Robert Gale Ongley

Month: January 2021

  • LIFE IN THE LABYRINTH–FINDING YOUR WAY HOME

    As a writer, I know that every project leads me through a virtual labyrinth which I must resolve to reach my destination. I’ll know the destination when I see it. I have a concept of it in my mind. In the longer works, such as a novel, I even have a road map (also known as an outline) to help me find my way. However, there’s one factor that’s key to making it through the labyrinth, maybe the most important of all. I have to trust the inner storyteller who is leading me from station to station, armed with ideas and inspiration.

    The Inner Guide

    I fully believe there lies within the creator of art, no matter the discipline, some awareness of the final product which the creator strives to produce. It isn’t just the final product. We usually have a goal for a project and can imagine how it will be when the finish line is reached. It’s as though one’s intuition can be tapped and if followed will bring the artist through the necessary changes to the satisfactory conclusion. This inner guide knows the key points that need to be touched in order for the work to unfold as it should for maximum effect.

    Maybe there’s a deep sense of the finished product from the beginning, but I tend to believe that, like a puzzle, the pieces have to be discovered one at a time. Without the framework in place, the details of the interior are more or less guesswork. I don’t see this as a hard and fast rule. Works of art can come about in a variety of ways, but I would say we usually work our way through them with a progression of ideas coming to the surface that flesh out and develop our creation. The point is this. There’s the inner tactician putting this all together along the way on a subconscious level, probably even working when we’re sleeping.

    Art in Action

    Television artist and instructor Bob Ross said something to the effect that he never knew exactly how a painting started at the outset of his broadcast would turn out. He said he had a general idea and what colors he would use, but he didn’t work out all the steps from A to Z. This was evident when he would say–and I paraphrase–“How about if we put a tree right here?” It was an idea that popped into his head as part of the process. Typical, right? It’s just a basic example of our creative process.

    It goes deeper than that, though. Bringing the project home requires this willingness to go with the flow. If we have it all taped out before we start and we stick to the plan with no allowance for diversions down different passageways of the labyrinth, we deny our art a certain richness. We deny it life and vitality. In my stories, I’m surprised at times when following the route of my outline, I write something that shines a light on a new aspect of the tale. It may open the way for new understanding of a character or it could bring the plot more depth.

    That small element, be it a phrase or sentence or paragraph, was written with one purpose in mind, but it couldn’t have been more effective for introducing a whole new dimension to the story if it had been intentionally done in the full light of consciousness. I’m convinced that another level of consciousness was at work that brought me to the stage where the element mentioned above was perfectly placed to import the new phase of the story from a reservoir of ideas usually below my awareness.

    Writing fiction is how I came to realize this phenomena. I want to emphasize, though, that I’m quite sure it applies to all kinds of writing and all kinds of art. In creating a dance routine, the choreographer will lay out how it may go and in the process be struck with a new step that will dazzle. A composer may come up with a brilliant melody and in so doing write a sequence that almost magically leads to a counter to the melody that fairly takes the breath away.

    My Giveaway Takeaway

    We may view this part of ourselves that lives above the sleep horizon, that walks and talks and eats, as the sole proprietor of our persona of artiste. Maybe it’s true, but still we don’t have much of a clue as to the depth of our own minds. We should accept that we’re getting help from subliminal forces which are in league with our highest aspirations. Sometimes, perhaps, we’re more proficient when we allow all parts of our minds and being a role in finding our way home.

  • A WAVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE (OF COVID, THAT IS)

    Well, it happened. I came down with a formidable illness and a week later I tested positive for COVID-19. I had taken a few risks since March of last year and skated through. I mostly followed quarantine protocols, though. Christmas presented a couple significant exposures, but it’s really unknown how I got it. I was definitely sick in a way that was different from anything I’d ever experienced before, so the positive test result wasn’t really a surprise, but it was nonetheless a shock. I thought I might have it, but the actual confirmation of being in the throes of the dreaded virus was a surreal development I could not easily accept.

    It All Started When…

    On or about New Year’s Day, I noticed I had chills. I was also coughing more than usual. The fact is, I’d been struggling for months with a mostly morning routine of having to clear my throat a lot and it usually culminated with a less than satisfying cough. So, the increased coughing and dry tendency of it didn’t mean that much. The fever got my attention, though. I had hardly developed a temperature in my life, so that seemed significant. I started taking my temperature at home, but for the first few days it was mainly in the 99-100 degree range. Unfortunately, it persisted and climbed up to 100.7 at one point. I started feeling pretty miserable with very low energy. It felt like influenza, but I have had the flu only a few times and I had received a flu shot as a precaution in November.

    I called the NurseLine provided by my health insurance carrier. I hadn’t really sunk into the depths yet and after a thorough conversation about my condition, the nurse didn’t think I needed further evaluation yet. My temperature was still in the 90s, the cough was still light and no other symptoms had surfaced. After a couple more days, however, my worsening condition prompted another NurseLine call. Now they recommended contacting my primary care physician’s office, who then set me up for a virtual examination the next day. The nurse practitioner there interviewed me and suggested a Covid test. I went in that day, January 8th. On the 10th, a Sunday, the nurse practitioner called me with the results. I was infected.

