I want to write a book

I keep thinking about writing a book. I'm not sure what about though, which makes me probably like many other people with aspirations about something they have no idea how to reach. My life has been chock full of aspirations.

When I was in 5th grade I wanted to either discover the cure for cancer or be a Thoracic Surgeon. What the heck...? How did I even know what a Thoracic Surgeon was in 5th grade? I have been a science geek as long as I can remember. I wrote my 6th grade "hero" report on Anton van Leeuwenhoek, a guy from Holland. Why would some guy from Holland be my hero? Why not my Mom or Dad or Betsy Ross? Simple, van Leeuwenhoek invented the microscope. I love microscopes and all the little things that come alive under them. I have my own pretty decent microscope and I have been known to whip it out on occasion and throw together a slide of something interesting. Cheek cells are always a hit if you have some Bromothymol blue to stain them. Pond water is pretty darn interesting too and doesn't require any real preparation on a slide, all you need is an eye dropper and luck. But I can't write a book about my love of microscopic things, no one would read it.

As I have grown and had kids, I have also had aspirations of writing a children's book. I think I could get the word part right; make it kid-friendly and interesting. But I don't have that much artistic talent. I can draw and paint pretty decently from looking at a picture, but I am hideous at free-hand (just ask any of the kids that have seen my frog when I am teaching about metamorphosis...) And what would I write about? I have thought that the adventures of the animals at Tanglewood might be good. A series perhaps. But there are SO many children's books out there and so why would mine be any different?

So lately I have had aspirations of writing something DIFFERENT. Something NEEDED. I have often needed help figuring out how to navigate the world of divorce and re-marriage and "Crockpot Families" (a more realistic name for the old "Blended Family") and how to come out with everybody (well everybody that matters) healthy and happy and sane. But I haven't quite figured out how to approach it. I once had an idea to compile a book of letters from divorced Moms to their children. We (and divorced Dads), have a lot to say and a lot we'd like them to know, especially when they are older and more able to understand the intricacy of relationships and personalities and morals (and lack of in some cases), how we came to our difficult decision to leave their other parent. But that would involve likely more work than I have time for since it would involve relying on bunches of other people to meet deadlines, not to mention the legal ramifications of publishing people's stories.

SO, I am still working on the subject of my book. I am hoping that something just "comes" to me, I've heard that happens, but I am still waiting...In the meantime, I blog.