Mondays with Millie (cookie if you get this one)

We all have goals in life – ambitions, aspirations, and dreams, aimlessly floating around in our head like a springtime dandelion seed. Some are lofty; others are lame. Naturally, since I’m a writer (insert attitude and ego), I aspire to write a book. A memoir? Perhaps. My dating life – and family – would provide more than enough material. However, memoirs are a dime a dozen these days. F*cked up childhoods, overcoming illness, married a murderer…yeah, yeah, yeah. Save it for your overpriced shrink. No, I’ve decided that I will write a novel, peppered with snippets from my own life. It will be marvelous, and catapult me into early retirement.
In fact, I’ve already found my real-life muse: Millie. Okay, so I don’t actually know her name (minor detail); however, in my story, she will be Millie. And she will be amazing. As long as I don’t back my car into her again, as I nearly did on Tuesday.
You see, right now, twice a day – morning and sunset – Millie walks past my house. Accessorized in ridiculously oversized shades and forearm crutches, she hoofs it as fast as her eighty-plus body will allow her to. Even though I can’t see her eyes, I can still feel their determination and confidence.
Millie intrigues me. She strikes me as bold, brassy, and sassy. I’m flooded with curiosity about her life, undoubtedly filled with adventure, adversity – and amor. I imagine her younger years were spent being strikingly beautiful, yet daring and intelligent. She’s probably lived ten lifetimes in one.
In my novel, a twenty-something young woman amidst a quarter-life crisis hits Millie with her car – but just barely. Millie gives her attitude, and punishes the woman by making her come weed her garden. The two gradually form an unlikely, but strong, friendship. Millie teaches her about life, and gives her inspiration and direction. And yes, because it is a novel which will later turn into an Oscar-winning film (starring Judy Dench and Scarlett Johanson, naturally)…Millie dies. But her legacy lives on in the rejuvenated young woman who’s finally able to let go of fear, and live out her dream. You’ll have to read the book to find out more. :)