Team Wet Dog

complete

It always feels good to finish something.

Sadly, I think it's a feeling that doesn't come around very often — generally speaking, we work jobs that are very continuous. You finish one task and another, probably related, pops up. The end of one day is the beginning of the next. Daily life just doesn't seem to bring a lot of opportunity for closure.

The times I've really felt a sense of "finishing" something have usually been attached to personal projects, something I could ultimately step away from and say "it's done." And like I said, that's a very good feeling.

On Sunday, I finished the book project I have been working on with the release of Twelve Dreams: a transcription. Turnout for the release party was pretty good, and I'd like to say another thank you to everyone who showed up - it really would not have been possible without you guys. I appreciate the overwhelming sense of support all of you showed.

All that remains now is the long and slow process of book sale and distribution. Which I imagine will be an ongoing thing for some time to come.  For now, I have the chance to step back and say the project is "finished."

I was remarkably nervous on Sunday morning and afternoon, before the opening. And truthfully, I'm not sure why. I had planned to say something, to speak about the project, but people came in and out fairly fluidly and the time never seemed right. I'm not much of a public speaker, so that was probably part of the nerves

Also, of course, most people who picked up a copy promised to give me their "honest opinion." As much as I want to hear their thoughts, I'm also hoping that I want to hear their thoughts. I mean, in the end, regardless of "artistic integrity," I want people to like it.

And frankly, I'm terrified of errors in the book — much to the chagrin of my editors at work, I'm a lousy copy-editor when you get right down to it. Ever since the copies of the book arrived, I've been unable to look through the damn thing for fear of seeing something wrong.

But despite all that — or, maybe, because of all that — today is Monday and I can really say that the project is complete. Sure, I suppose it could turn into a Whitman-esque endeavor where subsequent "editions" of the same title would be radically different (I don't think he ever really considered Leaves of Grass to be complete).

But for now, it's done. It's finished, and I feel good about that - I can step back and view a finished product, a thing I created and set free. And as much as I hope people like it, and want then to enjoy reading it, ultimately that's out of my hands now. What's done is done (in a good way), and all that's left for me to do is appreciate this moment and look forward to the next.

—Robert

(8/21/06) 
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All Images Copyright 2006 -- Robert Walton