One Peek! It's All You Get Folks.

Ahem... Ladies and Gentlemen might you be so kind as to direct your attention to me for just a few moments.

Ok.
Some of you have heard that I have finally begun work on a story that has been in my head for quite some time. Yes the rumors are true, after more than a year of bouncing around in my head the story has finally begun to come out.
As of this moment I have decided to give you all a peek at my book. I may give you small peeks here and there but this is the largest peek you will get.
The reason I am posting this is because I want your honest opinions.
What do you think?
Those of you who are reading this on Facebook; yes I want you to post.
People I want FEEDBACK.
So here you go; the prologue to my book:
(remember FEEDBACK!!)
Feedback means, tell if you think this is a good enough opening to pull people in.
Ok so here it is>>>>>>
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The dream that often plagued her was back in full force, it was no nightmare but it was unwelcome all the same.

1997
She could see the scene before her, a father and daughter facing out towards the green fields around them sitting in the back of a small black Ford Ranger. She felt as if she was floating, watching all that was taking place as she had so many times before.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay Cam?"
The warm wind blew against Camden's face carrying the scent of freshly cut grass with it, Cam loved that smell, it always made her feel as if all was well in the world; odd how a mere scent could do that. Cam smiled a little as she looked at her father "Yeah dad, I'll be okay. I'll do better I promise." John Stewart picked up his blue L.A. Dodgers cap and placed it on his daughter's head, his lips formed a smiled on his bearded face "How many times have I heard that before?"
She leaned against her father wanting to reassure him somehow but she couldn't find the words to do so. All she could do was let him know his daughter was there beside him promising to do better.
For a moment father and daughter sat still in the fading light enjoying the silence. It was broken as John spoke; "Come on, mom is actually home for dinner today so we're going to enjoy it as a family. She'll be upset if we're late."
He stood and Cam followed suite linking her arm through his as she looked out across the green fields "Okay." John was only going to be home a few more days, he was about to head out on another road trip. Cam was used to her father's frequent trips across America, she missed him but she knew it had to be done. There weren't many good sources of income around Kopper Missouri so John had chosen the life of a trucker. It paid the bills but it kept him away from his wife and two daughters, Cam always hated it when he was gone.
The house was warm and welcoming as it always was when Cam's mom was home, light emanated from the windows of the blue trimmed white house and as Cam walked up the steps her father sniffed the air appreciatively "I think we can expect cornbread tonight." Cam laughed and punched her father lightly in his stomach "Not that you need anymore."
John swatted her arm away, his brown eyes twinkled at his dark haired daughter; he had a little extra weight around the middle but it was only and inch or two. He opened the door for his daughter and guided her inside as he stole back his cap from her head "Go wash up."

The scene changed and it was now morning, the Stewart women stood watching John head out to his truck. The morning air had a sweet spring smell to it, the Aspen trees moved in the breeze but the beauty of the morning was lost on Cam; she wanted to shout at him to stop. She tried to speak, to tell him, but she stood mutely waving at him from the door as she always did.
"Cam." Her father turned from the truck bathed in the sunlight as he motioned her over to join him. Fifteen year old Camden hurried to her father, while her older self floated over the scene; watching.
"Take care of them for me, here;" he placed his hat on her head once more "hold on to this until I come back."
Cam reached up feeling the bill of the baseball cap, it gave her a feeling of security, keeping a piece of her father with her.
"I will." she said in answer to all that he had said.
Young Cam turned to look at herself, meeting her own brown eyes openly "We take care of them for him."
She turned back but he was gone, taken by an act of carelessness and Cam was left with a promise.
"I'm keeping my promise dad. Can you hear me? I'm keeping it." Cam wanted to tell him, but he would never know.

Its That Time of Year.

Why am I not full of Christmas cheer?

That past few Christmases I have looked upon with a Scrooge-esq view.
I hated the holiday and felt left behind when the world seemed to spin faster around me, it was as if the world was in motion and I alone was standing still.
But that has changed.

It is well known among my friends that I have never cherished any great love for Christmas, if I was master of my own home I would be content with sitting a tree in the corner undecorated.
I would only care to place it there for the scent and nothing more.
However, I hear there are other items with which one may scent their home and so were I master of my own home, I would not buy a tree at all.
I am sure at this point some of you are asking, Why this madness? Is not Christmas the highlight of the year? The only time when lights seem festive and we love more? When (most) families and friends put aside their respective grudges and gather together to celebrate?
I say you nay.

Perhaps it is the avarice of most people that put me off.
Perhaps it is the people who go overboard, their homes are not a pretty thing; they look as though the fabled Santa has vomited all of his left over decorations from the north pole upon them.
I am not saying that I loathe all decorations, indeed some may be placed quite prettily in the home and those I do appreciate.
Perhaps it is my love for simplicity that makes me look upon all the excess with distaste.
I know not.

What I do know is this;
I love my family, I love getting together with my relatives and I enjoy our talking and games.
To me; Christmas means nothing.
I love not the lights, nor the decorations, nor the rush of the general populace, or the frenzy that seems to overtake the people at this time of year.

I have given this some thought because once I discovered that I truly thought nothing of this holiday it unsettled me.
I now look at the lights and the tree and all the various signs of the seasons and feel nothing at all.
We have a large fake tree in our home, when my family decorated it, I went about my day.
I understand what Christmas is supposed to mean for some of us and truly I do think about it and find that I am thankful but perhaps due to what the "holiday" has become; it means nothing.