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Happy Tears

I finished the edit for the next book, Apart at the Seams, on Sunday night.  When I got to the final chapter, I went upstairs to tell Josh, and while we were lying in bed, the ChickieNob came in and asked what we were talking about.

“I’m really close to the end of the book… again.”

“Oh,” the ChickieNob said, “I want to stay up and party with you when it’s done.”

“She doesn’t so much party when she’s done,” Josh informed her.  “She more collapses on the bed in a pool of tears.”

Not quite as much fun but it’s pretty accurate.

I’ve been working on this edit since the end of August.  Four straight months, sometimes putting in twelve hour writing days towards the end.  I loved the notes from my editor, and I think they ultimately made for a stronger story.  But the ideas we brainstormed required rewriting about 75% or more of the book.  So it was like taking a four month holiday with these characters again, and by three-quarters of the way through, I was sick of them again.  And by the final chapter, I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye.  I’m terrible with all goodbyes, you know.

So I once again wrote the final words and once again felt as if my skeleton slipped out of my body, and I was just a mass of skin and folded organs.  I went upstairs where Josh was watching the Wire.  And I once again slipped into his arms and cried.  I don’t even know why I cry at the end.  All I know is that it needed to happen.

And now I still have two weeks to do a final read through before I turn it in.

*******

The next day, we went to see Frozen.  I knew nothing about the movie except for that line about how it’s not a blizzard, it’s her sister (which wasn’t actually in the movie).  When people wrote about it online, I tried not to read the tweets and Facebook updates so I could be surprised.  And we’re maybe five minutes into the film when the ChickieNob leans over and tells me THE ENTIRE ENDING.  Like all of it.  She had apparently read the book while standing in Barnes and Noble.

Even knowing how everything will turn out, I sobbed when Anna sang to her sister does she want to build a snowman.  And I cried when Elsa built her palace.  And I cried when Olaf said some people are worth melting for.  And I cried at the act of love.  I cried through the whole freakin’ movie.  And every time I cried, the ChickieNob would lean over and REPEAT THE ENTIRE ENDING.  As if that was going to stop me from crying.

I really loved the movie, and I loved the idea that we all have an otherness — either large or small — that both makes us unique and also makes us not fit in.  I’m reading Wonder at the same time, and it’s also a message in that book.  So I’m getting it from all angles.

I’m going to count all of these tears as happy tears.  A goodbye to 2013 (remember, I’m terrible with goodbyes, even when I’m just saying goodbye to years).  A goodbye to the Rachel Goldman books.  A goodbye to the early elementary school years as we turn into the next semester which is the midway point into our late elementary school years.  All sweet, wonderful things.  So it’s hard to say goodbye even when the future will hopefully bring more exciting things.

Goodbye 2013.

20 comments

1 Christine { 12.31.13 at 8:14 am }

Congratulations on the book! I can’t wait to read it.

And “Do You Want To Build a Snowman?” is the saddest song ever. I cried through that whole sequence. Twice.

2 andy { 12.31.13 at 9:10 am }

Can’t wait for the next book!

3 Mina { 12.31.13 at 9:18 am }

Oh, there, there. No one likes good byes. At least no one sane. Or if it’s saying good bye to a good thing. Because saying good bye to a nasty thing, or person, that might be cheerful, no? I am sorry, my mind is kind of wiped, so I just babble.

We’re moving on, even when we don’t want to. I have just realise that I have seven months when the boys go to the same kindergarten. From September, George will go to the official, state-mandated KiGa. How can that be possible, when he was just a little baby two days ago?! See what you do here, Melissa, with your goodbyes, and metaphors? I hope you’re happy now, you got me teary and I so wasn’t, and I posted about good bye too today, and it was nothing like this. *mumble, mumble, mumble* 🙂

Happy New Year, Mel! A good year to you and yours!

4 Kasey { 12.31.13 at 9:28 am }

Oh, I’m so excited for the next book! These are happy tears indeed.

5 jodifur { 12.31.13 at 10:31 am }

I loved Frozen soo much. And even more poignant, was that I saw it with my sister. who i don’t even know the last time I saw a movie with.

6 Kasey { 12.31.13 at 12:40 pm }

I cant wait to read the next installment!! I really want to see Frozen now! (At home in the comfort of my living room where I can sob silently in hiding lol)

7 gwinne { 12.31.13 at 1:07 pm }

Yay about finishing the book!

Yeah, I don’t do much celebratory either…

8 Tracie { 12.31.13 at 5:09 pm }

I’ve seen Frozen twice now (once for work, and once for fun with the family on Christmas), and I cried both times. I wasn’t expecting much from it, but it has firmly positioned itself in my top 5 Disney movies.

Congratulations on finishing the book!

9 Pepper { 12.31.13 at 7:01 pm }

I’m so excited for the book! And now I need to see Frozen. I haven’t been to a movie in years and my daughter is still too young… but I’m going to have to get there somehow. I’m a happy tears person, too, recently. It’s tough to explain to a toddler why I’m crying all the time…

10 jjiraffe { 12.31.13 at 7:18 pm }

Have you ever watched “Romancing the Stone?” The main character cried after finishing her books too.

Glad you enjoyed Frozen!

11 Lori Lavender Luz { 12.31.13 at 8:22 pm }

I am so proud of you for what you’ve created with Rachel and her cohorts. I, too, can hardly wait to read #3!

So funny about ChickieNob and the ending. She’s not spoiled but she is a spoiler!

I hope I get to see you in 2014. It would eventually mean a goodbye, but for awhile there would be a sweet hello.

12 April { 12.31.13 at 11:17 pm }

Congratulations on the book! I cannot wait to read it!

The kiddo and I saw “Frozen” when it opened. We loved it. Elsa’s song made me cry and Sven & Olaf were hilarious. Do you want to build a snowman had me in tears.

13 Justine { 01.01.14 at 12:57 am }

I’ve been doing my share of happy crying these past few weeks, too. Congratulations on the rewrite, and wishing you so many magical, fabulous gifts of a new year and new beginnings. *hugs* for the tears that are absolutely warranted.

14 Heather { 01.01.14 at 4:51 am }

Can’t wait to read your book! Your last one was so good I can’t wait to see what your characters get up to next. 🙂 Happy New Year!

15 a { 01.01.14 at 9:08 pm }

Congratulations on finishing the book! Again!

We saw Frozen yesterday – I liked it. The female characters were much stronger than in most Disney movies.

16 Aerotropolitan Comitissa { 01.02.14 at 6:54 am }

Congratulations on your book and yes, of course you would need to release it emotionally, as well as physically.

We saw Frozen, too. There were several teary points.

17 Tiara { 01.02.14 at 1:00 pm }

I am really looking forward to seeing Frozen…but more so am looking foward to Apart at the Seams!!

18 Nonsequiturchica { 01.02.14 at 1:56 pm }

Congrats on finishing your latest book! I seriously don’t know how you find the time with all that you do on your blog, Creme, etc!

19 Erica { 01.02.14 at 5:05 pm }

Oh, congrats! It’s wonderful news about the book. And I love Frozen, which has turned out to be a good thing because over the winter break Dot has seen it five times, and we had a hard time getting her to stop singing “Let it Go” last night (complete with dramatically closed eyes, sweeping hand gestures and some serious volume) in order to get bedtime to happen.

20 Katherine A { 01.05.14 at 1:36 pm }

Congratulations on finishing the book! Looking forward to reading it…very much.

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