The Writing Moment
I’m forced to my secondary coffee ship for my writing day because the primary is too busy. It’s a case of ‘good for them’ but also, ‘damn it’, which results in a ‘c’est le vie’ tie.
In the secondary, I’m reduced to my tertiary favorite spot. I call it ‘The Chilly Corner’ because it’s the chilliest space in the coffee shop. Poor planning on my end means I don’t have a piece of fleece to put on, as I often carry, even on the hottest of days. These places love to chill out, ha-ha.
Whenever I come to the chilly corner, though, The Neurons call up Henry James’s short story, “The Jolly Corner”. In a way, it’s apt; I come here to meet and work with my writing alter ego. There hasn’t been any hauntings yet, beyond what the muses come and tell me. I have had altercations with my alter ego, who sometimes complains he’d like to be out doing something else.
Too bad for him. Fortunately for me, he’s not overpowered me. I suppose I should add, not yet.
Sunday’s Wandering Thought
Conventional wisdom can get it right many times. But sometimes, you just need to flip conventional wisdom the bird and get on with what you think you need to do.
Friday’s Wandering Thoughts
Maybe it’s just me, but whenever I see a cuddle puddle of sleepy kittens in a photo or video on the net, there’s usually one staring suspiciously at the camera.
Thursday’s Wandering Thought
A clothing purge was conducted last week. On of the items uncovered in the closet was my military cap. Last worn in 1995, I put that sucker on my head.
Or tried.
It would not cover my head as accustomed in my mil days. I took it into the other room for my wife to enjoy. With a burst of laughter, she exclaimed, “That looks like a skull cap.”
Questions arose. Did the hat shrink as it sat on a shelf for the last 28 years, or did my head really grow that much? I might start measuring my head, track its progress, see how much it changes in the next ten years.
Aside
For me, my first coffee sip is with the nose. Having that steaming dark freshness clambering over my olfactory system grants a momentary lull and a psyche lift.
Tuesday’s Wandering Thoughts
My wife said, “I’m going to wear my blue sweater that I wore the other day, but I think you can see through it in the sunlight.”
I answered, “You can.”
“You could see through it?”
“Yes.”
“You could see through it but you chose not to say anything?”
“You’re very fashion aware. It’s a loose knit sweater. I thought you knew.”
Eyes rolling, throwing her hands up, she stormed off. I shrugged, guessing, I must be the asshole for not saying anything, and then reflecting on the entire process one more time.
We didn’t stay angry long; after being together for over fifty-two years as friends and everything else, we don’t stay angry. Act out or vent, move on. She came out, ready to go. She wasn’t wearing the blue sweater in question but a light blue sweater. I said, sincerely, “You look nice.”
She grinned at me. “Not see through?”
“Totally opaque,” I replied.
Monday’s Wandering Thoughts
So many products proclaim as part of their instructions, “For Best Results”. But experienced folks among us realize that’s a generality. Sometimes the ‘Best Results’ aren’t so kind for us. As you age and things change, so does your expectations for ‘Best Results’.
Sunday’s Wandering Thoughts
He and his wife made some plans for cleaning, organizing, and purging. “Can we do this after you come back from your writing?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered with confidence. He had other plans as well. He could do it all, couldn’t he? Of course he could, right?
“That’s been taken under review,” his neurons replied. “We’ll see.”
Michael Seidel, writer 