Written in the Stars

This week as I’m navigating cataract surgery, heat wave, going back to work–I appeared on a local podcast, Written in the Stars, put out by Lansing Community College. I think it went well, except for the coughing fit I succumbed to in the beginning and my phone dinging from notifications. (I’d turned off the ringer but forgot to silence.) All good. They’ll fix it in the mix. As they say.

I think we had a nice conversation. I chatted with John Szilagyi and Robin Moore about books and writing and particularly flash. John asked an interesting question–about what got me into writing. It seems I’ve always been doing it. There were no outside motivators, such as an encouraging adult or teacher. If anything, my parents and classroom teacher tried to snuff out the creative spark. 

I remember my dad coming home from a parent/teacher conference with a sheaf of papers. Random writing from my desk at school. The teacher complained to Dad that I was fooling around when  I should have been working/paying attention. Dad handed my writing to me and told me I could write at home, on my own time. Not at school. Got it.

But that wasn’t the story I told John and Robin. I elevated books. The incredible stories and life-changing books I discovered (mostly on my own). Sitting on the back porch on a hot summer day, a glass of tea sweating next to me, and tearing through the Nancy Drew mystery series, moving onto milestone titles like The Outsiders, To Kill a Mockingbird. J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. A Wrinkle in Time. 

I could see both John and Robin nodding. We were all guilty of wasting time. 

Afterwards, the person in the control room, Spencer popped in to thank me. They said they really enjoyed the interview. I assumed this was normal. Robin told me I’d really made an impression. Nice!

I’m hoping they can edit out the coughing, umms, and little ding-a-ling. I’m hoping I don’t sound like a dork, or know it all. Things aren’t easy or super, but one thing I do know how to do is try. Essay. Attempt.

So glad I didn’t give up back in third grade.