Tall Blog, No Foam

(No Saturday blog this week. Just a short entry before we head to Vermont.)

Part of me is cynical about Starbucks, that mega mocha mecca that has so many of us hooked. I suspect that even the retro background music is coldly calculated to induce more coffee purchases. But I must admit I liked Tony Bennett crooning and Nina Simone wailing while I drank my decaf cappuccinos and drafted another book chapter on Wednesday.

This was not so unusual: I often maximize these child-free moments (Tom took Gavin to the mall) to catch up on writing, and my breakaway sessions have me glowing. But the days that followed my Starbucks interlude felt even more promising.

I mentioned last week that I sometimes struggle with integrating my writing into day-to-day existence. Just writing that activated a switch somewhere, and since then I have acted more like the writer I want to be. Writing feels more like a practical matter, and less like a far away dream. I have printed things to read en route, popped open my laptop just to add a thought or two to the latest chapter, and started carrying a disk wherever I go. I have broken through an invisible barrier, the one that saved "real" writing for the undisturbed moments that surface fairly infrequently.

I know I am attached to this book, because I carry a disk separately from my computer. In the unlikely event that someone steals my ancient, 20-pound laptop, I will still have the latest version in my purse. I had to create my own paper holder for the floppy disk (not even sure they make floppy cases anymore! Time to upgrade.).

Tom and I are married 16 years today. Another milestone to savor, but we are postponing our celebration. It's a tall order to get packed, and to get our little family + my mom, brother, and their dachshund out the door before 9 AM. There is little room for romance in a crowded pickup truck!

Until next Saturday...