To Focus More Profoundly

The time has come for me to focus even more profoundly on my goal to get my novel published. It is a time to return to my desk. It is a time to spend even more time, alone, writing.

To Focus More Profoundly

By Richard Mabey Jr.

I think that I need to do an entire rewrite of my book, “I Remember Dad.” To reconstruct entire chapters. To add more color and vibrancy to the book. To dig deeper within myself, to find that incredible greatness of my father. The time has come to return to my desk, to spend even more time alone; writing, writing and writing.

“I Remember Dad” is incredibly dear and precious to my heart. I must get my book published before my time comes to be put in a coffin.

I have this strong sense that my time upon this earth could very well come to a close before I get to see my book, “I Remember Dad” published. And, for that reason, I must refocus all of my energies to seeing my book get published. Essential to my success in this endeavor, is to do an entire rewrite of my book. An entire, soup to nuts, rewrite.

Originally, I had begun “I Remember Dad” about Dad’s service in the Seventh Army Air Corps during World War II. Now, as I reflect upon this, I am wondering if this really is the best starting point to begin my novel.

Restructuring my book means taking it apart, literally taking it apart, and rebuilding it. Originally, I was going to make the opening chapter to my novel, center upon Dad’s service in the Seventh Army Air Corps during World War II. Now, I’m seriously wondering if that era would really and truly make the best opening chapter for my book. I am now thinking of restructuring my book to be more true to a chronological order.

I now realize that I must stretch my imagination to new heights to properly play tribute to this endearing, wide-eyed, sensitive little boy, who in due time will become my father.

The picture that you see above, is of my dear father when he was about eight years old. I have studied this one picture for hours upon hours, to fully understand my father as a young boy. I believe that my Dad was a sensitive child. I believe that he had a certain wide-eyed idealism about him. I know, from things that my Grandma and Grandpa had told me, that Dad was a very generous and caring child. But, truly, I need to dedicate even more thought, more imagination, more consideration to more fully understand my father as an eight year old boy.

A photo from the summer of 1934. Dad was six years old in this picture. Dad is reading the comics section of the newspaper. Dad’s four younger brothers are also in this picture.

I know for certain that my Dad loved comics from a very young age. Dad himself told me that, many times in the many conversations that we had. Also, Grandma once told me that Dad loved to read comics. The apple didn’t fall from the tree. This is yet another picture which I have spent hours upon hours studying. I have come to more fully realize that I must come to know my Dad, as the young boy he once was, to a much greater understanding. It is essential for my book to become published and stand on its own two feet and get people to buy it.

A rare photo of my Dad (left hand side) and his close brother, Carl.

Essential to understanding the emotional and psychological makeup of my beloved father, as a child, is to more fully understand the uncanny bond that he held with his close, younger brother Carl. Dad was born in 1927. Carl, whom I knew and loved as Uncle Skip, was born in 1928. Dad went Home to be with the Lord in 2006. Uncle Skip went Home to be with the Lord, one year later. There was a very spiritual, caring, loving tie between these two brothers. It was a golden bond that was strong throughout both of their lives.

A photo of Dad in his Scoutmaster’s uniform reviewing a scout’s advancement card.

My Dad had this great motto, “better to teach a boy the moral path than to rehabilitate a wayward man.” That one statement defined the passion my Dad had for scouting. Dad served as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 170, for over 25 years, from 1966 through 1994. It is essential for me to grow in my understanding of my Dad’s boyhood, to understand more fully his dedication to being such an incredible Scoutmaster.

Failure is not an option!

So, for me, this statement burns in my heart: failure is not an option. I have got to do this complete rewrite of my book. And, I know it is going to require me to spend more time than ever at my desk writing, writing and writing. And, yes, I know before hand, some people will not understand. And, yes I’ll lose some of my Bocce Ball pals. Some of my neighbors will be upset because I will no longer have time to talk with them about world problems. And, overall, it’s just a time for me to spend more time at my desk, with one objective, to get my book published