Note Cards

I compulsively reread Ann Lamott's Bird by Bird.  Mel Sumner, my college creative writing teacher, suggested it and I consumed it in like three days the first time I read it.  The advice seemed poignant and funny, and really, what is one without the other.  I remembered a lot of what the book had to offer and it made me feel a lot saner about writing and life in general.

I traded for the book on Paperback Swap a while ago.  Since then, I've probably read it over a dozen times, reading the chapters out of order, blazing through territory that is comfortable and familiar.  I bring it up because one of the chapters brings up the subject of index cards.  She says that she never travels without an index card on her at all times so that she has something small that she can instantly write on if something notable comes up in her mind or in the world.

I've tried to start doing this since carrying a journal at school is nearly impossible.  So, I'm taking notes about the crackheads I see before 8 AM and all the little things my kids say to me.  One of my third-graders told me that I would make a great dad this week.  I liked that.  Anyways, I might start posting them up here just to keep a stream of content going on days when I really can't bear to sit down and bang anything out.

Our after school program numbers have been really low lately, but at the same time, the kids that are showing up all want to be there and are actively engaged and there are no behavior issues.  So, I'm okay with it.  It makes my life a whole lot saner.