Vignettes: The Nerf Ball Conventions

So, I've been writing furiously since I began to emerge from the dark period I referenced previously. I have quite a backlog of topics I want - need, in some instances - to write about, just for myself, as I'm making up for lost time, 

This isn't one of those posts... but it is about those posts. 🙂

Curious? Follow along below.

I've been working on one of said posts the past few days - the biggest, most challenging post, actually. I'm working on it in chunks; it's going to wind up as multiple posts, if only because I think Blogger has a limit on the size of posts. 

I've found that I need to step away from this particular post because of its complexity, and because of the strong emotions it brings up for me. That's a topic for another day; for now, suffice it to say that I was working on this post today.

My plan for the day was to go for a walk for about an hour, stop at a coffee shop to write for another hour,  and then wrap it up with another hour-long walk. 

I managed to stick to the schedule for the first third (i.e. the hour-long opening walk).

When I arrived at said coffee shop and began writing, I got into one of those grooves where the words were flowing. Much like the fabled runner's high (which I was fortunate enough to experience several times in my running career, before my right knee, ankle, and foot decided that career was over), I've learned not to question when the muse arrives, but to simply follow her lead.

I had been madly scribbling away for an indeterminate period of time when I reached a natural point to pause. I looked up and saw that I had been writing for three hours straight. (I was writing longhand, incidentally, as I find it better for this type of writing.)

At the tables next to me were a young, college-age girl and her boyfriend. She glanced over, smiled, and said, "Boy, when you're focused you are really focused!" 

"Guilty as charged," I said, smiling back.

"My boyfriend bumped into your table about two hours ago when he was sitting down and nearly knocked over your iced coffee - and you never even looked up!"

"That sounds about right," I said. "At my old job they had what they called 'The Nerf Ball Conventions.' When someone wanted to get my attention they would debate whether to invoke the convention."

"What were they?" she asked. 

"Basically it was whether I was sufficiently lost in my own little world that they needed to bounce a Nerf ball off my head to get my attention."

"Wow," she said, laughing. "Did it work?"

"It did, thankfully. My work friend J once used it when he had a question for me.

"'Glad we came up with this idea,' I said."

Poker-faced, he said, "I wanted to use a bowling bowl, actually."

"As would I, J,"  I replied, equally poker-faced. "As would I,"

We solemnly fist-bumped that launching an Earl Anthony at my cranium was at least considered, even if  adding it as a supplemental convention never came to pass.

"Well, we're glad you didn't need anything bounced off your head," she said.

"As am I," I replied. "As am I." 😊

***

I've completed about 60% of said post; I hope to have it done by the end of next week. I'll have to type it up from my hand-written draft, but that will be a breeze compared to the actual writing. Watch this space! 

***

Simply because I've been listening to him today as I was writing, here are a few tunes from the great Billy Bragg. First up, from Talking with the Taxman About Poetry, is "Levi Stubbs Tears," a tale about heartbreak, perseverance, and the healing power of music:

While he's best known for his political songs, he also writes incisively about personal politics and matters of the heart - never better than on this track from Worker's Playtime - "She's Got A New Spell," one of his loveliest songs:

Finally, my favorite song of Mr. Bragg - "Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards," also from Worker's Playtime:

I'll be back with one of the already-written posts in the queue in a few days. Until then, have a good start to the week!