Inspire

In November when I was applying for university I had no idea what I was going to study. Nada. So I was like: "Hey, what about creative writing?" There was this cool program and it looked kind of interesting so I applied for it. A month later I got my acceptance letter. I was thrilled but confused. Was I good enough? Was this what I really wanted to do? What if  they tore me apart? Question after question. Doubt after doubt. Day after day. You get the idea.

Then I had this kind of epiphany last night that everything was going to be okay. It was surreal but just weird. I guess this is what happens when your mind is racing at the speed of light at 2 in the morning. Did I mention I'm an overthinker?

A couple things inspired me this week. The first being this interview:



I really liked his idea of Plan A and putting your all into what you want. :)

The second thing has to do with a book I read during my road trip. I read The Sweetness of Salt by Cecilia Galante. It was really well written and I liked reading the character's perception of life and how she studied something she liked even if she wasn't sure it was right. After I finished the book I found the author's website and I read what she had to say about writing. Sometimes I have a hard time believing that even great authors,no, out of this world authors get turned down. Look at J.K. Rowling. Nobody wanted to publish Harry Potter to begin with. The same Harry Potter that is now a mass grossing book series! Anyways, Cecilia Galante said that she took it all very personal at first. Then she figured out that they weren't saying she was bad. They were saying the story wasn't right. That really resonated with me considering that it's one of my main fears heading into university to study creative writing. Here's the website: http://www.ceciliagalante.com/?page_id=4

Road Trip

As we drove, I mouthed the words to the song playing on my iPod. Occasionally, I pressed pause but kept mouthing the words. Silence. I often worried that I was actually singing the words out loud even though I wasn't. I spent most of the drive with my eyes glued to the window as the world rushed by outside. For spring break it was mighty awful weather.

When our little trip commenced, we were seen off by the rain coming down in sheets. There were clear patches of sky here and there but the rain had great persistence. On the way home there was snow. Who wants to drive through 2 states surrounded by snow? Not I. Luckily, it was only in one part of Portland.

The lobby of the hotel was packed with a university baseball team from California.  They packed the food up on their plates, ravenous.Some of the guys rushed outside to take pictures of the snow. There wasn't a lot of food left after they'd been through there.

I ate a dry piece of toast with a mixed jelly spread, quietly watching the scene around me. The snow worried me a bit but my Opa loved it. "The snow is so nice!"

My sister and I were squished in the very very back of the car. My knees were angled so that I could fit comfortably. The entire drive I couldn't help but stare out the window deep in thought. My mind rushed by quicker than the highway. It's hard not to think about things when you're on the road. You'd think that by leaving things behind you'd be free but I find that my thoughts drift behind me. They always seem to be hovering invisibly. But nonetheless it's nice to just be able to think and nothing else. It's a very enlightening experience.

When we finally got home we decided to pick up our cats from the kennel as well. Let's do the math: 6 people + 3 cats + all of our luggage= a car packed to capacity. When I think about it's actually a miracle that we all managed to fit in that car. The cats smelled like the kennel, sterile and unnatural. It lingers in their fur for a few days but it's nice to have them around. It's too quiet without them. :)

ROAD TRIP PLAYLIST:

1. Cellophane by the Left
2. Watching You Watch Him by Eric Hutchinson
3. Better Geography by Jesse Thomas
4. Someone Wake Me Up by Joe McElderry
5. Something Beautiful by NEEDTOBREATHE
6. Undercover by Allstar Weekend
7. Staring At the Sun by Down With Webster
8. Don't Act So Surprised by Letters and Lights
9. Revolution by The Veronicas
10. In The Morning by The Coral
11. In Real Life by Demi Lovato
12. Misery by Maroon 5
13. Morning Light by Palaye Royale
14. Beekeeper's Daughter by The All-American Rejects
15. Speak My Mind by Drake Bell

Friday

We were driving in the car this morning and a song came on the radio that I'd never heard before. I managed to find it. So here it is:

Random Words and Makeshift Mysteries

I started free writing today without an idea or sense of direction. It felt odd but it was kind of amazing. I had an actual story forming at my fingertips and making it up as I went was fun! Usually I have to have a mental brainstorm. Now I've learned that by just writing you can get a good story out of it as well. :)
I once heard that if you have writer's block or if you don't know what to write, the fun of it is figuring out  what to write next. It's like a makeshift mystery. How do you know if something is going to be awesome? You don't. Or maybe you have this inkling in the back of your mind that it could be something incredible, that one inkling could push you onto that path. Enough rambling......for now. (Insert winky face here)

Have an awesome spring break!!!!

Childhood

Polka dot galoshes dancing through puddles
Chubby, little fingers outstretched in delight
An echo of carefree laughter
Breaks through the sky of watercolor gray
Freedom to run to catch each and every drop
Unaware of anything else in the world

Friends roped together by grass bracelets
Dirt stained knees and faces red from the cold
A warm and wondrous soul

The parents stand back and watch
Arms crossed
Laughing at the small talk
But really watching
In case their kid
Decides to grow up