Mandarin Oranges and Peaceful Afternoons
I’m looking out the window and the snow-covered roofs. I’m peeling a mandarin orange and am trying to savour the quiet around me. I’ve resisted the temptation to call family and friends, deciding instead to use the time to write. The radiator is turned up to full and Raj is curled up on the couch, enjoying the warmth. Emma has not yet starting demanding her dinner. I can listen for words, though they are still too quiet for me to hear.
(Where’s a muse when you need one? Not in chocolate; that’s a myth.)
I’m trying to figure out how to turn memories into fiction, real conversations into imaginary dialogue. I wish I had more experiences to draw on — adventures on pirate ships, on Scottish moors, in South Asian rainforests. How I would like to write real literature! Alas, my humble short story set on a Spadina streetcar doesn’t seem like inspired enough. But it has to be finished tonight. And, I have to pay attention to my punctuation this time. Did Heathcliff ever give a damn about where Bronte put a comma?
It feels like Christmas season. I feel like putting up the tree today. Actually, not once have I put up a Christmas tree since I moved out of my mom’s house eleven years ago. It’s probably time I started cooking proper meals, baking cookies and putting up a Christmas tree. Cultivating home. Maybe I’ll put on some holiday music before Neil gets home. There are only two CD’s to choose from: a Charlie Brown Christmas or A Swingin’ Christmas. Heehee, it’s November, but, because I’m alone, I can pretend it’s December if I want. The cats don’t care!
I have to finish my short story, though. And there can’t be snowmen or elves in it. Speaking of which, get a hold of The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, if you can before Dec. 25. I laughed out loud. If you can recommend more laugh-out-loud stories, please let me know. I like to make heads turn in coffee shops or on the bus. That reminds me, I was at Stella’s at lunch, as usual on Thursday’s, and there was a woman behind me who had a laugh like a vacuum hose trying to suck back something large.
Hmm. I just realized I don’t have a title for my short story. OK, back to my scrappy notes. Talk to you in the next post, whenever that will be. I’ve stopped making empty promises!
Posted on November 06, 2003 03:42 PM