NEW STORY PROBLEMS? CHANGE THE SETTING

New story problems are like cooking a chicken.

You know how you’d like it to turn out, but that’s not how it always works.

When it’s your Christmas story, and it’s December 24th, you’ve got work to do.

Start with your story.

Better yet, start a new story.

At least you’ll have new story problems instead of the same old gripes.

By the way, who knows gripes better than someone with a December birthday on Christmas Eve.

It’s the last day of official whining for 2023.

New location for a new story?

 

New Story Problems For Christmas 

People have said all stories are the same, from the same beginning, to the same middle, to the same end.

The difference in each iteration is the writer’s experience and imagination.

Making sense?

So imagine you’re in your twenties and your parents divorce after twenty-six years of marriage. (Give or take.)

Ma has a new boyfriend, Pa is eye candy for local ladies working on their new story problems.

And it’s Christmas.

You live in a NW Portland apartment with no car so you’d be taking a bus to either new Christmas gathering, which is a passive-aggressive plan for the holidays.

Besides, apartment life can be a bonding experience in the right time and place.

 

One of the guys had decided to do his three year clean-out and give everything away.

His partner said it was a tradition.

Except this time the guy gave everything away, bought a car with a bad exhaust, and checked out in a locked garage before the new year.

Right up until then he was an image of a Merry Christmas. No one had a clue.

 

Adding To New Story Problems

Take your story outside.

Put it on a different platter, then bring it inside.

In the beginning it’s the wide open spaces with everything possible, but it has a particular focus.

The platter is more important than the Traeger, but the chicken is the story.

Move it to a new foundation and a smaller space and things get complicated.

How complicated?

You could forget something important, drop something that breaks and can’t be put back together.

You could cut yourself.

Then what?

 

Bring It All Together

One day on a walk I started a list of who loves me.

Maybe you’ve done that, too?

What I found is there are too many questions when you come from a family bigger than two kids.

It gets more complicated when you grow up, have two kids, and can’t imagine having enough time for another.

Luckily I was number two in our four kid line up.

My parents put a lot into their kids, starting with going to every varsity road game since seventh grade, then every road game when I played in high school football and wrestled.

For contrast, I was one worn out Tigard football parent when my kid had one playoff game in Medford.

Wherever you landed in your family, keep an image of your special day.

Whenever you wonder who loves you, keep your special day in mind.

But, what makes a day special?

This year it’s navigating the holidays and gatherings to spend time with the newest member of the December birthday club.

I need to coach her up.

Honey, it’s okay if your birthday presents are wrapped in Christmas paper.

It’s okay if a birthday and a Christmas present are the same thing.

 

The answer to the question when you ask, “Who loves me?”

Have you guessed?

The right question is, “Who do you love.”

I love December babies and November babies.

And Bo Diddley.

Solve new story problems by asking good questions.