Do you think with your pen?
I do!
In fact, my thoughts come alive—especially when I’m writing with my favorite pen (it’s pink and squishy with a light that clicks on and off). Without it, I’m “thoughtless.”
Even as a little girl I had to have lots and lots of pens in all colors and varieties…they helped me think (I mean color!).
Last Saturday I took my favorite pen to the movies (I write reviews for hotels, restaurants, spas, and movies), which is probably why I don’t get more books written. Don’t bother looking me up, I use a “pen” name!
While I sat in the dark theater with my squishy pink pen light, writing copious notes, I felt a popcorn-sticky hand tap me on the shoulder (which usually makes me jump, but this time I screamed!).
“Excuse me, do you plan on doing that the entire time?” she asked. I think she was referring to my squishy pink pen light.
I can take a hint!
I left the theater to write some notes. My thoughts were bursting and my pen was flowing, until a young gentleman passed by with a legal-sized notepad and asked, “Can I use your pen a sec?”
Without even thinking—almost by reflex—I said, “Sure!”
I don’t know about you, but a “sec” is usually less than a minute—correct? Otherwise, he should have asked, “May I borrow your pen for an indefinite period of time?” To which I would have responded, “Absolutely not.” (It’s my favorite pen and I can’t think without it!)
For 15 minutes, he wrote and wrote while sweat poured down his face. He hardly came up for air—except for the time when he put my pen in his mouth. Ugh! I felt my boomer brain start to fade…my thoughts were evaporating. I rummaged through my purse to find some sort of writing instrument. Ah-ha! I found a tube of “Berry-Nice” lipstick worn to a flat numb and “Nude” lip liner.
Perfect!
I ran to the bathroom, checked under all the stalls to make sure no one was ”home,” and tried to hoist myself up—close enough to the mirror to write my notes. But it was no use…I was sweating, hurting, and my creativity drained right out of me.
I returned to the bench prepared to ask the young gentleman for my pen, but instead I sat quietly. It hit me! Maybe he’s a movie critic too or maybe he’s the next Rick Warren writing The Pen-Driven Life. Who am I to mess with greatness? I’m not sure what held me back, but I waited patiently.
After 20 minutes, he lifted the pen off the paper and said, “Here’s your pen back, lady.”
That’s it! You mean that’s all he had to say after he sweated, spit, and practically “stole” my pen?
What I realized is that I can’t hold a thought without a pen…I tried and nothing happened. But I also realized something else…I’m not alone. It seems that other folks have “pen-less” thoughts too!
ONE MORE THOUGHT: The entire month of August is the ONE LITTLE SECRET International Blog Tour for Allison’s second novel. Pick up your copy of ONE LITTLE SECRET now available online or at bookstores everywhere. Check out over forty (40!) dynamic blog sites where Allison will be “speaking” in August and feel free to comment on the Blog Tour Post-of-the-Day:
http://www.allisonbottke.com/mr_blogtours.htm
9 Comments
Such great puns…I love ‘em….I can think with a pen…but I’m never original like you…I do crossword puzzles with a pen..yep…a pen…and write nice thank you notes with a pen…but nothing original ever comes to me with a pen in my hand…When I read someone else’s writings…often I am inspired…but I need their catalyst…Pens are great…but the person wielding them has to be too…like you!
My pink squishy pen light just died (oh no!). Now what?! I’m on my way to read ONE LITTLE SECRET and now I’m “thoughtless” again! Maybe it just needs a battery!
Yes, that’s for sure, you write beautiful thank you notes. That’s so important, a handwritten thank you note! I save all of them.
You’re a blessing to me and so many others!
Hugs!
Connie,
That is so funny. Truly a Seinfeld moment. Especially when he put it in his mouth. How dare he! Unbelievable!
How funny. And he wasn’t even compelled to share his thoughts with you or anything, huh? Yes, I think with a pen too - actually I prefer Bic disposable pencils for most of my note making. I kind of panic if I don’t have a writing instrument at hand!
Speaking of writing, anyone here know anyone going to the writing conference in Philly next weekend? (yes, Keri I’ve had this brochure for months now and your email prompted me to just go for it!)
Dana,
You make me laugh; I been compared to what’s her name in Seinfeld (I don’t know if that’s good or bad!). Let me know?!? Yikes…I better Google her right now (but I can’t think of her name!). It’s a boomer moment!
Hugs!
Dianne,
That’s a thought…he didn’t share his thoughts with me! I think guys are different than girls. I would have gone into an exhaustive explanation of why I needed the pen in the first place. Smile! Bic pencils, huh? I’m a personality trainer and use “cameras” to explain the different personality types (now I just might have to switch to pens!). No test needed for me…Sanguine (squishy pink pen that lights up!). Yep!
Yes…I’ll be at the Philly Writer’s Conference (only one day–Friday!). I’m on the editor’s panel for two compilations–email me–we’ll talk!
Hi Connie,
Do you find you write differently with a pen than with your computer? I like to switch off from the pen to my laptop to my desktop computer. I find I am much faster writer with a computer - my desktop. But, if I want to sit in a comfy chair or at Starbucks, I need a laptop or my purple gel pen.
I’ll bet you never stuck that pen it in your mouth after that. Yuck. Then again, this just might be a good excuse to get a new pen. LOL.
Guess what? I still have the pink squishy pen light. Of course, I had to give it a bath in LySol (x3), but we’re good to go now! It was a real test of my OCD, but I passed. Smile!
Hugs!
Connie, all I could do was picture you getting out your anti-bacterial cleanser from your purse and swiping that pen clean when he handed it back to you.