Elsie, Renaissance Woman

My pal, Elsie has the biggest plans, grandiose almost, fantastically fun to hear about. She is a complete delight to be around, and the clothes, hats, and shoes she wears really shout. She keeps me in stitches for days on end when she flies in with her long-suffering earl. She is going to start a blog, paint a best-selling canvas, write a novel, and paint a city mural. Her terrific thoughts, her enormous dreams, her extraordinary plans somewhat set and well-laid. Hilarity jumps forth when she comes around, to regale us with stories of her latest escapade. I cannot wait to see her, to find out what she has actually completed this year, all done. Although it has been rather tough for her to implement or start a project, she is always great fun. What about your award-winning sculptures I ask her and your paintings, how are they coming along? I traded those things in for calligraphy, she informed me, but I am writing a terrific love song. What about your fantasy novel, are there a few completed chapters that perhaps I could read? Then she throws back her head, laughing prettily from Accomplishment, her well-decorated white steed. We wave goodbye, knowing we will have this delightful almost identical conversation next year. It never ceases to amaze me how close to getting started dear Elsie has almost been near. Her muse and mine hug tightly, because when we were young girls, they were exceedingly close and tight. Her enthusiasm is exciting, I admire her determination to make her creations perfectly right. I am not ready, she tells me. Creating a masterpiece is something that takes time. Maybe next year, she confides because my productions and creations must be awesomely sublime. Years of incessant planning have not helped Elsie put pen to paper or get started, it is true. Three husbands, a two hour a week job and a couple of children have prevented her from a glorious follow- through.