March 2019 SOLC–Day 25
A huge thank you to Two Writing Teachers for all that they do to create an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write, learn, share and grow.
http://www.twowritingteachers.org
When I’m looking for inspiration, sometimes I go diving into my drafts, looking for a spark. It’s interesting to do and often I feel like I’m visiting some alternative me. I have to work to get into the mindset or mood I had when I started the post. Often it’s a jumble of sentence fragments, half-finished thoughts and photos, like a puzzle that needs to be solved. What was I thinking? Why had I started writing it? Why had I never finished?
Today, draft diving seemed like a good plan for finding a slice. I found the beginnings of this one. I’m not sure exactly when I started writing it, but it must have been a couple of months ago….although the beginning sentence sounds a bit too familiar! At any rate, here goes:
I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately–or perhaps unsettled. At any rate, yesterday morning was a cold, cold start to the day. I went out to the car to warm it up and pulled my arms close around me. What coat to wear today? I suddenly thought, Oh, I want to wear mom’s coat. I rarely wear it, as it’s a full length wool coat, but today that extra warmth and comfort of my mom around me felt like a good idea. In more ways than one. I had to go dig it out of the attic and even though it was stiff with cold, I stuck with my plan.
Once in my classroom, I opted to play music. Soon “The Rhythm of Love” by the plain white tees filled the room. I smiled. This song sends me back to the first time I heard it–or at least the first time I remember listening to it. It was December 2017 and Kurt, Lydia and I had traveled to Philadelphia to spend Christmas with Adeline. The four of us were in a neighborhood restaurant eating a delicious breakfast. I remember the song coming on the radio and one of the girls commenting how much she liked it. I listened and the music linked irrevocably to that moment. Now whenever I hear that song, I feel connected to my daughters, to that trip, to that bubble of warmth and companionship in the midst of a cold winter day.
Then I picked up my phone. I can’t get Facebook Messenger at school, but the notifications still pop up. There was an unexpected text from my daughter, Adeline,
and a notification that a photo had also been sent. I couldn’t see the latter until later, but the spontaneous heart was so welcome. Like a hug. I felt myself settling into the day, feeling less at sea.
When I got home after school, I remembered the photo Addie had sent and clicked.
I responded, and Addie answered promptly.
I ended the day feeling so much better, settled and connected, and oh-so-thankful for all the love in my life, past and present.
Nix the comfort zone 
Love that term, “draft diving!” Such a wonderful idea, and a great strategy for mining previous writing for publishing ideas. This sentence: “I listened and the music linked irrevocably to that moment.” Great choice of verbs! Thanks for sharing this!
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Thanks, Lanny! It’s funny how some pieces feel so urgent, then lose their resonance and end up languishing in my draft pile. I feel good when I can tap back into one and resuscitate it. It’s also fun to try to get into my prior mindset. Thanks for all you do with TWT and this challenge!
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Certainly a nice draft to revive. Hearts and hugs from mother to daughter and daughter to mother.
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You are connected. Congrats on the life you’ve created.
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Wow. That’s a great day! You captured ways people connect with loved ones when they’re not around so perfectly in this story.
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Thanks, Melanie. It was an accumulation of comfort through the day 🙂
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“Tidings of comfort and joy.” Comfort from your mother’s full length wool coat; joy from your daughter’s text. Who could ask for anything more.
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That would have been a great title!
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Just put the song on so I can hear it while I write to you. I love all the connections in here – you to your previous self, to your mother, to your daughter. No wonder you ended the day more settled than you began. May we all remember to connect when we feel overwhelmed. (Also, I’m loving this song! It’s great!)
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Thanks, Amanda. Now I’m wishing I’d linked the song! (head slap!) I’m going to do that now. It’s catchy, isn’t it?
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I loved it!
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Love the journey in this piece from cold to warmth.
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It’s definitely the direction I’d prefer to travel in!
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The mother daughter connections looking back and forward in time is powerful here…as is the image of you digging the coat out of the attic! So lovely 😊
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The mother daughter connections looking back and forward in time is powerful here…as is the image of you digging the coat out of the attic! So lovely 😊
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