The last few weeks of Unorganized Territory have been filled with thoughts on the financial challenges facing our local school board, on the possibility of a Dollar General store coming to Cook County and about the contentious national political process under way.
Lest anyone take anything I write from my bully pulpit too seriously, I thought I’d lighten up a bit. I thought I’d try my luck with a non-controversial topic.
I should probably write this and “keep it in the can,” as I was advised to do by local author Joan Drury in a writing class years ago. Her advice at that time was to have a generic column—or two—on standby for weeks that are busy or when writer’s block strikes.
It’s a great idea and has also been suggested by my friend and colleague Bill. Every time he sees me frantically finishing this column and contemplating quotes, Bill logically suggests that I plan ahead and write a column to keep on file.
Truly a fantastic idea, but I can never seem to get it done. The columnin the-can, I tell Bill— not so logically—is like the unicorn. It has never been seen. It likely will never be seen.
Bill keeps reminding me that one of my publishing heroes, the News-Herald’s longest serving editor Ade Toftey, used to fill his column—Jots by Ade—with a collection of random comments, ranging from weather updates and phenology reports to tidbits about visiting relatives and what was discussed over coffee at the El Ray Café that morning.
Although it makes me smile to think that Ade must have been a bit unorganized himself to write in that manner, I don’t want to imitate him. Jots by Rhonda just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Part of the problem is that I like Unorganized Territory to be timely, reflecting current events or dates on the calendar. A column-in-the-can may not always work with what is happening when a reader picks up the paper.
Although I’m not always on top of things when I write weekly. For instance, if I was going to talk about St. Patrick’s Day, I should have done so last week. By the time this issue of the News- Herald is on the newsstands, the holiday will be over.
But as I write this on St. Patrick’s Day eve, everything is Irish! For my deadline night dinner I grabbed a meal at Dairy Queen and I could not resist a grasshopper mint mini-blizzard. Tomorrow I am getting together with my Girl Scout troop and we are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with shamrock shakes and shortbread cookies and learning about Girl Guides, Ireland’s version of Girl Scouts.
So I’m in the mood for a bit of blarney. Thinking of St. Patrick’s Day makes me think of Ireland and the Blarney Stone. I remember studying the Emerald Isle when I was the age of my Girl Scouts and reading about the magical stone that if kissed gives you the gift of gab.
I was thoroughly intrigued by the idea of leaning over backwards on the parapet at the Castle Blarney and then being able to speak without reservation. It is hard to believe, but I was nervous about talking to people at that age. I almost forgot that myself until recently when a childhood friend Kristy, a paraprofessional at a local school, mentioned that I used to be very shy.
I think that is why I turned to writing. I could say anything with ink and paper, but speaking out loud was tough. When I learned about the Blarney Stone, I so wanted to travel there to receive its magic. But then Dottie, one of my dear aunts, gave me some advice. She said although it would be wonderful to travel to Ireland, it really wasn’t necessary. She suggested that I think that I had kissed the Blarney Stone and I would find the courage to speak.
I guess it worked. Although once in awhile I still get butterflies when meeting new people or speaking to groups, I get through it. Perhaps it’s the luck of the Irish with me in the form of a caring aunt!
The ability to express
an idea is well nigh
as important as
the idea itself.
Bernard Baruch
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