Is it just me or does writing turn your mind to blubber?
Yesterday I went to my children’s school to help out with a project and discovered that I have become a blathering idiot seemingly overnight!
Picture it: a group of mom’s standing around chatting (looking all cute in their matching track suits and fresh mani-pedi’s, of course!). Enter me in my jeans and t-shirt (possibly sporting a matching baby puree from lunch), trying to make some small talk. The only difference is that I can’t think of a thing to say! I am consumed with my latest character’s plight. I mean, how am I to think about up-do’s and hot lunches when Sadie’s about to be sent off to foster care?
My mind is reeling about 10 steps behind each of them…you went where? last night’s homework was what? next week’s field trip to where? So I stand there innocently hoping that I don’t look like I’m writing my next chapter in my head. Crap. I fiddle around in my pocket fishing for a scrap of paper…a receipt…anything to write down a great thought I just had. Nothing. Crap.
All the sudden, the attention turns to me. Hmmm? How many cookies should we order for the end of year party? I try to do the math quickly in my head, but I can’t think. I can’t do it. My left brain has completely overrun my right. Noooooo!!!!!!!
So from now on I think I’ll just have a standard answer at the ready for when people have the gall to speak to me or ask me these seemingly innocuous questions: I’m sorry, you’ll have to forgive me – I’m writing a book.