I spoke with a Brooklyn accent for the longest
time. It faded as I moved to New Jersey, then to Florida, but my husband still
teases me. The accent lurks beneath the bland cadence of northeastern suburbia
and new southern twang. It rears its head when I’m angry - accompanied by quite
eloquent hand-waving and eye-rolling. But it also slips off my tongue -
familiar and comfortable as an old bathrobe - when I’m talking to my friend of
over 25 years.
Sometimes my speech is like my handwriting - indecipherable. But my husband, my best friend, is both interpreter and translator. No one
encourages me and believes in me like he does. Even when I want to stop
believing in myself, he won’t let me. He listens to me moan, watches me mope,
and cooks me lots of pasta but then he gently guides me back to my desk and
sits me down, knowing strongly enough for both of us that the characters will
speak, the scenes will set, and the words will come.
And so, I write. Even
though it’s often gut-wrenching and mind-boggling. Even though it’s lonely and
isolating. Even though I’d make more money panhandling. Maybe my future holds
prestigious literary awards or amazing commercial fame. Maybe not. But when a
character introduces herself to me or a phrase so stunning shimmies from my
pen, I know I am doing what I’m meant to do. And for that, I am grateful.
I'd make more money panhandling too, but there is that chance we could get mugged...so let's keep writing :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you! :)
DeleteI love the name of your blog! SD
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was all the tortoises' doing. :)
Delete