Written by chickaywrites

It’s been a while since I have sent revision requests and PMs of slot release and warn increase to any of the homebased writers @ EPH. I also haven’t typed anything on the Papyrus dashboard for (9) Thursdays since this last post. I’ve been out of the loop and it’s only this week that I’ve heard about the new characters at the forums through the chief editor.

I welcome myself back to this reality.

One lazy Thursday after the loooooong break from editorial work, I had this YM chat with boss Neil. No, we don’t usually talk about work (apart from exchanging mod stories and café updates). This particular session touched on the “sabaw, duga, and epal” topic segue-ing to scary, but really, really good and respectable boss-editor-mentors we’ve had in previous jobs to our inevitable retirement (the jump from one topic to the next was not really huge if you would read the entire saved chat.txt).

I shared my thoughts (worries) about what my hubby and I could do to still earn on top of pension when the time comes that the kids have moved out and pursued their own dreams. We also exchanged a lot of the LOL and ROFL emoticons and one OMG with the sad news that one of the writers has already left us for good (RIP).

Long after the end of the chat, I’ve dwelt on the silent counter in my head. Two more decades plus 3 years and I will be flashing my senior citizen card! I lingered on that thought bubble for a few minutes until I realized that I still have a Papyrus post to submit. (Yes, some things never change. I refuse to list this down as a 2011 resolution because I will just ignore it in the long run anyway… I will still be cramming for a topic and I am consistent about that, so that explains it.)

On another window, I have this old, old friend of mine. I mentioned about the 14 sets of assignment threads I need to review, the invite layout for a May wedding, and the blank Thursday Papy page. He generously typed a couple of ideas, one of which should be talking about primes (prime numbers, prime year, prime of life).

The suggestion is quite timely and really interesting to develop.

Since I have emo’ed my way to thinking about the senior years or the prime of life for some – the idea fits like a glove.

***

I asked myself – have I reached the prime of my life? That point where I can say I have matured and bloomed. That point when power and vigor are at their peak. That point when I have totally been in top shape mentally, physically, aesthetically, and all-the-ally. I’d say I have. I’d also say I still am in that stage and I think I’d have a different version of this “prime” in my 50s (and I am sooo looking forward to those leisure years).

***

A few tapping of my keyboard led me to the definitions of prime:

• as an adjective – first in terms of quality, value, rank, sequence, grade
• as a noun – dawn (or the earliest hours of the day), that age of perfection in terms of physical and mental health, peak
• as a transitive verb – to prepare

Now that I am thinking more about it, it would be great if everyone’s primed for excellence this year. No, I am not asking you to change your (my) mind about not having a NY Resolution. No. This isn’t “new” at all, for crying out loud! Where the homebased writers of EPH are concerned – it’s about time you show us that there’s a bite to your loud barking. That when you call yourself a “writer,” it means you make sense when you sew words in place and your grammar is decent. That when you blabber in the caf and in your profile about things you know and are capable of, it means you’re really to watch out for (and not the mere annoyance that we all despise). Step up and up. Reach for that prime spot at work where you no longer receive rejection emails, revision requests, or increasing negative reps on your posts. Reach for that prime spot where the GCs are really used when it’s necessary and where deadlines and company policies are cast in stone.

***

On a different note, but still about primes – I’ve learned from this same friend of mine that 2011 is interesting because it is a prime year. Googling led me to amusing and amazing facts about this rabbit year: that it is a prime number resulting from the addition of 11 consecutive prime numbers! The numbers are 157, 163, 167, 173, 179, 181, 191, 193, 197, 199, and 211.

The semi-geek that I am who’s instantly grown fascinated with this pattern listed down the next prime years that I may still be witnessing if I lived past 80: 2017 2027 2029 2039 2053 2063 (7, if I include 2011). It’s also fun (and absolutely revealing) to point out that I went through seven (7 = prime, too!) prime years already – 1973 1979 1987 1993 1997 1999, 2003.

Wow, huh!?

Ok, you’ve had enough randomness today. See you next week, then. *batting eyelashes*