A Mysterious Life

Life itself is a mystery. I never know what’s just around the corner. Neither do you. And, we never know how those mysteries will ultimately turn out. Sometimes it seems we don’t have much control of the mystery nor how it ends. Dad’s philosophy was, “Life isn’t what you make it. It’s how you take it.” So, what we do have control of is how we respond to those unknowns that can sneak up on us when we aren’t looking and deliver a stunning blow.

But, ah, the joys of being a mystery writer. As I concoct a tale and put Darcy and Flora into some alarming situations, I do have control of how the thing finishes. And, believe me, I am on the side of our two sleuths and am in their corner all the way through. I have control of the outcome. It’s quite nice.

That’s a plus for me. It puts a spring in my step, a gleam in my eye, and a blush to my cheek. It keeps me young. Well, okay, it keeps me younng-ER.  Real life, even though it is unpredictable and can be alarming, offers a rich field for my imagination to take those actualities and weave them into something a little more palatable and sensible and fascinating. I can put those evil people, misguided miscreants and pompous pretenders in their places. Good triumphs. It’s neat and fulfilling and it offers hope that just maybe we can deal with real life and come out triumphant too.