Useful

“You know I believe we have two lives:  The life we learn with and the life we live with after that.” ~ Iris Gaines, The Natural

When I first really heard that line while watching The Natural for the third or fourth time, I was struck by its simplicity, and the kindness behind it.  The ending magnifies its depth and meaning.

Of course, it’s only a movie.  Yet, I’ve had the fortune of having met several individuals, who have blessed me with unexpected words of encouragement and benevolence when I needed them most.

The ability to make others feel valued, and of use, is a true gift.

The Poetry Garage

“You will find poetry nowhere unless you bring some of it with you.” ~ Joseph Joubert

Or, unless you check out the poetry-themed parking garage that calls Chicago home.

It’s easy to miss.  I rode past it several times before it caught my eye.  “How cool,” I thought to myself, and then proceeded to imagine the time, vision and care required to design it.  I imagined the people who birthed the idea, the ones who wanted to provide just a brief respite in the comings and goings of commuters, shoppers and whomever would be experiencing this construct.

It got me thinking about the things we build in life, whether we’re conscious of it or not.  We’re all building our lives into something.

I know that I have a vision of what I want for my family and for myself.  I’d like to think that each day, I take the small steps required to build it.

There’s more to it though.  A seemingly pedantic parking garage calls that certain “something” to mind:  creating a finished result of utility and comfort for those seeking it.

Monkey Pants

“Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace.” ~ Amelia Earhart

There’s a certain kind of calm resolve that life forges within the hearts of “creatives” who weather the storm of social convention as defined by “normals” over the course of several decades.

It often goes undetected but exists nonetheless.

Not unlike wearing a pair of monkey pajama pants to the grocery store.

Okay, maybe that’s a poor analogy.  Perhaps just to the curb to take out the garbage.  It’s a subtle brazenness of sorts, though; the kind that doesn’t require or seek external validation.  Nor does it invite undue attention.

(Just the kind the comes with being comfortable in one’s own monkey pants.)

Form Follows Function

When I employ hand-written outlines to organize my thoughts about plot and characters, it’s time well spent.

Whether I choose early morning or late evening doesn’t make a difference.  What matters is that I arrive at my writing desk, armed with a scene (or several) sketched beforehand.

“If I’m going slow I’m in trouble. It means I’m pushing the words instead of being pulled by them.” ~ Raymond Chandler

Chrysalis

“There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.” ~ Buckminster Fuller

I’ve begun rewriting my second script.  Writing feels great and then I muck things up by staring at the pages, expecting a magical finished product to have appeared as a result.

Getting lost in the process IS the magic.

Coldest Air Since 1994

Sounds like a catchy song title.  Instead, it is the weather forecast for Northeast Ohio, Sunday through Wednesday.

One on-line article ends with, “Winds will be blustery all night creating dangerous wind chills between -25 & -40.”  Seems to me that they buried the lead sentence.

For all the parents who coordinate the family schedules, and commute to work daily, it can be a little frustrating to “wait and see.”

Everyone’s in the same boat.

On one hand, it would be convenient to work from home (if that’s decided) and to learn that most schools have closed, prolonging the holiday vacation for students in the surrounding area.

On the other, well, I was (gasp) looking forward to regaining a normal (as possible) routine.

Yes, I thrive on reliable routines, I admit it!  *Sigh* Though a part of me would love to see the holiday party continue on for the little ones, the sensible “worker me” … not feeling it so much.

It’s 2014, already, let’s get on with it, Mother Nature.

Now … what would I have said in 1994?

That’s a different post altogether.