If Charlotte Rhys Fenn could do it all over, knowing what she knows now, she would be different.
Charley leads a comfortable life with her best friend and perfect match, Michael, a man with whom she shares two lovely pet children (canine and feline), and a home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She’s fortunate to have a caring and supportive family, and two amazing friends, Inez and Becks. Professionally, she holds a secure position as editor of a respected healthcare magazine. Her life is settled, as is her future.Acquiring this existence of hers hadn't been easy. For at least twenty years she felt like a wind-up toy, methodically following preprogrammed rules—step one ... step two. She even imagined herself as a minuscule, but essential, cog inside a big machine with the mechanical brain. No matter what she tells herself, it hasn’t helped since another thought flutters through her mind as frequently: Going through the motions is the same as coasting toward nothingness.
It is 2025, the time is right. Technology, in a rapidly advancing world, makes it possible to reimagine the future by recreating the past or, more aptly, by creating another past.
Charley must either embrace her well-earned, sedate lifestyle, or invite a change that could alter her future irreversibly. It's a difficult decision, one that could destroy all she has endeavored for, turning their life not only upside down, but backwards, forwards, and inside out.
Ellison Blackburn is a full-time designer/web developer of fifteen years. Ironically, she often waxes nostalgic over simpler days. Her passions include writing fiction and poetry, painting, and collecting vintage thingamabobs.
Raised in Chicago, she relocated to the Pacific Northwest where she currently lives with her husband and three beastly, furry children.
She is a writer of fiction and poetry and the internationally published author of Regeneration X.
Raised in Chicago, she relocated to the Pacific Northwest where she currently lives with her husband and three beastly, furry children.
She is a writer of fiction and poetry and the internationally published author of Regeneration X.
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Ellis_blackburn
https://twitter.com/Ellis_blackburn
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/EllisonBlackburn
https://www.goodreads.com/EllisonBlackburn
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Prologue:
In 2028, we, Charlotte Avery’s sponsors, asked her to
publish her experiences as a Generation Xer. Collectively, we hope this
perspective provides guidance by way of an empathetic viewpoint and helps
others who may be struggling with their lives in a modern age. The time we live
in may seem rather impersonal and we want you to know, you are not alone.
And
while we all look to others for support, it is ourselves who we rely on the
most. In this story, writing is the avenue by which Charlotte organizes her
thoughts and addresses an ever-present listener, herself. Below you will find
one of many journal entries, which offer valuable insights into Charlotte’s
personal turmoil, and it may help you.
December 31, 2024
Dear Journal,
What am I now but a habitually
prosaic, rather stiff person who spends too much time in the virtual realms of
language without expression? Don’t answer that.
I’m glad
the few friends I have politely ignore how ordinary I am.
It
wouldn’t be so bad if I had a career, perhaps more creative, which didn’t bleed
so heavily into my life or I worked in an office with at least minimal social
interaction. I could use the practice. The fact is, my constant daily companion
is the machine grinding away in my head and its mirror image, the one behind my
monitor (and its babies—the devices).
I truly
believe children are innately happy and profoundly creative the moment they are
born; at least ten minutes post birth anyway—after the crust is removed from
their eyes and a smack on their bottoms awakens them to their new reality.
Suddenly they see what they have never seen before. Anything is possible. Every
experience is wondrous. Each touch, smell, sound and sight, innocent. In
essence, they are the creators of a new world. Even into their adolescent
years, these conjurers imagine monsters and fairies alike; believe in mystical
creatures and super powers; have faith in everyone and everything; even though
none of the ‘beings’ are visible or characteristics, tangible.
It is
over the course of more cognitive years when these impressionable minds are
taught—rationality and disbelief are synonymous. Sooner or later all of the
conditioning we bombard each young person with molds his or her once beautiful,
imaginative, and admirable mind (and heart) into a living robot who conforms to
the norms of our society.
Believing
this, I ask myself, “How did I end up here? Did I ever have control over my
life?”
Well …
up until 17, I was clueless; busy being young and growing up; nothing wrong
with that. Actually, at least I have that, those were the good times. People
call it innocence because there is so much newness to experience. In hindsight,
I’d rather call it obliviousness since we are unaware of the freedom we’ve been
granted for this short period of time. Anyway, all along, of course, I was
taught morals and how to be a good person in general; absolutely nothing
questionable in fundamental values either. It makes complete sense. We live in
a society and it’s so much better when we all get along. In this way, the
mechanizations are condonable.
Then,
enter the experimental college years, where all the big rules are set and
life-changing decisions are made. You can change your mind a few times trying
to find your niche. It’s okay, but in the end you must curb your creativity and
choose the one path which will define your entire future. I think we’re all
supposed to be thankful for the boundaries. So, like a good robot, I followed
the program and emerged optimistic, ready to be a contributing member to
society. “Yay! I can decorate my place the way I want and bonus! I get to work
to buy stuff and pay bills.”
By the
time I was 35 it was too late, so I was conditioned to believe, to turn back
and do something driven less by necessity than personal passion. It wouldn’t
have helped anyway, I still didn’t have ‘one’ goal I wanted personally, I only
knew what I needed to carry on. I was already formed.
When my
forties rolled around, I was an editor of a well-circulated magazine and had
just started working remotely. Conclusively, this is where my personality
exited and hermit-dom entered. I have been this uninspired person ever since.
And so
you see, I’ve been turning right at every bend since I was 17, the path of
least resistance. It’s my own fault for being oblivious, right? I wonder, what
would have happened if I’d taken a turn with my own force, skidded and slammed
into the future from the opposite side. But I still wonder, how many outcomes
are possible for one person when they play the game by destiny’s rules anyway?
* The following is recommended reading
for all candidates considering Renovation.
** It is also advised, significant
others should invest the time to understand the effects this procedure could
have on their current home lives and lifestyles.
no; maybe not
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