Plans and Schemes and Disappointments By Melody Carlson
Not everyone has a long lost love—an unforgotten sweetheart from our youth, or maybe the one who upset your life-plan by taking a different path. Whatever the case, I suspect many of us will occasionally entertain a romantic blast from our past. Hopefully it’s not to replay old regrets or wallow in heartbreak . . . but perhaps to learn from it, or maybe it just makes us feel young again.
Anyway, that was part of the inspiration behind my novel Looking for Leroy. What if an old love was lying dormant somewhere . . . just waiting to be reawakened? And what better place to wake it than Sonoma vineyard country. And how about throwing in a cute camp-trailer and a couple of school teachers who concoct a crazy plan while out on a summer lark? Toss in a widowed winery owner with a partially burnt vineyard, three strong-willed adult daughters, an aging mother . . . and you could wind up with an interesting mix.
As a writer I never think too hard about the ingredients I’m going to stir into a story. I guess it’s a bit like the way I cook. I generally know what’s in my pantry and what I hope to accomplish by dinnertime, but experimentation and guesswork are involved along the way. To me that’s the fun of creating. Oh, I realize my seat-of-the-pants process would frustrate a lot of folks—whether in the kitchen or on the drafting board or writing at the computer. And I have great respect for those who rely on recipes and outlines and blueprints to ensure predictable results, but it’s just not how I operate.
I’m more of an explorer than a planner. It’s partly because I’m just wired that way and partly because I’ve learned, over the years, that so many ‘well thought out’ plans go sideways. And when my plans unravel, I’m forced to come up with new solutions. But I’ve discovered these redemption-inventions are often better than my original plan anyway. And they’re usually more fun too! But not always….
Like this past year—we’ve been building a house. And, okay, plans (aka blueprints) were definitely involved. In fact I am responsible for those blueprints since I designed the house. It wasn’t my first time to design a house and, because we’re getting older and eager to finish the project and get on with life (not to mention adhere to a budget!) I tried to keep my plans very streamlined and simple. And I thought the house would be finished in six months. Ha—that was my plan! It reminds me of that old Yiddish proverb: “We plan, God laughs.”
I quickly learned a lot has changed in the house-building world since our last build. Building codes have gotten much more complicated and restrictive. And (due to Covid and related shortages) many things did not go as planned in our house. Plus our plumber and electrician took turns getting Covid, causing more delays. Over and over we were forced to re-think, re-invent, and simply re-do a lot of projects. Often to the point where it was no longer fun and exciting. More like exhausting and discouraging. But we pressed on . . . and now we’re nearly finished and the results are rewarding. We’ve wound up with a house that’s not as originally planned, but it’s also very unique—and we love it.
So in retrospect, I’m asking myself—what did I learn about planning from this building experience? Should I have made better plans? More detailed plans? Should we have hired a contractor instead of handling it ourselves? Would things have gone smoother if I had? A lot happened (in the world) that everyone had zero control over. Who could’ve predicted any of it? We obviously didn’t realize how impactful Covid would become as we sold our other home in early 2020 in preparation to build. Had we known, would we have pulled the plug right then and waited for simpler times? Possibly. But no one knew what was coming. Mostly this latest lesson just makes me really, really appreciate that old proverb: We plan, God laughs. And since we’ve trusted God with everything else in our lives—and it all seems to turn out in the long run—we try not to take ourselves too seriously as we laugh along with God—since His ways are always higher and better than ours anyway!
Take a look at Melody’s latest release: LOOKING FOR LEROY
(Releasing March 1, 2022)
It’s official: Brynna Phillips is done with men. They only break your heart. But just when she makes this declaration, her friend Jan convinces Brynna to join her on a camping vacation in Sonoma Wine Country. As they wind their way toward their destination, spanking-new mini camper in tow, Brynna recalls her teenage camp romance with a boy named Leroy. How can it have been nearly 30 years ago? All she remembers is that Leroy was a genuinely good guy and that his family owned a vineyard–in Sonoma. She doesn’t even remember his last name. Jan insists they look for him, and the search begins.
Beyond the slim chance they’d ever be able to find him are questions that have haunted Brynna for decades, including What is the point of digging up the past? and Can Leroy ever forgive me for losing touch?
Bestselling author Melody Carlson invites you on a trip to rediscover the carefree days of youth and, just maybe, to get a second chance at love.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than seven million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice, and her novel All Summer Long was made into a Hallmark movie. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.MelodyCarlson.com.
