Family gatherings are great fodder for writing material. Keep your ears perked and your pen handily hidden for those priceless, snarky comments from your stiff Aunt Betty about teenage Lindsay’s Christmas outfit. Notice eight-year-old Joey’s ability to find and sort his pile of presents in three seconds flat, even though he can’t find his books in his backpack.
But beware -- we writers are prone to ulterior motives. We want a story.
No matter how tempting, don’t mention to Aunt Betty that Lindsay recently pierced her navel. The holidays are a time for graciousness after all. You could invite your old friend Mike, who hasn’t found cartilage he wouldn’t put a ring through. He might, by chance, be seated next to Aunt Betty. By chance…but keep your pen handy…
Enjoy the holidays everyone!
ha! and wear one of those t shirts that say "be nice or you'll end up in one of my novels".
ReplyDeletehappiest of holidays to you all!
Checking in from my in-laws' house, aka the land of sporadic internet access. But also a land rich with teenage cousins and conversations. I'm keeping that notebook handy!
ReplyDeleteI've always thought if you hang out in the kitchen during family festivities, you get the real dirt - you also get host and hostess gratitude if you help a little.
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