Another Day in the Country: The idea file
By PAT WICK
© Another Day in the Country
Ever since I started writing a weekly column, I've had this file folder on the bottom right-hand corner of my computer screen called "ideas" for "Another Day in the Country." You can figure out "how's come" (as TTT is forever saying). It's because ideas for topics suitable for writing about do not come neatly once per week. They come in bunches and gobs and if you don't write them down, they are gone.
Then again, ideas don't come at all. Whoa, that's the big fear! "What if I can't think of a single thing to write about and here I sit with a 12 o'clock deadline."
I can hear some of you answering, "So don't say anything. Someone else will fill that editorial space with erudite commentary." (You did say erudite, didn't you?)
"But I love doing this." I answer. "I love talking to you, sharing, imagining you with your cup of tea, (me with mine), stopping whatever you are doing to look for this column in this paper and perhaps smiling as you read — enjoying our one-way conversation."
Sometimes I get a sudden inspiration for "Another Day in the Country," and I grab a piece of paper and start scribbling. Most often, and I believe I've told you this before, the dye is cast in the early morning hour-of-the-wolves when I'm usually fast asleep. On Tuesday morning, I always wake up early and say to myself, "So what is the topic for today, Pat?" And then I settle in deeper and talk to you, in my mind.
Today is my birthday and I thought to myself, "Can I talk about that again? It just seemed like I covered this topic a couple of months ago. I don't want to repeat myself." Repeating myself is an awareness that I have. It's hooked to the aging process and that whole broken-record syndrome.
When I finally got out of bed and meandered to the office so that I could actually write this all down, I thought to myself, " Better check out the "idea" file. You may be forgetting something important." Lo and behold! The "idea" file was nowhere to be found. Gone. (I just want to tell you I hate that about computers. And excuse me, if I've complained before — I'm getting older, you know.) "What on earth could have happened to my "ideas?" I muttered. And then I remembered that I'd been cleaning up my computer, getting rid of things, organizing, trashing, in an attempt to get a little more "oomph" out of my system and evidently, my "ideas" (being down there too near the trash basket) had gotten trashed right along with the trash. Ah, well.
For some reason, in my early morning hour-of-the-wolves, a rather loose translation of a Scripture text was rolling around in my mind, "When I was a child, I thought as a child, I spoke as a child; I did as a child, but now I have put away childish things." Who said that? Paul? Someone gave that good advice, calling for common sense (which is a gift of age), self control (which is a gift of maturity), patience (which is a gift of the Spirit), and gratitude (which is a gift we give ourselves), responsibility (a gift to the universe) — I'm sure there are more very adult attributes to covet, but that's enough for today.
The childish things that Paul (or whoever) was suggesting we put away were probably irresponsibility (not getting my column in on time), tantrums (because my "idea" column was gone), hitting (the computer or the desktop), blaming, lashing out with mean words, pouting — you all know childish behavior when you see it. Nope, we'll have none of that! Nothing more disgusting than watching an adult act childish. Birthdays are a good time for a quick check and I aced the Naughty Child Test.
There are some nice-child-attributes that I do not wish to put away, however. No matter my age, I want to learn. I want to still feel the rush of amazement and wonder, the innocent sense of delight that a child possesses, thrilled with little things. I want to play and laugh with abandon, some small portion of every day, but most especially on this day — my birthday — which I'm so grateful to be spending in the country.
