A smashing birthday
Yesterday was my son’s 17th birthday. I bought a cake much too big for the three of us, but the itty bitty cakes just didn’t appeal to me. They didn’t seem festive. But this one? You bet. Even if it could have served the entire block and even though I’ll throw it away tonight by putting it at the bottom of a very stinky trash can.
Freeze it, you say? Ha, silly bloggers. Frozen cake is no match for me.
When I took the cake out of the bag I noticed it had not gotten dinged or smudged. It was perfect.
“I’m a pretty good cake-carrier,” I thought. And then I contemplated a future in the delivery of cakes, perhaps on one of my favorite shows, The Ace of Cakes or Food Network Challenge.
I took off the plastic dome cover and saw there was a thin plastic strip around the sides of the cake. Very smart and very tricky making me think I was some kind of guru at not smashing cakes. I felt a little deceived, but relieved nonetheless. Something important was duly protected.
Then, believe it or not, I thought about writing and protecting things – and people – I care about. I take that very seriously. That is why I suggested Debbie remove parts of her novel she posted on her blog. That is when I was divorced, I told my friend if anything ever happened to me to come and get my jewelry so other people did not descend upon it with supposedly rightful arms. It’s also why I don’t — or I try – not to gossip. Not partaking in that mishegas – craziness, in Yiddish — protects not only the person who is being talked about, but me from being part of it and falling into that abyss.
The plastic wrapper around the cake reminded me that there are many ways to protect what we hold dear and that not everyone reveres the same ideals, people or things. It also made me think that if Debbie wants to put her novel on her blog – who am I to even voice an opinion? Plenty of writers post snippets of unpublished works on their blogs. Maybe they attach a virtual sheet of protective plastic, or a copyright symbol or a warning with a skull and cross-bones or a photo of a scary dog.
Or maybe they just aren’t concerned at all about unpublished work available to the cosmos — maybe they wouldn’t care about the smashed side of a birthday cake.
Would you?
Hey, anybody want a piece of cake?
Amused and tolerant of the duet "Happy Birthday to You" as sung by Mom and Sister.
Your big handsome man-son looks a lot like a cross between my 16- and 18-y.o.’s! (And for further cake ideas, please visit my blog today. LOL)
On protecting one’s writing, I’ve warned a few folks about posting their WIPs to their blogs too, not so much because of the filching potential, but because it might be harder to sell since it’s been “published” on the Internet already.
PS Did you see the Catering Crews battle it out on FNC last night?
Yum. That cake looks good. We had cake yesterday at work for a baby shower.
I think I can tend to be over-protective, especially when it comes to my child. Maybe that’s just a mom thing.
I also am protective of my writing. I keep what I’m working on pretty close to the vest, so to speak. I don’t post snippets or reveal my characters’ names or get to the real heart of my story. Now I used to do this – but I don’t anymore. Call it wisdom, I guess.
Angie, you’re right about publishing online. I know that articles I write online can only be sold to pubs that take reprints. That’s not so bad, but it’s not the ultimate of what we want. As for fiction – so many do it and I know it’s to get attention of agents. But if you read all the agent blogs you know they don’t go looking for clients, they don’t have to. I think it’s crucial for writers to have established blogs and websites so that when they do get an agent and have their book pubbed, it’s a standing entity. Note it’s “when” not “if.”
Amy
Melissa,
That’s how I am with my writing although it’s tempting sometimes to put it out there – I just can’t. Plus it would definitely be too many cooks in that kitchen! I have posted snippets for contests – and I’ve submitted parts of it as well to contests not online. But I guess that’s different than if I posted Chapter One just for the purpose of “read me.” I agree that it is wisdom — and just plain ol’ good sense!
Amy
So you mean I shouldn’t post the first seven chapters of my current WIP on my blog. Damn! Now what will I write about? The weather? What my sign is? If I’ve read any good books lately? Oh, yeah, I guess that last one might work. Thanks for the lovey-link and for your protective nature. I’m the oldest of four girls, I think the world revolves around me, and I love being taken care of and you’re a nurturer. That’s why we work so well.
BTW: I can’t decide which is better looking – the cake or your handsome son!!!
I agree with you Amy about a couple of points you raise. I’ve had the most precious thing in this world stolen from me and next to that anything I write I have in clear perspective as to it’s true value. I won’t publish any excerpts from my books on my blog because I want people to buy them so I can support my family. I don’t care about agents or editors because I’m self publishing. I just want to get my stories to the readers as expediently and purely as I can. As for gossip, the only folks I know who do that usually have an emptiness within that no amount of success, money or love could ever fill.
By the way, I’m happy to hear your saying when and not if.
Happy birthday to your son! Cake sounds so good right now…
I’ve posted small snippets of one wip on my blog, but that’s it. I don’t want anyone stealing it and since my ultimate goal is publication, I’d rather not set myself up for unnecessary difficulties further down the road.
If only there were a protective coating we could all go out and buy to wear ourselves! Guess that’s called experience and wisom but you end up with a lot of smashed cakes along the way…
Great advie on protecting your writing though.
I am over-protective in all aspects of my life. Maybe its a control thing, maybe not. Though I do know that I can feel this protectiveness take over my entire body when it has to do with any one of my nieces or nephews. Maybe I just want to shelter them from all the bad things in life, so they dont ever have to feel pain. (but seriously, what good would that do???)
Though, I dont discrimminate against a damaged cake. What’s a little ‘design element’??
Happy birthday to your son! And yeah, I’d totally give away my words if no one would buy them. No question. Maybe I’d self-publish them. I might use them as a promotional technique for more readers or more newsletter sign-ups or something.
I’ll shamelessly squeeze money out of them, somehow!
Happy Birthday to your handsome son! There’s just something in his expression that says that he enjoyed the birthday song more than he was going to let on. I would have LOVED a piece of cake . . .may-be next year?
Yep. That’s why I blog anonymously. I’ve been burned before, in several different ways. I also don’t post original fiction content anymore.
Your son looks just like you. What a handsome young man!
Wow, that’s the face of 17 if I’ve ever seen it — an equal mix of anticipation and tolerance. I’ll bet there isn’t any cake left either considering that your son looks like he could palm it like a basketball.
As for your jewelry story, years ago I was under strict instructions to retrieve my friend’s birth control pills should she ever meet an untimely death so that her parents wouldn’t find them. Another friend wants me to tell her kids as they are going through her estate that the (ahem) plastic item in the box under the bathroom sink is a replica of her late husband’s peebob.
Why do I get stuck with such delicate matters? I’d much rather be in charge of the jewelry!
I just deleted my own comment where I replied to everyone.
I will send you all messages via mental telepathy.
((hugs))
Amy
AWWHH…Happy Birthday to your son! My son is 13 but “mature” for his age and I still haven’t gotten used to the whole “man/boy” thing. Looking at the picture of your son, I can see that mine will be a real man in just a few years. Funny, I still think of his curly blonde hair and chubby cheeks and I’ll bet you remember your son’s baby-face too even though it now has to be shaved!
I think we (women) often get caught in between sharing and protecting. We share so much with each other-our recipes, our time, our secrets, our clothes, our joys and sadness. And yet, we are protectors–we protect our homes, our children, each other’s children. Sometimes it is hard to know which side to be on at any given moment.