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Writing Companions

19 Dec

Herman is taking a break from his usual guard duties. The songbirds on the feeder just a few feet away, routinely attempt to escape the raiding sharp-shin hawks by crashing into the window. By leaping up to scare them away before they make contact, he believes that he is protecting me from the noise of them hitting the window. However, a fourteen pound cat hitting the window and shade makes much more racket than a four ounce finch. Herman also watches the drive way for visitors. He announces their arrival by launching himself from his shelf, landing with a resounding thud, and then proceeds to vocalize in the most morose way.

His antics can be a little distracting at times while I’m writing. However, they are sufficiently infrequent to make him a wonderful writing companion. He also like to make an appearance at our weekly writer’s group meetings. Often, he will sit on the floor next to my chair a vocalize so loudly that the meeting conversation is disrupted by his voice coming through my headset microphone. Of course, then I am required to lift him onto my lap and give him adequate face time on camera as well. This, in turn, has been known to spawn jealousy among the furry companions of the other writers within the group, each demanding their own five minutes of camera time. All of these writing companions are of the feline variety.

I noticed that in many of the movies that I’ve seen where writers are portrayed, they have cats as companions. It made me wonder just how many writers have something other than a feline as a writing companion. So that’s my question for you all today. What flavor of writing companion do you have?

 
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Posted by on December 19, 2021 in Thoughts on Writing

 

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The Gift

09 Jul

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I recently finished the second part of my summer vacation. A recount of the first 9 days can be viewed here. The second half consisted of various family members visiting the cabin at varying times. The first to visit was my father. The domestic CEO had taken the day off and prepped the cabin for our arrival. Furniture was moved to make it easier for dad to maneuver his walker. little did I know the gift that he would give me over the three days of his visit. Those of you with aging parents and grandparents, pay attention.

At the tender age of 91, dad took the long car ride quite well. I know this because he started talking before we got in the car Friday morning and hardly took a breath until we arrived at the cabin four hours later. This is the same man who said a total of six words to me during a thirteen hour trip we took to Arkansas when I was about twenty. Sure I heard some stories and a few jokes that I’d heard before, but I also heard stories that I have wanted to hear for most of my life.

Over the next two and a half days, dad talked more than I can ever remember him talking. At one point the Domestic CEO was watching a favorite television show. Dad and I were discussing the finer points of testing outboard marine engines. Dad went so far as to try to bring the CEO into the conversation. The CEO finally turned and gave me a look. Bless her heart she didn’t say anything, but the look said it all. “Would you two just shut up until my show is over?” I smiled warmly at her and went back to the conversation. The weather outside was cold and rainy, and the cabin is just not very big. The CEO survived and made us a great supper.

I mentioned a few special stories that I always wanted to hear about. Two dealt with dad’s experiences during World War II. The events that led to his being recommended for two Bronze Star Medals. I had done some research and read the commanding officer’s recommendations so I had some idea of what to expect. But…there is something about hearing the first-hand account that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand straight up. I also, got him to talk about his father whom I knew as a child but really didn’t know his background.

I’ve had several opportunities over the past seven years to sit down and have these type conversations with dad. They are all some of my most cherished moments. I have seen first hand how our society files the elderly away into institutions and choose to ignore them. The knowledge base and wisdom from experience that is left to fade away would fill up a super computer. It’s a shame really.

I know that I am lucky that dad is still very sharp mentally and I intend to spend as much time as I can listening to his stories. How can you not love hearing about history from someone who was there?

 

 
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Posted by on July 9, 2014 in Thoughts on Writing

 

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Everyone has a story

24 Jul

It is that time again where the world becomes a single spectator for seventeen days. The Olympics open this Friday and are a spectacle so grand that the entire world stops for a moment to watch. For seventeen days, we watch the competition, the emotion, the determination, the courage, the joy, the heartache, the drama. As a former non-worldclass athlete, I can only dream of what it must be like to step on that podium and be heralded as the best in the world. To represent one’s country on such a grand stage must be a moment of a lifetime.

The competition is exciting and dramatic as it should be. However, the part of the television broadcasts that I enjoy most are the personal stories about the athletes. Every athlete has a unique and interesting story about who they are and how they became the best they can be. They all had major sacrifices and overcame huge obstacles. All have interesting character traits. They had support from various people and had their share of rivals who tried to keep them from realizing their dreams. They have finally made to the pinnacle of their sport, a few short days, hours, minutes, seconds, and even hundredths of seconds away from their goal. Still, there are obstacles to overcome and anti-heros from other countries to vanquish. Their life’s journey is coming to a climax!

Does this sound familiar?

Before you lies seventeen days of grist for the mill. If you cannot find a usable plot or character out of what you will hear and see,… well… you will. I have faith in you. Personally, I’m looking for someone I can love to hate. I know they’re out there. I just need to put my twisted hat on and tweak their life story a bit. Oh, I am so looking forward to it.

So Friday night, with pen and notebook in hand, I will in front of the tube looking for the perfect villain. I hope to hear about your finds in the near future.

 
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Posted by on July 24, 2012 in Other Strangeness

 

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