Thursday, February 28, 2013

Back From The Future Bloghop


(Dear Readers:  Please suspend disbelief now…)




You're up before dawn on a Saturday when the doorbell rings. You haven't brewed your coffee so you wonder if you imagined the sound. Plonking the half-filled carafe in the sink, you go to the front door and cautiously swing it open. No one there. As you cast your eyes to the ground, you see a parcel addressed to you ... from you.
You scoop it up and haul it inside, sensing something legitimate despite the extreme oddness of the situation. Carefully, you pry it open. Inside is a shoebox -- sent from ten years in the future -- and it's filled with items you have sent yourself.

What's in it?

 I pried open the lid of the box to find two envelopes and a very nicely knitted crème slouch hat:  The first letter was plain, white simple stationary with “Jill” written on the front and “Read This First” scrawled across it in what I recognized as my own loopy script.  The other envelope was a rather dusty and dirty business sized affair, with a cancelled stamp and other markings signifying it had made its rounds through the mail. It was addressed to me. 

Curious, I opened the envelope marked “Read this First!” and began to read.  It said:

Dear Jill.

I found this letter stuck behind the fridge and thought it looked important.  Being the superstitious type, I thought perhaps its contents might change our future life so with great effort I sent it to you through time and space.  I’ll not tell you anything I know about your/our future lest you screw it all up except this:  Under no circumstance should you get that pixie hair cut you are considering!  And since you never take anyone’s advice, I’ve sent along the hat.

Take good care.  Your family is well.
You/ Me

I regarded the other letter.  The return address was smudged and faded, though I could just make out the words “New York”.  It was from February 26, 2013.  What news could it hold?  Would it really change my life?  I opened it and read.

Dear Ms. Haugh,
Thank you for your recent query regarding representation, which we have now had an opportunity to consider.  Unfortunately, I don’t think our agency is going to be a right fit for your manuscript.  Many thanks and good luck in your endeavor.

Betista Readmore
Bigdeal Literary Agency

I picked up the phone and made a three o’clock appointment for a haircut.  I brought the hat—just in case.

~Just Jill
 

45 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by Sara! Hope I didn't bum you out.
      ~Just Jill

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  2. Oh, I'd stick that letter back behind the fridge. And I love pixie haircuts. Go for it. :))

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    1. Technically, that letter would have already been stuck behind the fridge...That's where I found it ten years later.
      Thanks for stopping by. I shall consider the pixie but I think it will make me look like a big man.
      ~Just Jill

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  3. This was very cute! It was great how you tied both letters together, and it never hurts to bring a hat to a haircut appointment!

    Julie

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    1. Hi Julie, Thanks so much for stopping by!
      Are you speaking from experience?
      ~Just Jill

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  4. Lol. Although I might start hiding all my rejection letters behind the fridge... it seems as good a place as any for them!

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    1. I use them for toilet paper.
      (Ouch)
      Thanks for stoppoing by!
      ~Just Jill

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  5. Very cute. Maybe this is the beginning of a new book...or a bad haircut.

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    1. Hi Rosi, Thanks for stopping by. Always nice to hear from you.
      My worse haircut was a permed mullet back in the eighties.
      Yoiks.
      ~Just Jill

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  6. 'Under no circumstance should you get that pixie hair cut you are considering!'

    Loooooove thiiiiiis. (To be read in sing-song.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for shootin' from the hip!
      ~Just Jill

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  7. I'm sure the haircut turns out just fine. Though you also probably look adorable in that hat too.

    Thanks for joining the fest!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Nicki. It's been fun!
      ~Just Jill

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  8. I would definitely stick the letter behind the fridge! and get the haircut and wear the hate! Hair grows back and hats are meant to be worn!
    Have a great weekend, and Happy writing!

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  9. Thanks for the advice and for stopping by!
    ~Just Jill

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  10. The hair will be fab.

    The letter was kind of sad. Bet you get another at some point that offers a contract. :)

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    Replies
    1. I'll chicken out on the pixie. Just fiction after all...

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  11. haha. love that your future self sent you that hat. I think your haircut's going to be just fabulous though.

    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the vote of confidence, and thanks for stopping by!
      ~Just Jill

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  12. I cracked up about the pixie hair cut and the hat! I bet both would look great. :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the optomistic viewpoint, Julie!
      ~Just Jill

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  13. I really enjoyed this. But ya know, it's pretty bad when someone is too stubborn to even accept advise from one's own older, and hopefully wiser, self...

    I wish someone had warned me against getting MY last pixie cut. Thanks goodness, it's all grown out again.

    Count me in as your newest groupie. Nice to meetcha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Like I always say..."What do I know?"
      Thanks for stopping by. Loved your site too!
      (I was inspired by your email badge to put on one of my own!)
      ~Just Jill

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  14. I'm sure the hair will turn out just fine...
    The two letters are linked in some way... that was a nice touch!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Michelle!
      ~Just Jill

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  15. Well done! Deftly done! Enjoyable - and I wasn't expecting it! Thank you for a discreet grin, too ('Bigdeal' literary agency...) Always something enjoyable to sample. But don't get that pixie cut. Buy the diamond instead...

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    1. Ooh! I don't think I've ever been "deft" before. I like it!
      Thanks for stopping 'round, Diana.
      ~Just Jill

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  16. Replies
    1. Thanks D.L! Glad you got a laugh out of it!
      ~Just Jill

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  17. I'm joining the chorus that loves the pixie hair and hat!! Great job!

    New Follower here. *waves*

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    1. Hi Kitty, Thanks for following. I'm still bummed about the avocado!
      Who knew?
      ~Just Jill

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  18. With a strong message like that, I don't think I'd get the haircut.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2013/03/back-from-future.html

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Joyce. If only I had a donut, sans teeth, of course!
      ~Just Jill

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  19. I would definitely have got the haircut- no one learns much without mistakes, or rejections. I think future you lets you make mistakes because that's how your life turns out for the best :-)

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    Replies
    1. I would have to agree, but I'm chickening out on the pixie. I'm more of a giant.
      ~Just Jill

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  20. An interesting take on the future messages. Dropping by via the BTTF blogfest. Nice to meet you.

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  21. that was interesting and fun!
    you dont want any spoilers =)
    good for you!

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  23. Funny...but not too optimistic. I've had days like that. You could always wear the hat and Pretend it's a pixie :)

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  24. Very clever concept and cute story. Thanks for sharing it. Have a happy new year.

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  25. I love Back to teh Future. And hats. Do you have a picture of that?
    Happy New Year!

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