Years ago, before the advent of social media, I resolved not
to let a single day go by without speaking to someone who has as equally
creative mind as I. It’s been one of the
more enjoyable mantras I’ve learned to practice; and, it certainly has its rewards..
That being said, while visiting a local book store earlier
this week, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting a gentle man who performs a
form of artistry I truly admire. A bona fide health activist who appears to be as courteous to strangers
as he is to friends, this man’s hands and fingers move in a rare way. His passion is the composition of paper and
the artistic ways in which it can be used not only for affect, but also in
origami design. As a writer, I’ve always
been attracted to all things paper. This man makes it his art in so many
different ways it’s hard to imagine him not being surrounded by such beauty at
all ports and stations during a routine day. When I asked him about this, in
simple words he explained how and why he keeps most of his work in his
residence studio. It made perfect sense.
In addition to all of the above, he bears a striking
resemblance to actors Ralph Fiennes and/or Ed Norton. Take your pick. Those that know me better than most are aware
that I’ve always been a little star struck, and with good reason. In fact, that combination of physical
features is exactly what made me approach him – something I rarely do when I’m
in a public place and surrounded by strangers. So, for the purpose of this
post, let’s just call him “Ed.”
As Ed and I were talking, a second “character” came into the
café – and one who strongly favored another big screen talent who is the male
counterpart of a Hollywood couple who have
either five or six adopted/biological children and made his movie debut in a little
film called “Thelma and Louise” some 23 years ago. Unfortunately, the outward
appearance of this most recent café patron could be described as more than a
little “rough around the edges” with the recognizable trappings of having no
permanent place to call home which included the sporting of a ragged goatee
complimented by a long blonde and scraggly pony tail. The sculptured detail of his lined young face
and intense sadness of his blue-grey eyes clearly offset his attire – a rumpled
white shirt and stained khaki cargo pants that must have fit his sinewy body much
better in earlier days. Let’s call him “Brad.”
While Ed and I continued our banter on actors, directors
and their movies, paper, origami community projects and exhibits, we both noticed
that Brad began to exhibit behaviors that were noticed by every one else in the
café as well. In spite of this, Ed and I
continued to talk. During this time, Brad exited and re-entered the café at
least three more times with each subsequent visit becoming more bizarre than
the last. In spite of all of this, there was a harmless affect about him – a
characteristic not lost on those who observed him.
So what are the odds, as a writer, of finding yourself
sitting between doppelgangers of Ed Norton and Brad Pitt while the only thing
you’re trying to summon is your muse?
How fortunate is that? After living many years on this earth, my short answer is, “Even though it’s a stretch,
it could happen.”
When the time came for Ed to fulfill his next appointed
commitment, we both knew we were established kindred
spirits. I considered this meeting more
than just a stroke of luck – and perhaps that not only had Ed satisfied my
daily demand to interact with another creative mind, but also that he had been the muse I had begun to
summon as soon as I passed through those entrance doors of the book store.
Struck by the unlikely event of being in the presence of
both an “Ed” and a “Brad” at the same time and undaunted by what happened next, I
was able to put pen to paper for the next two hours without pause. During this
time, Brad continued to make his sporadic appearances, sitting at different
tables and continuing to busy himself by having, what appeared to be, an
intense and frenetic conversation with whatever magazine he was reading. There was an obvious hint of collective
compassion in the facial expressions of those who watched his comings and
goings. However, there must have been at
least one dissenter in the mix, because it wasn’t too long before the boys in
blue showed up to engage Brad in real dialog
as he was gently escorted to the mall parking lot and asked not to return
again.
My current WIP, Luck
Money, has almost 16,000 words of 5 letters or more to its credit. I’m more
than satisfied with the progress I made on it over the last week.
There is a scene in Luck
Money where the police are summoned to have a kind, but firm, conversation
with Remy, a quiet and unassuming character about whom they’ve received an
anonymous tip. Without solid proof, all they can do is talk with him to see if
they can glean any further information. As I set my words down, one of the
things I’ll make sure to do is demonstrate Remy receiving the same courtesies I witnessed offered by law enforcement to Brad. I
also hope to be able to capture Brad’s harmless affect, as well.
For years, I’ve had two writing touchstones. One of them is
Nora Ephron, and as her parents taught her and all writers know, everything is
copy. I entered this book store with a call to my muse; and, in the end, it was answered by two of them - in the forms of Ed and Brad.
As I left, I was more than grateful. After all, what are the
odds?
