THE BIRTH OF AN IDEA

When my pencil rolled off the desk and followed me out of the room, I knew that I had procrastinated enough, and that it was time to sit down and finally write that story I have been mulling over. However, first I needed to take a hike in the mountains. Up and down the mountain paths is such good cardio-vascular exercise. How could I miss that!

When I came home, I noticed some weeds in my front yard. Those weeds could be killer weeds, and definitely had to come out! When I finally opened the front door, a hornet accompanied me into the house. So, after trapping it behind a window shutter, I got out my central vacuum hose and permanently grounded the critter.

While returning the hose to my bedroom closet, I realized that it’s been a very long time since I vacuumed under the bed, so I got down on my hands and knees, and did the dust bunny hop.

That was a bit tiring, so I decided to make a relaxing cup of herbal tea, and while waiting for the water to boil, it was an opportune moment to check my e-mails.  Oops! my computer notified me that an out-of-town friend was celebrating her birthday, so I got my tea and called to sing her a birthday song, and have a little chat, before sitting at my desk to begin developing the idea for my story.

I found a writing tablet and sharpened my pencil.  “Yes”, I still write my first draft by hand. Then I had to sharpen my pencil again. Those points always break before I get to the point.

Oh, I promised a neighbor that I’d bake a banana bread for her party. It didn’t take that long to beat it up and stick it into the oven. While waiting for the cake to bake, I took a book of poetry off the bookshelf, read one poem. Then, I said to myself, “Boy, Am I glad that I didn’t write that!” Not because I didn’t understand it—-but because I did!

So, I could write a story about how writers avoid writing, because it’s hard work—-Or—-I could wash the garage floor.

Esther Blumenfeld