    Moanin’ and Groanin’

    By that time, my sickness was peaking. I didn’t know that, though. I was feeling plenty bad–that I did know. The fever was over 100. Chills and occasional sweating made me keep wrapped up almost constantly. I was moving slow and with tremendous effort, as extreme fatigue had set in. Sitting down and getting up or sometimes just changing position elicited a moan or groan. My muscles and joints ached. On top of that, my skin felt overly sensitive to the touch. It was as though the nerve endings were inflamed and touch might set my body on fire. A touch of diarrhea, a runny nose and a lack of appetite made my misery complete. Oh, and one more thing. Intermittently, I had bluish-colored hands up to the middle of my fingers.

    What I Didn’t Have

    There was good news in this ordeal. Shortness of breath never became an issue. I was worried that it would be, considering I’ve had some minor shortness of breath occasionally due to atrial fibrillation. My heart and lungs performed admirably while the virus was taking up residence in my body. I never lost my senses of taste and smell either. I was fortunate to be spared a sore throat and headaches as well.

    The Creative Well Went Dry

    Not surprisingly, my daily writing and guitar practice fell by the wayside. I had no energy for it. I gave myself permission to leave the creative work alone. My hopes to finish the first draft of my current novel by the end of January were dashed. Oh well. I did facilitate a memoir writers group zoom meeting the first weekend, but I bowed out of the one the following weekend. I was back on the job the third weekend, though.

    Feeling Blessed

    Our country’s death toll has surpassed 400,000 now and worldwide the related deaths are calculated in excess of 2,000,000. The numbers may be rising faster than ever. We may just now be peaking, so there is still much suffering ahead. Hopefully, vaccines will stem the tide this year.

    I count myself truly fortunate to have survived this virus as well as I did. Considering I am in a high-risk category due to age and prior conditions, I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. Approximately 20 days out since my first symptoms, I feel pretty much 100% recovered. May I be forever immune going forward! And may all of you in this orbit be the same. Now that would be an ideal outcome.

  • WHAT YOU CAN TAKE FROM 2020 INTO THE NEW YEAR

    There’s a lot of talk out there about what a terrible year 2020 has been. For many, it’s been a year of walking through fire. First responders must have that thought, at least from time to time. It’s been a year of adjustments for most of us. Even if you don’t socialize, your life has been disrupted more than usual by newscasts that remind you of the horror of things beyond your control. Fear and anger, disbelief and outrage all have taken a toll on your sanity.

    Nonetheless, we humans are adaptable. We bob and weave as the punches come our way. We head into a new year with some lessons learned and coping mechanisms added. There are changes in routines, improvements in everyday life and new ways of operating that can benefit us in the years ahead. Many are obvious, hopefully some are not and a few haven’t been realized quite yet.

    The Obvious

    One of the first things we heard from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised us to properly wash our hands and not touch our faces with our hands. We had heard that before, but with greater application of these advices, cold and flu numbers are lower than usual.

    People can work from home. Who knew? Well, at least to this scale. Many businesses are sure to use this model more in post-pandemic times. It’s likely to save employers money and help reduce air pollution with long-term lighter traffic.

    Not So Obvious

    I recently read an issue of IBPA Independent, a magazine from Independent Book Publishers Association. It was the July/August, 2020 issue. The theme of that issue was coping and adjusting to the effects of COVID-19 on the publishing business.

    One of the articles illustrated how independent publishers can be more flexible than the major companies. For example, “Stormbird Press went from releasing four titles at a time to single releases that get full marketing attention for two months before the next title comes out.” They are focusing on increased reader interaction during the post-release period in the hope of developing deeper commitment to their authors, their messages and their titles. It is hoped this approach will be more sustainable than the prior program.

    For musical groups that are avoiding traditional rehearsal, there are online solutions. A church choir I’m part of meets on Zoom. Because the system has lags, we can’t all sing together at the same time. The director or pianist can play or sing and we can sing along with our voices muted. We record songs individually to tracks that help us keep our rhythm. I’ve discovered a better solution for the trio I play with and that is JamKazam, a platform that offers the opportunity to make music in sync. That will surely be used more going forward than it was before the pandemic.

    On a personal level, we can learn how to creatively deal with isolation. Some folks find it easier than others. There are ways of embracing solitude that might not occur to the super-social. For instance, sitting in meditation allows a person to feel a strong connection to one’s fellow spiritual beings. Expansion of the awareness of self to a greater sphere can bring about a sense of oneness with the universe.

    Coming Down the Pike

    This world is always full of uncertainty. Currently, we can multiply that by two at least. What’s coming in 2021? It’s a scary question on several fronts. A presidential coup d’etat attempt? Civil unrest or even civil war? Vaccination issues? Economic recovery challenges such as dying small businesses and unemployment?

    When we reach the point that it’s deemed by the CDC to disregard social distancing, whether that comes in 2021 or later, there will be a variety of speeds at which people will be willing to resume pre-pandemic habits. Going to social and religious events, maskless, hugging each other, eating together and laughing at short range will give many of us pause when we attempt to return to normal. How to act will be something to grapple with for those who were careful about observing protocols meant to slow the spread of the virus.

    I’m confident our experiences thus far will guide us through the uncomfortable situations ahead. With the possible exception of chaos and havoc the outgoing quasi-President manages to inflict on the American people, I believe we will be able to use the same tools we have in 2020 to bring us through the challenges of the future.

    Our Tools

    As a nation, we have learned a great deal about moving out of our comfort zone, about pulling together, about patience and much more. As we face the unknown, these manifestations of flexibility, love and teamwork will serve us well. May it be so.