A Writing Lesson

A few evenings ago, I was sitting at my computer, ostensibly working on my NaNoWriMo work in progress, but I was really watching the stiff breeze outside scatter thousands of leaves in every direction.  Kind of like words.  Lots of possibilities, but I could not seem to choose the right ones.

I feel like baking something,  I announced to Amy. Something like pumpkin bread.

Since Stuart was already headed out to the store, to roam the aisles in search of a dinner idea, Amy offered to go along and get the necessary ingredients for the pumpkin bread. 

You stay, mama, she told me. Try to get your writing done.

I continued to stare at the leaves, thousands of them, and I realized that I needed to embrace  the luxury of NaNoWriMo:  That all words are good words. The goal is quantity, and not quality, so much.  This is an uncomfortable concept for me.  Normally when I write, I tend to choose words carefully, and use them very sparingly.

It wasn't long before Stuart and Amy were home, and I was actually writing away.  Amy called to me from the kitchen.

Come here mama, I have a surprise for you!

A reward?  For working so hard?  I imagined the possibilities.  Chocolate perhaps, or some flowers?

And then Amy handed me a butternut squash.

I know how much you wanted to grow these in the garden this year, and how disappointed you were when you had actually planted acorn squash instead, so I thought you would really like to have this.

Her face was beaming.

A lot of sentiments were running through my mind just then.  That I love my daughter with all my heart, and any kid who picks out a squash as a surprise present is pretty darn special.  I am already imagining how good that beautiful butternut will be, cooked with a little brown sugar and butter, and I realize something else.  That finding the right words isn’t really so hard, after all. 

Now when you have a butternut squash to inspire you.