I’ve been having a tough time getting into my next projects, but each time I hear from someone, I’m motivated to keep working. The really cool thing is, no one just says “I loved Whiskey Road.” All of you have written to say how much you enjoyed His Insignificant Other and Such a Girl. And you urge me to write a new one soon.

I don’t know when my next book will be finished, but please keep your correspondence coming. It may seem like a small gesture, but it means so much! Thank you!

Some of us talk about this idea that STUFF has become more important to us than human life. We have proof. A day after we lament the loss of life in Mumbai. Shame on you. All of you who killed this man, all of you who continued to shop as he died in your presence.

*I’ve deleted my original link to a NY newspaper’s article on the tragedy after reading some of the offensive comments that followed. The pictures included with the article show the group of people at the front of the mob to be Black. The comments are full of racist vitriol that try to link the tragic incident to President-elect Barack Obama. Yes, many commenters are implying that a Black president leads to Black unrest.

We knew, didn’t we, that every negative event involving a Black person would be blamed on our new president, didn’t we? Well, I did.

Watch and listen to President-elect Barack Obama’s victory speech.

The world reacts. (Slideshow)

While I don’t agree with the Iraq War, I support the troops. And I think one of the best ways to show that support is to visit wounded soldiers who sometimes believe they have been forgotten. I was near tears when the young men from Flint kept thanking us for coming, letting us know how much visits from strangers mean to them.

But I was struck by an elderly man we met early on while we were waiting for the escort who would take us to meet the soldiers. He asked if we were there to see a family member, and when we told him we were just average civilians who wanted to thank the soldiers for their sacrifices, he seemed pleased and began to tell us how amazing their attitudes are. And then he went on to say that everything we learn from the media is a lie. There was vitriol in his comments (which is always a shock when coming from a “sweet” looking old man), yet Harris and I remained silent. We didn’t think we were in the right place to enagage in a debate about the value of media coverage.

It was at that moment I understood the presumptions people make. Because we were in a military hospital, visiting wounded soldiers we didn’t know, we must be conservative, right wing supporters of the Iraq War. And it struck me how important it is to express that there’s no partisan monopoly on compassion for soldiers’ well-being.

You can’t start a political debate while you’re in the hospital. It just doesn’t seem respectful, in my opinion. But it’s more important than ever that right-wing, Fox News watchers know they aren’t the only people who support the soldiers and love the United States.

I recommend visiting the soldiers at Walter Reed if you’re ever in the DC/Maryland area. They really appreciate it. November and December are very busy months because politicians and celebrities visit. The hospital doesn’t allow food gifts, but we brought Starbucks giftcards and handed them to the soldiers directly. The hospital lobby has a Dunkin Donuts and Subway. We were advised that the giftcards there are best, because soldiers without arms and legs can go down on their own and buy coffee and sandwiches without relying on someone else to drive to the mall for them.

In high school, I took the coolest gym classes ever: fencing, golf and Tai Chi. I was ready to love fencing until I was paired with one of the most popular, not to mention attractive, boys in our school. He turned out to be a very aggressive fencer, and not at all gentlemanlike, so he poked me a lot and freaked me out beyond belief. And that was that when it came to fencing.

Watching what little coverage NBC had of the fencing teams last week, I really felt a pang of regret that I hadn’t pursued the sport further. The men appeared way more aggressive than the women, but there was power and beauty on display from both sides.

The most beautiful sport for me is rowing. There’s just something about it that makes me feel happy. I’ve been talking about learning how to row for over a decade now. How funny would it be if I finally did something about it when I’m so close to turning 40?

I have no Olympic aspirations or fantasies when I watch these events, but I have a strong desire to learn. Well, I have no desire to play beach volleyball or ride horses. Those events are just fun to watch.

And speaking of things that delight: We went to a free performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater a couple of weeks ago at the New York City Center (50th Anniversary Celebration). It was my first time seeing the dancers live (we had watched a documentary about them a couple of weeks before on PBS) and I was dumbstruck. They were glorious. And I felt inspired.

My sister was a dancer in junior high and high school. Yes, she was one of the elite few walking through the school halls in leotards with perfect posture and tightly pulled back hair. I never cared much for dance then and had a vague fascination with the very lovely male dance teachers who adored her. They were funny and spirited and more confident than anyone has a right to be. But it was a completely different world – I preferred being lost in other people’s fictional stories.

Still, back then, I never imagined I’d end up being a mere Watcher. Rowing, fencing, dancing – they bring me joy, but they also make me feel regret.

I do way too much regretting when I’m home, writing. I try to remind myself it’s never too late to learn the things I want to learn. (I also want to learn how to play the piano, ride bulls, speak Dutch and swim.)

Hmmm.

I will not learn to dance, but I’m planning to buy tickets to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform when they’re back in NYC in December. That will satisfy me, I think. There’s a bull riding school in California and I’ve added that to a long list I keep of Things To Do Someday. I haven’t ruled it out yet. My husband is talking seriously about finding a rowing class for me to take. He rowed in college for a while and thinks I have the stuff to do it. And fencing. Well, you never know. Maybe one of these days I’ll stop being such a chicken.

The second season begins next Sunday. If you haven’t watched it, try to find a way to see more than the first episode. It’s worth it.