I have always believed that much of the story of Thanksgiving is an American myth.  We want to believe that early European settlers were able to co-exist with native Americans and even that the Europeans survival depended on learning and adapting from the Native Americans.

In spite of the historical murkiness of Thanksgiving, the notion that we should, as a society, set aside a day each year is important and not frought with religious overtones.  Being thankful in life is important.

I don't want to judge what readers may be thankful for, however, I would hope that material things are low on your list.  Here's my short list:

--a life where I can pursue my creativity
--a caring, loving relationship with my wife
--two great sons and two wonderful daughter-in-laws
--my granddaughter
--my two grandsons
--my siblings
--friends
--the resources to have experiences leading to growth 
--opportunities to volunteer, give back and pay forward

So, don't forget to give thanks for what you cherish on Thanksgiving Day 2014    

Like most of you I had a great time as a kid on the teeter totter.  At my elementary school the teeter totter was a heavy wood plank, painted green with most of paint gone from years in the sun, rain, snow and ice.   On each end there was a metal upside down U also worn from many sweaty hands to hang on to for dear life.  The teeter totter was perfectly balanced across a four inch metal pipe; I don’t remember how it was attached.

There’s some dispute over the correct name.  The name ‘seesaw’ got its name from the French ci-ca, meaning this-that after the English butchered the French language.  The name may also derive by combining the French word scie (saw) with the English word “saw” to become ‘seesaw’, again with apologies to the French.  The origins of the name teeter-totter are too complex for this little blog.

It was tricky to hop of the teeter totter at the same time as your friend so that the thing balanced.  Once straddled across the plank we would race to push off with our legs first to thrust ourselves into the air and force the other person to use their legs like a spring to avoid the end of the teeter totter banging into the ground with a chance of falling off.

Two kids could spend an hour lunging back and forth with that momentary thrill of being propelled into the air.  I don’t have any idea who invented the teeter totter, but that person was a genius who understood kids.  The risk was always that one person jumps off so that the other person plummets to the ground.

Looking back I now realize that the teeter totter is a metaphor for life.  We cannot journey through life alone, we need other people – in the same way a child can’t teeter –totter alone.  In life we need to learn to trust others, in the same way you trust your partner won’t jump off the teeter-totter.  Finally, the good life requires balance.  In the same way, the principle of the teeter-totter is all about balance.

So there you have it.  Accept life as a teeter-totter and you can have a satisfying, balanced life.

As with most serious independent authors/publishers I worked very hard to create a high quality book for my readers.  I worked with a graphic designer to design a striking, eye catching cover, and I’ve received a number of compliments for the cover.

I researched the type and color of paper to use in the book and the type and size of the font.  I have been satisfied with the high quality of the paper and the font.

I hired a content editor, copyeditor and proofreader to work with me to guarantee the quality of the final book.  The proofreader was instructional, I knew nothing about semi colons; and, was inspired to take a grammar refresher after my book was published.  I was fortunate that the copy editor provided line edits which add polish to my book.  The content editor convinced me to introduce one character much earlier in the story and to revise the ending.  All of these changes, I believe, improved the quality of my book.

Once the file was uploaded to Create Space I received a hard edition of the book to edit.  It was both a thrill and a chore to look for all the little proof reading errors.   I chose to make the edits myself to the electronic file.  I edited my book three more times on the electronic file.  Having completed four proofreading edits I was both exhausted from the process and ready to launch my book into the world.

After receiving my complimentary order of books, I just looked at it in wonder.  I never thought about giving it one more read for proofreading errors.  I “trusted” that it was perfect.  Recently, to prepare for my Tuesday Morning Book Talk discussion of, Murphy’s Troubles, there on page 3 was a proofreading error.  This was the error: ‘Do they think with their arses’?’  What an obvious flaw, I was horrified. There was another error on page 10, 17, 20, etc. 

I decided to read my own book specifically for proofreading errors and I found forty-six!  When I shared my discovery with my wife even she said:   “That’s a lot.”  She has a reputation for understatement.

I wondered why no one had ever said anything to me.  None of the people who posted a review on Amazon said anything.  The professional reviewer at Inkspots, Karyn Saemann, didn’t mention the problem.  Were they all trying to be kind?  I don’t need that type of kindness.

I am embarrassed.  I contacted Create Space and I was able to correct the errors for only $55.00.  I’ve requested a hard copy proof to review, trying to proof from a document is just too difficult.

I have learned a very valuable lesson.  I must never again let the thrill of excitement of publication to let me waiver in ensuring the next book is blemish free.