“A Laminator for Christmas?”
That question has lingered around my house since yesterday morning, when my son Corey unwrapped the unforgettable gift.
For the past three months, Corey had been hoping to get a “Turnigy 2WD Desert Racing Buggy.” This remote-control car was at the top of his Christmas Wish List. Therefore, a few weeks before Christmas I ordered his wish online, which was exclusively sold at Hobby King. In Hong Kong. And could take up to 45 days to deliver. Yikes.
At midnight on Christmas Eve, with no Turnigy Racing Buggy to wrap for Corey, I turned to the only store open in Indiana—Walgreens. The store resembled black Friday, and the shelves looked ransacked.
From a distance, I spotted a laminator, which sat neatly untouched on a lonely shelf. I remembered that Corey listed one of these bad dogs on his Christmas Wish List (more toward the bottom of his list).On Christmas morning, Corey ripped off the wrapping paper, and my heart sank as I saw his eyes lower with disappointment. He reminded me of Ralphie in a bunny suit from “A Christmas Story.”
“A laminator for Christmas?” Corey asked.Apparently, he didn’t remember writing that on his list.
Just like Corey and the laminator, so are a writer and the rejection letter. It’s so disappointing after months of anticipation, and then to receive a rejection letter. But that doesn’t mean it’s all over.
If a writer is patient, a different package could someday arrive in their inbox or mailbox. Like maybe a contract for a novel, or even a series of novels. Whatever the case…Don’t give up!!I guarantee Corey won’t give up the story about the Christmas he got a laminator instead of a Turnigy Racing Buggy.
~Marjorie DeVries
Inspiration! Maybe I should laminate all of my rejection slips? Surely that will make them more impressive some day when historians excavate my archives?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting blog! I enjoyed it. One note, though -- Wouldn't Speedway join Walgreen's in being stores still open? I know, Speedway isn't usually where many do Christmas shopping. But you could have gotten him a gallon of gas and told him it was for racing buggy when it arrived!
ReplyDeleteOne question I've always wondered -- When laminators grow up, do they become sheepinators?
Jeff
Interesting post. As a writer myself, I can definitely sympathize. Some writers can't stand the rejections and get impatient and self-publish their works. Some are successful doing this, others, not so much. With the fairly recent popularity of e-books, some writers are finding SOME success in self-publishing their
ReplyDeletee-books, or finding a small press to publish them.
Yes, you definitely need a tough skin if you're trying to get traditionally published.
Happy new year 2012
ReplyDeleteLaminating rejection slips--that's hilarious Rick! Maybe I should keep the laminator for myself :).
ReplyDeleteAnd the sheepinator joke? So funny! By the way, I think a gallon of gas would've gone over much better, Jeff.
Thanks all for your comments!