the one where I wander aimlessly around a parking lot

Parking my car takes great effort. (Don't even ask me to parallel park. I think Lisa, age 16, knew how to do things like that. I promptly forgot.)

Parking takes deliberate effort because I am scatterbrained and prone to wandering. I park, deep in thought, and shop in my stupor, getting what's on my list but really, I'm working out plot points in my novel that would so like to be.

I step out the door and come to. I have no idea where I parked, and I stumble about, my cart full of milk and bananas and graham crackers, old before my years.

I justify my dementia, as I circle the lot, trying to land. Writers can be preoccupied; it's just an occupational hazard.

And I catch a glimpse, a flash really, of Stephen King, from the corner of my eye. He shrugs, shaking his head, sitting in judgment.

I glower and under my breath: "Yes, I know thinking about writing really doesn't count." He hears me, like only Stephen can, telepathically. He remains unconvinced, but I'm convicted.

I find my car, right where I left it and go home to unpack the groceries. I find my book (I use the term loosely) right where I left it and go to work.

I always knew that guy was spooky.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I can paint some nice yellow tiger stripes on the WRX. That would help you find it easier. You could use the saved time to work on the book.

Greg wouldn't mind, right?

-Stu
Thinking about writing trumps getting the groceries home. Every time.
Stu: I think I'm beyond help. We might as well put the GPS chip in now...

OR maybe I could PAY attention to what I am doing.

Kimberly: I hope you are right. It would feel good to see it get done.
Jennifer S said…
Thinking about writing is necessary, too. Inspiration can come at any time, though Stephen King is right that it most often happens when one puts one's arse in a chair. Still. A few laps around the grocery store (or parking lot)also count.
Wow - celebrity sighting. Of course, he couldn't be bothered by the likes of us wee ones, right? You're writing a novel! How wonderful. Spend as much time as you possibly can in that part of your brain. It's a pleasant place, isn't it?
katydidnot said…
this is maybe my favorite post you've ever written. the stephen king bit...yeah.

go. write. it does want to be, i will buy it for full price at some independent bookseller (not barnes and noble for 15% off).
stephanie said…
I get lost in a daze after grocery shopping, too, but for different reasons...(Not good ones, like being a smart-lost-in-thought writer).

And if you're old, I'm ancient. So stop it.
Karen Jensen said…
Keep thinking, dear. And keep writing, too!
Anonymous said…
Nice post, well done. And you can take as much time as you need to park our car...safely, as long as you need..., really, no matter how long it takes you have my support.

And we'll enable the horn so you can use your FOB to find the car.
\fixed

:)

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