At least two nights a week I pack up my laptop, get in the car, and go wherever I wish. Some days, depending on the kind of day I've had, the best way to describe it is fleeing the house. On those days I'm lucky if I have my hair combed and the dog snarf scrubbed off my pants, but I'm afraid to take one more second to make myself presentable. They might suck me back in!
Most evenings I cheerfully, not desperately, lug my writing paraphernalia a couple miles to the local coffeehouse. My point of visiting there is, of course, to sample their excellent caffeinated beverages, but it's also to write for three hours straight with no interruptions. No toddlers gleefully attacking my computer with sticky banana fingers. No husband asking where I think he put his wallet. And certainly no hound staring at me with a soulful expression that can only be made to lay down after receiving copious treats. Nope, the coffeehouse is blissfully free of such distractions...
Except for the cosmetics ladies. They meet there weekly. If it's a small gathering, then I can usually sit as a small table at the end of the room and avoid the hubbub for the most part. Sometimes, though, they bring their children. Now I am the first person to sympathize with having to bring your child to a business meeting, because I've done that with limited success. You have my deepest sympathies, Madame. Just please, please, please do NOT send those twin girls over to bounce on the seat beside "the nice lady using her computer." Not only does jumping up and down jostle their brains, but it jostles mine as well. And I'm using mine! Despite their cute, cheeky grins that they give me as they go whizzing by, their screeches of glee are somewhat annoying when I can still hear them while using my headphones. But they're not the worst...
The worst is the middle-aged man who insists on striking up a conversation with me despite the fact that I'm a) busily typing and b) have my headphones on my head. Having spent so much time living south of the Mason-Dixon Line, I have trained myself to smile and speak pleasantly when strangers talk to me. Even though this goes against all my home training. I was raised in Central Pennsylvania where we do not talk to people we don't know, and if a stranger talks to you, well...you just better mind your p's and q's because *whisper* they might be of a suspicious character. Proceed with caution!
So the gentleman sits down at the table beside me where he's going to hang out with his buddy and discuss their fantasy football team. (I'm guessing that this is the topic of their conversation, because I can see the buddy's computer screen from where I'm sitting.)
Man: I like your flipflops.
Me: (smile politely and return to typing)
Man: You should have seen this guy. He had these super thick glasses, and he would look at this gal and they'd fog up. He'd wipe them off, and they'd fog up again. You should have seen it!
Me: (still smiling. maybe it looks a bit forced at this point. go back to writing.)
Man: What are you doing?
Me: (try not to sigh loudly and take off headphones) I'm writing a novel.
Man: Oh yeah? You know what I say when people ask me? As the world turns. Ha! That's what I say. As the world turns!
Me: (chuckle politely and think, what the hell is this guy talking about.)
Luckily his buddy returns from getting a coffee and saves me from having to reply. I mean, really, what can one possibly say to that? I immediately begin gathering my things because clearly I'm sitting in the bizarro-conversation area of the cafe.
I'm off to the coffeehouse again tonight, and I'm crossing my fingers that it will be a distraction-free visit. If this keeps up, though, I'm better off staying at home. At least there I can lock myself in the bathroom (and not have someone call 911) for some peace and quiet.
heh. wanna come to my house? I can shut you up in the workroom :) But seriously, I KNOW. Is there anyplace free of distractions but has a little atmosphere too??
Good for you for so diligently pursuing your craft.
Posted by: Margo | 09/24/2010 at 02:49 PM
Sounds like you need to find another coffee house!
BTW: if you want to read a good rant about parents who don't pay attention to their kids, check out this link:
http://www.rantsfrommommyland.com/2010/09/open-letters-to-people-who-hate-kids.html
Posted by: PartyMom | 09/22/2010 at 03:29 PM