Last week I had the privilege of attending the book launch of an anthology I was honoured to be invited to contribute to.
The book, Aging in Place: Exploring Options in Grey and Bruce consists of 27 stories collected by Joan Beecroft. The chance to read the diverse feelings and reflections upon aging written by many people I know personally was so moving.
Every time I sit down to write a blog, I reflect about how writing is such an extraordinary invention. It takes so many forms there’s a way for everyone to express themselves. Poetry, screenwriting, non-fiction, blogs, prose, texting, fiction – every genre – and we seem to have always had the urge to write about everything – go visit Pompeii and you can see where political pundits have scrawled rude insults on walls!
Tonight my non-fiction book club will be discussing Message in a Bottle: Ocean Dispatches from a Seabird Biologist by Canadian Holly Hogan. Reading her observations has taught me much about the threat we humans have unleashed on the seas and marine life with our insane addiction to plastic. In the same week I read an entire blog written by some fashionista covering in exacting detail what some very rich famous couple wore at their wedding. I was bemused and also entranced by the many many changes of costume for both bride & groom, who had two weddings, Christian and Hindu. Every pearl and specialty dyed cloth were reported in faithful detail just as discerning as the biologist’s differences noted between species of birds. Someone felt those details were every bit as worth writing about and documenting as the scientist’s were. Amazing. They’re on the same planet, but writing about completely different worlds.
Writing. We use it for propaganda and prognoses, dissertations and death notices, love letters and bullying on social media, grocery lists and peace treaties.
And then there are the plays, poems, and novels that still resonate with us over years- sometimes – centuries. Characters and situations so well drawn by long- gone writers that we can still identify with, scorn, love, or mourn them. Incredible. What power those authors’ words still have.
Writing. What a formidable, powerful ability that is for humanity.
How wonderful it is to be a writer. Keep writing.
