Back To School Supplies

Every year I look forward to back to school shopping.  And not just because it means sending the offspring to school and having a full quiet hours to fill each day.  There's more to it than the anticipation of mommy time.  It's the new school supplies.

What is it about new school supplies? 

The spiral notebooks, and packs of new notebook filler paper seem to already hold the promise of anything and everything that might end up there.  Notes to be taken, and reports to be written.  Blank pages whisper with anticipation of the words to fill them in the coming months. 

Each pen and pencil eager to meet page.  To pour forth the wisdom , knowledge, and new skills to be learned this year.  New poems, short stories, and creative writing essays are there in your hand, ready to come to life. 

Colored pencils, markers, crayons, and glue sticks are there too.  Prepared to take part in the artistic expressions of students.   Standing ready for whatever educational project may be assigned. 

Oh... the new box of crayons.  I could go on for days about the simple joy of opening the box for the first time and seeing all those perfectly formed points peering back at you.  The distinctive waxy smell that only comes from this particular source and once smelled brings forth a flood of memories of new coloring books or the first day of kindergarten.  New crayons and I have a very special relationship. 

I think if we look deep down inside, many of us still wish someone would take us by the hand every August and lead us to the store to buy us a whole new supply of fresh school supplies.  Which is probably why I can never resist the urge to buy myself a new notebook or a fresh pack of pens when I purchase the items on the teacher's list of needed supplies for the year.

And yes, sometimes I even sneak in a fresh new box of crayons too. 

Just Write

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”  ~ Stephen King

I've got the reading part down.  I read.  A lot.  With no end in sight.  It's the "write a lot" thing that has been lacking. 

I used to write when I was younger.  Mostly poetry.  Bad poetry.  But there were a few flowers among the weeds.  Every now and then I even ventured into a bit of fiction, or a memoir of sorts. 

I constantly made up stories in my head as I went through my day.  Narrating what I was doing to make it seem more interesting, or creating fictional or fantasy stories to entertain myself while I did more mundane things such as homework, walking to the bus stop, or chores.

"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." ~ E. L. Doctorow

As always happens, life moved along.  I found myself with two children to raise and little time for writing.  It was a busy, happy time.  I didn't miss the writing.  I didn't even think about it during those years. 

Now the kids are grown, or mostly grown.  Either way, they are developing lives of their own.  They are no longer dependant on me for every tiny thing, and for every second of the day.  Now, there are spaces.  Spaces that are easy to fill with cleaning, reading, crochet, or a multitude of other activities. 

Such as writing.

I find myself thinking about writing.  Thinking about putting pen to paper.  Looking for writing prompts and exercises.  Making up bits and pieces of stories as I do dishes, laundry, or driving in the car. 

Writing is now something I want to do.  A drive to bring words to life.  Perhaps it was always there, and the blogging has just helped to breathe new life into it. 

“If you want to be a writer, you have to write every day... You don't go to a well once but daily. You don't skip a child's breakfast or forget to wake up in the morning...” ~ Walter Mosley

I've made myself a promise to write everyday.  For this purpose, blogging doesn't count.  Real, honest to goodness, pen to paper writing.  It doesn't matter if it's good, bad, boring drivel, or something with potential.  I will write. 

Now I find myself craving a notebook and a stash of pens specifically for writing.  A lovely, journal type notebook. Something of decent size with plenty of blank, lined pages for writing.  And good pens.  Pens that don't leave globs of ink or drag on the paper.   That along with a few words of inspiration, and some time to sit quietly and let my thoughts flow.

"We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to." ~ Somerset Maugham