Four People

It is Day Three of my Writers Weekend. The weather in TC has been beautiful, though the predictions were not. It's hard to be stuck inside a little room all day when there is a pool on the other side of the parking lot.

I was nervous, you know, when I got here. I did all the unpacking, sorting, settling in and finally the time came for me to create the space to write. I pulled the table into the middle of the room, set up my laptop, opened a new document, and stared at a blank white page.

Pure Fear.

I had an idea of where I would begin with my story and I hoped that maybe, perhaps, hopefully I could write 15 pages in 4 days. I wondered if I would be able to sit still for so long while concentrating. I don't like to sit down for long periods of time. I worried that I wouldn't remember what I wanted to say and I was stressed about finding my writers voice.

I wrote 8 pages that first night here in about 6 hours. I wasn't concentrating, I took too many breaks, and I let myself go outside and read a book about writing. I did well, don't get me wrong, and of course it's going to take some time to get into a groove.

Yesterday I started writing around 10:45 a.m. and I made myself stop at 9 p.m. I was going to take lunch at 2 p.m. but I was in the middle of a story and finally stopped around 3. I took a 90 minute break around dinner time and went to the mall. My concentration was improving, I took fewer breaks and I noted that even when I was on a break, my mind was still thinking about the next thing to write. I wrote 23 pages yesterday. Twenty-three.

I'm having a riot, just so you know.

Yesterday I spoke aloud to four people and each conversation was one of courtesy.

Person One:
I was blow drying my hair when I heard housekeeping knock on the door.
HK: Hey, Good Morning, Do you need anything? New towels?
Me: Um, no, I have 3 towels here, but do you have a dish cloth?
HK: No, just that scrubby thing.
Me: Ah, okay, just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Thank you!
HK: Thank you, have a good day.

Person Two:
There is a Dunkin Donuts about a mile from here and I made a coffee run around noon.
DD: Hi, May I help you?
Me: Yes, may I please have a medium coffee and do you have french vanilla creamer?
DD: Yep.
(makes coffee)
DD: Here ya go and that'll be $1.60
Me: Thanks!

Person Three:
I forgot to pack black dress shoes for my dress clothes for the conference I am attending later this week in TC. Also, I didn't pack any shorts and truthfully, I've not purchased a new pair of shorts in 7 years. I thought it was time. I took a 90 minute break and went to the outlet mall in TC. First, to Old Navy:
ON: Good afternoon! Let us know if you need anything.
Me: (smiles)
tralalala, I walk around and touch all the fabric.
Me: (in the dressing room): I have four items
ON: let me know if you need anything.
now I am about to check out
ON: Did you find everything you need?
Me: Yes, I did. And thank you for not asking me if I wanted an Old Navy Credit Card (I overheard all the other offers to other customers and was dreading it).
ON: Well, I saw you already had your card out.

Person Four:
I walked over to the shoe store.
SS: Good Afternoon!
Me: (Smiles)
I am disappointed in the prices, but OH! I found a great pair in my price range! And I'm going to toss 2 pairs of shoes when I get home! I go to check out.
SS: Did you find everything okay?
Me: Yes, and oh, I brought my own bag.
SS: Thanks, have a good day!
Me: You too.

They say the average woman speaks more than 20,000 words a day.
I like to break the mold.