Sunday, April 15, 2012

Loving to write (or not)

Years ago, my boss, a co-worker and I were having Cokes in the canteen at the newspaper office. I don't know what started it, but we began talking about writing.

"I don't like to write; I don't enjoy it," our young co-worker said. "I'm happier when I'm finished writing."

My boss was the best writer at the newspaper, and I was pretty good. We looked at each other and smiled broadly.

Neither of us said it, but we both felt sorry for our young friend. I enjoyed the process of writing, then got a kick out of editing it, making it better. I probably felt most alive when I was writing. Our boss wasn't big into self-editing, but you could see the joy while he was writing. It looked like he was conducting a symphony. Maybe he was.

I don't know what happened to our young friend. He wasn't a born journalist, just a fellow doing a job. My boss and me? We were born to do exactly what we were doing. He was a terrific writer. I was a good writer and a terrific editor.

Even in our "old" age — we're both above retirement age — I doubt that either of us has changed.

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ENTRIES FROM THE DOG BLOG

BLOG ENTRIES FROM THE AUTO RACING JOURNAL
(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)
(the book of great NASCAR stories)
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