Pamela Jo Bowman

BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, MESA ARIZONA — At the end of the day, a loving family should find everything forgivable.
 — Mark V. Olsen and Will Sheffer

Tonight Ciera was teaching us the importance of self-mastery. I believe it took all of her self-mastery not to clock us in the head!

The poor girl. She has created charts to encourage family dinners. She has created chore assignments to make sure everyone knows what their job is for the week. They are color-coded and laminated. She leaves homemade notes in our rooms. She texts or calls us to remind us of where we are all supposed to be or to tells us what to do. All of her efforts have been, well, in vain. The boys ignore her and her charts. She just doesn’t know what to do with us. Why can’t we be like a “regular” family? It is hard to explain to her that a “regular” family is a work of fiction. Each family is unique and that is what makes them the most wonderful family of all because they are uniquely your own.

She asked the question, “How can we become the master of our self. How can we practice good habits that can help us develop good character and our own destiny?” We sat there for a moment amazed that a 12-year-old girl could think of this stuff. Saac finally blurted out, “Make a chart?”

I’m sorry, but the irony of it all was too much for me. My laughter bubbled over and I couldn’t move and yet I couldn’t stop laughing.

I think she learned self-mastery tonight. At the end of this day, I hope she can forgive us. After all, that’s what families do, forgive.

BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, MESA, ARZONA — I was writing a script for the opening segment on a documentary I have been working on for seven years. I was researching and came upon the life of two very inspiring people who lived 400 years ago. Thus has begun another new project.

In the process of researching and writing, I begin to imagine and envision different actors who I feel could portray the characters. I begin to research what the actors have done, what their point of view is, what projects inspire and motivate them. One actor that makes me believe in the characters he plays is William Hurt. Even though I can’t imagine him in any of the characters in any of our screenplays, I googled him anyway. In one of the articles I read, he was asked about his idea on the meaning of life. He is quoted as saying, “There’s fear or faith. If you’re living by fear, then you’re always looking for security. If you’re living by faith, then you’re always looking for freedom.”

I knew there was a reason why I liked his acting. After reading that, I believe I would like him as a friend as well … which brought up another thought … why are we are attracted to certain people and certain ideas? And then the research begins again, as does the conversation at work.

I tell Cyndi, “Stop talking! We need to keep working.” She looks at me with surprise and responds, “You are hurting me. This is working!!”

Good to know. Researching … working.