Mary gets her shiny back

After way too many days and night in the word factory, Mary vowed to spend more quiet time in her old zone. She wanted so badly to hear that voice again, the one that fluttered in on golden wings and talked to her whenever she drew pictures, painted, played kazoo, cleaned, cooked or gardened. That little voice knew her inside and out and kept her work honest. It told her the little stories that helped her make sense of her life. Without that little voice, her life felt less shiny, less tolerable. Mary wanted her shiny back, and now she knew what she must do ... be real quiet and wait for the shiny to reappear. That it will reappear the very month that the Great Pumpkin makes its annual appearance is no small coincidence. Shine on Great Pumpkin, like a long lost friend.

Left Mary in a quiet zone at Tropical Smoothies Cafe on Cordova Road in Fort Lauderdale.