Friday, December 7, 2007

As The Miles Passed: Corn Nuts and Columns

Hubby's eBay business took our family on a roadtrip to Oklahoma this week. After delivery of a pontoon boat in Kansas and an overnight with my father-in-law outside Tulsa, we picked up two cars before returning home. One was dollied behind our truck; I followed, driving the other. Since our girls remained in the truck with Hubby, I had several hours in a quiet car to myself. I can't tell you how much this excited me. No bickering or whining. No Radio Disney. Just peace and my thoughts.

When we stopped for gas I took time in selecting a snack I could relish alone. (Although it backfired; Corn Nuts and Starbucks do not a feast make.) Back on the road, I listened to a favorite Christmas c.d. and stewed over my various writing projects. The work I'd already done on my next column hadn't been panning out, but as I drove that day a new twist on the theme became clear in my mind. So, between bumps on the road and swigs of frappuccino I wrote out my new column. Yes, hand wrote. (Kids: Don't try this at home.) I slapped a piece of paper on the dash and hurriedly scrawled my thoughts. Vibrations from the road (and the car's bad rotors) made for a mess, but I got some good work done. Now if I can just decipher it all, get it into Word, I'll be good to go...

5 comments:

Teige Benson said...

For goodness sakes - driving and writing at the same time? You really need to get yourself a voice recorder.

Janna Leadbetter said...

I know, I know. I had half a thought to add it to my Christmas list. I guess I'll get on that...

Susan Johnston Taylor said...

Hi Janna, I found your blog through the forums of Absolute Write, and I've enjoyed reading it so far. I also added you to my blogroll!

Janna Leadbetter said...

Thank you, Susan! Hope all is well.

Off to take a gander at your blog now...

Melanie Hooyenga said...

LOL - inspiration loves to strike at the least opportune moments! I have a few of my own scrawlings from inside a dark & bumpy car. :)