Mandy's Monthly: May Challenge -- "Find Roots, Plant Seeds"

Wow, we are in May already!?   The time is here for me to start defining myself in a whole new way. 

I've completed two monthly challenges so far -- the March fitness madness and the April literacy tasks.  After doing some soul searching this past month, I've come up with May's quest: "Find Roots, Plant Seeds."

Okay, what the heck does that mean?  I'm glad you asked. 

First let me say that the hardest part about "Mandy's Monthly" challenges is to continue to come up with new challenges.  I ask friends for suggestions.  I agonize over what to do next because I don't take it lightly.  In these monthly quests, I want to fully commit to the idea-- no turning back. 

Thankfully the idea for May came to me as I was reading non-stop in April.  As I completed the books of "The Poisonwood Bible" and "To Kill A Mockingird," I realized the deep emphasis made on the location (a.k.a. the setting and place) in each of those stories and all of those characters.  That caused me to think about my own location -- right here in Pensacola, Florida.

The truth is that I haven't felt at "home" in over five years now.  I'm with my wonderful husband and beautiful daughter, sure that's true.  But I haven't felt "planted" down in a very long time.  My family and I have been moving around since 2005, not staying in a single dwelling for much more than two years.  And I've become a bit displaced.  I never spent the time to really get to know my past communities where I lived -- in New Olreans, Louisiana, in Dayton, Ohio or in Montgomery, Alabama.  I don't want to make that mistake again!!!

In addition, a few months ago this great idea for a book came to me suddenly in the night.  I wrote down lists and pages of my characters, their relationships and what I want them to undergo and do.  Then I hit a standstill.  Now I realize that this is because I don't have a "place" for them to reside.  Neither my fictional characters nor myself have a real home.

I want to change that though!  And I fully intend to spend this month doing what I think will help me with this dilemma of both my real world and my imaginary world.   (heeheehee, that sounds so funny and dorky!)

Anyway, that is my challenge for May -- To find the roots of my community and plant seeds to make a real home. 

By finding the roots of the city I live in, I will better appreciate my community.  Doing a little homework to study my new town will be good for me.  I currently know nothing about Pensacola, other than it's deemed a beach town and has a strong military presence. 

After I do some research on this place, I hope to plant seeds-- both literally and figuratively.  Recently, (by fate perhaps?) my neighbors gave us several plants that I believe could jumpstart a small garden in my yard.  In addition, I have empty pots that need some tender loving care or perhaps some vegetables and herbs to call their home.  I know NOTHING about gardening or soil but I figure I can learn.  By the end of the month, I hope to plant something real to seal the monthly deal. 

So how will I do it?  How exactly can I "find roots" and "plant seeds"?

Well, here is how I intend to meet this challenge in May:

• Talk to a Pensacola historian and learn the important historical facts surrounding the city I live in. 
• Talk (and/or write) about any significant current events happening in my area (like the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill, for example). 
• Visit one local historic place per week in the month of May.
• Share any interesting findings, facts and photos of the above listed things that I come across on this blog.
• Discover new ways that I can plant seeds in my hometown through outreach, conversations and by literally planting a garden in my yard.
• Use the findings I make throughout May to help me further develop my writing, especially the "setting" for the story I've been working on.  (I believe I can learn a lot by researching a place to formulate my own screenplay, imaginary or real.)  

That's my plan and I hope to stick to it!  I'm very nervous though....  Each month seems to become more difficult and more daunting for me.  But I guess that's why you call it a "challenge."  It's NOT supposed to be easy!  And this will not be a piece of cake for me.  (But if you want to make me a cake, or pie, I prefer strawberry flavored!) 

However, like always, I will do my best!  I will talk to professionals who are willing to speak to me, take in my surroundings and be in local nature as much as I can this month.  I will observe and report.  Protect and serve.  And all that jazz.  

Who knows what will happen.... maybe I'll discover something really interesting and unique about this city!?   Maybe I'll be inspired for a new challenge in June and July as a result of this quest? Maybe I'll become inclined to pick up that story I started over six months ago and draft a real outline for pushing the pen to paper?  Or maybe I'll just gain a deeper understanding of what it was (cosmic forces?) that led my family to this city in the first place....  Let's find out where this new adventure leads me....