Humor

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Writing Addiction Junkie

This has to be the hottest workday I have experienced, I think to myself as I open my car door. I settle into my hot car, as sweat drips from my nose and chin. I start the car, turn on the air and crack the windows. As I drive down the road, I feel the air starting to cool the interior of the car along with my soaked clothing. I have to stop at the bank, and stop at the store for the items Laurie wanted me to pickup. I start to think about getting home and logging onto FaithWriters and checking out the writing challenge. This has become a Thursday evening ritual ever since I found the site some six months ago. My wife understands that this is one of my addictions. I try to write for the Lord, as often as possible, but with a wife, three children and two jobs sometimes all I can do is think about writing. As I drive, my mind fills with ideas about this week’s topic.
I pull into the bank parking lot and get out of my car. The hot humid air hits me like a blast furnace. Almost instantly, the droplets of sweat start to reappear on my arms and face. I walk across the parking lot again thinking about the theme. My writing thoughts are racing through my head. Suddenly, the sound of a honking horn interrupts my thoughts. I look around the parking lot to see what the disturbance could be when I see that I am the disturbance. With my mind thinking about the challenge and not paying attention, I had walked in front of several cars. I smile and jog out of their way and hurry into the bank embarrassed. As I exit the bank, I look both ways and cross to my car without a thought of the challenge. I make my way to the store and make it home with only a few writing ideas crossing my mind.

I enter my home with an arm full of groceries and a big shout that Daddy is home from our four year old as she watches her favorite cartoon. My wife comes over hugs, kisses me, and asks me how my day was. Hot was my only response. I carry the groceries to the kitchen and set them on the counter. I notice the computer is on and ready for me to log on to FaithWriters. What a great wife I have. I walk across the room and sit at the computer. She knows what I want and need on Thursday evening. In addition, with great joy, she is there to help me with my dream one hundred percent of the way.

I log on and click on the writing challenge. What is this, my eyes strain as my slow dial-up Internet loads the page in flashing blotches of colors and letters. The first thing to load on the page of course is the advertisements. Then in bold, blue and orange letters FaithWriters Official Writers Challenge appears on my page. A week of anticipation and checking on last week’s entry, all comes down to this moment. Then it appears: this week’s topic, “No Topic Due To Conference.” The first thought that entered my mind was, what a great topic. I could write about how sad it made me feel not being at the conference. However, my hope seemed to turn to dread as I realized I must go another week, cold turkey, with no writing fix. I log off and fail to even check last week’s entry. I walk to the dinner table, sit with my family, and ask the blessing. My wife knows something is up, but does not say anything. She passes the potatoes and then the gravy. She looks at me with concern and reaches for my hand. Over the chatter of our four year old, I hear my wife’s soft voice reassure me that there is always next week. I feel slightly guilty as I give my wife a fake smile and a reassuring nod of my head. I look at my dinner plate, roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, a meal fit for a king. However, for me the only feeling I could feel was one of an addict needing a fix. With a sick feeling, I knew I had to write something, anything, not for me but for my addiction. I have become a writing challenge junkie.

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