So, I went for a drive the other night. Just kind of zig-zagged around town, with the heat on my feet, my sunroof open, and my I-pod blasting. I started the drive with some upbeat tunes (Kesha, Taio Cruz, Usher, I think there was an AC/DC song in the mix) and somehow ended the ride with the likes of "Hold on to the Night" (Richard Marx), "Fields of Gold" (Sting), and "Fade into you" (Mazzy Star). I was actually tearing up at one point. I'm not entirely sure how it happened. I did drive by a few old haunts....and I mean "haunts" literally. I never realized how many places I thought were haunted when I was a kid. The basement of the house I grew up in, the basement of an old friend's house, the basement of my secondary elementary school (which no longer exists....but the gas station where it used to be had an eerie glow...?) It's not just basements...I know there's a theme there.
I also drove by my old junior high, which had just recently been gutted by a fire. The rumor was that they were going to tear it down...on the fence, off the fence...but the fire sealed the deal. Kind of sad, actually. On my way to drive by my old highschool (still in working order, btw) I drove by Hilltop Lanes Bowling alley - where I spent MANY good times in my youth. It was CLOSED!!! Abondoned...sad and lonely and just sitting there, dilapidated...there was a broken window.... I guess, in retrospect, this was towards the end of my drive bringing on my onslaught of sad, slow songs. Nostalgia. Does anyone else have a soundtrack to yours?
So, why do I bring any of this up? Well, I was interested to see what kind of songs, images, people, places or things inspire one to write. And then I thought that I just might need to have some kind of order/schedule for this whole blogging thing. And here's what I came up with: Find the Story Fridays!! I'm posting early this week (what I'm calling, "Start the story Sunday") so, I hope you like it. If it's completely lame...feel free to comment. I'm not above constructive criticism.....or am I? :)
But, I'm posting an image here that I snapped last fall on a trip to England (my first!!! LOVED it!!) It evokes a story, I believe. What do you think when you look at it? How would this face fit into a story? Are you getting anything? Hope so!
Got it? Now write!
4 comments:
I love this. There are several songs and places that I love to visit, just the nostalgia on growing up, meeting my husband. So many places to inspire.
As far as writing, sometimes music, if I find the perfect song, but nature and old buildings has a way of making me write a lot. Flat open land, an empty slate, I can create anything I want with a blank slate.
Hi Donea,
This post made me feel nostalgic for my hometown (I'm a Midwest girl living in Colorado).
LOVE the photo from England!
By the way, I saw your comment on Mike J. Ware's blog and wanted to become your next follower :)
Hey Jen - glad you like it! I love the blank slate - an open end to create just about anything!
Hi Jess - welcome, welcome!!! Very happy to have a new follower :)
Aw, I feel the nostalgia when I go through my hometown. I used to go back to my high school and judge Forensics Tournaments and go to the plays. I haven't been back in years, though. I bet its nice to just drive in the crisp autumn air with your music playing!
I love Stonehenge- I went to Europe in high school and got to go. Seeing your picture brings back memories of it! My friends and I took mentos and took silly pictures in front of all those historic monuments- like those mentos commercials.
I love the story idea too! I bet it will help a lot with people doing NaNo.
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