Writing a novel

I've never written a novel...nor have I had a desire to...but sometimes I think of a good story and wonder if I could ever write a best seller on the New York Times list.

One of my favorite books growing up was titled "My side of the Mountain." I can't remember all the details anymore but some how this boy used his camping skills to make a pretty good life for himself in a rotted tree in the forest. I guess the freedom enjoyed by the hero appealed to me even though I've never been much of a camper. And I'm pretty picky when it comes to what I eat. Also I don't like being outside when it's dark...other than that, I thought maybe I could have been the hero in the story...if I would have only had a pocket knife.

I've also often thought about writing a story about a time traveler who wanders back into colonial times and is heralded as a genius because he invents the car, the lightbulb, the plane, etc., all before other people named Ford, Edison and Wright are born. However, the idea of writing about time travel has really been done to death. Still, it might be kind of fun to write about someone who changes the world dramatically because of some extra gift he or she has.

Throughout my life, I've wandered into people who have never had to work a day in their lives because their family was outrageously rich. I've often thought it might make an interesting story if these second or third generation fat cats lost all their money and had to start over from scratch. Man would their lives change. Instead of Christmas shopping at Macy's in New York City or vacationing in southern France, they could be like the rest of us and shop at Wal-Mart and spend the weekend at the local lake with a Zebco fishing pole.

How much different do you think your children's lives are from the lives of Melinda and Bill Gates' kids. As parents, we all worry about kidnappers, but think about the Gates...they must have five or six bodyguards protecting their children from idiots who would try to snatch them and hold them for ransom. Some times being rich isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Anyway, these are some of the ideas I've had for a novel. Nothing has ever come of them...until now when I wrote them down for you. Maybe someday they just might make a book. Who knows.