this. There's just gotta' be someone out there willing to take a chance with me - with the right support, we could go straight to the top:)

    The chance is there to help and support other people and we know there is a large audience.

    Please continue to believe in me, so that when I waver and have those moments of self-doubt, you can pick me back up with your kind words. No one has ever believed in me before until I met you....and what a difference it has made for me.

    Best wishes 'till we talk - very, very soon.

    -Craig