"You should have been a writer."
"Mom, I am a writer- I write articles for a library reference book and got a short story published."
"No- I mean a *writer*."
"What are you talking about? I write all the time. I've been trying to sell a novel and some of my stories."
"I mean you should be a writer for living."
"I love being a librarian. Besides, weren't you the one who always said that I should get a good job first and 'write on the side'?"
"I never said that."
"Yes, you did."
"No I didn't."
(Yes, she did.)
"You should be writing for television, or writing speeches for the President."
"I don't want to do either of those things. I like what I'm writing now. Besides, do you know how much a television writer makes?"
"How much?"
"Not a lot, I can tell you that."
"How much do you make with *your* writing?"
"Nothing. But I like my life, I like my job, and I like being able to write for both my career and my own pleasure."
Long pause...
"Well, I still think you should have been a writer."
This is very good, Tom. I did not know your mother very well, but I remember that she wanted nothing but the best for her sons. It rings true of just about all mothers. It's concise and funny.
ReplyDeleteI will be reading more of your blog in the future.
OMG
ReplyDeleteOutstanding!
To tell you I can relate would be an understatement.
Thanks to both of you! One treads a fine line when writing about family, but the older I get the more I feel capable of capturing the bittersweet along with the humor.
ReplyDelete