Hi Eric,
I empathize with your frustration about water leaks. We had a leak in our den ceiling that resulted in two gaping holes that took a week and a half to repair because it happened on the Labour Day weekend. I get PTSD just thinking about it because all our den furniture ended up in our living room and we felt like hoarders trying to squeeze into a cramped space. I agree with Nancy's comments re your caring. attitude toward your mom as well as Nancy's positive response to your new novel. I know that experince of having sudden discoveries and epiphanies that are exactly what you need in your writing process and at times you feel divinely guided. I'm a pantser so I'm always on the lookout for inspiration - yeah, like the robot in Short Circuit, I crave data. I also walk in the woods for inspiration and love wildlife. We live on the Niagara Escarpment and the Bruce Trail is nearby. We seem to also share the same seasons - as I write this the temperature is in the mid-forties F. and it's close to freezing in the early morning hours. I agree with your parting advice at the end of your post - the times are out of joint and the way we make things right is to find our own moments of peace and joy. I think you are managing that quite well :)