February 16, 2008
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Hey, friends,
I'm sitting up in my little writing and thinking spot in the sort-of-finished attic of our house. I needed a little get-away spot, away from the TV and the rambunctious Great Dane puppy and the distractions of housework that's always calling my name when I'm not at the newspaper.
A few weeks ago, my sweet husband helped me set up "Celia's Garret," in memory of Jo March's garret where she would retreat to "scribble" in Little Women. I have my little desk, right next to the window that overlooks the backyard, and a dusty-rose needlepoint armchair from my grandmother Poppy's house, and a Mission Oak straight-back chair from a yard sale, and a bookcase Doyle made. I've brought all of my "things" up here....all of the journals I've kept in my adult life, and boxes full of writings, newspaper columns, letters I wrote over the years to Mama, old photo albums from my childhood.
For some reason, I've always felt compelled to chronicle my life, either in words or photos, or by keeping mementos. Maybe one day when I'm an old lady, too old to go out to work at the newspaper, I'll go through them all and write a memoir that probably will interest no one but me.
Doyle goes to a woodcarving group in a nearby town on Saturday mornings, and I've been just spending those mornings cleaning house and doing laundry. But I've decided I need to guard my handful of hours alone and use them to reflect and write and think - and do housework later in the day.
Do you spend much time alone? What do you do when you have a few hours alone on a weekend, when you feel like it's okay to take a break from your usual chores and responsibilities?
Comments (7)
Woo-hoo! I'm the first to post a comment! Your attic corner sounds wonderful. C.S. Lewis had one as a child -- a corner of the attic. So, you're in great company in your solitude, an oxymoronic situation if ever I heard one.
I have been working on my children's novel on and off for the past few weeks, often alone. I've found myself searching with my laptop for a place in the house that would feed my muse, with no luck. I guess I can't complain; I have the largest room on the first floor for my studio -- what would have been the living room. It's just too darn close to the action of the family when everyone else is around (like summers) to be a place to write with concentration.
Enjoy the attic writing!
You probably already know how I will answer your question: I escape to my own garret, which is in the attic over our garage and is filled to the max with sewing stuff! I just adore having a few hours (and that is all I ever have at one time) to spend up there, away from the rest of my world. It makes me feel like I've had a vacation when I can indulge my need to have my hands on fabric, whether I accomplish much or not. Right now, I'm working on a little apron for Lucy, one that I cut out before Christmas. It is actually a bit more complicated than I realized, and I should be putting these efforts into something more than an apron, but it is so cute and I am thinking of how she'll look in it all the time I'm working on it.
But guess what I'm doing all the time I'm sewing or cutting or whatever: I'm writing in my head! That's what I've done all my life, spun stories and dialogues and essays and thoughts in my mind. They don't always get transferred to paper but they get "written," nonetheless! Only about 10 years ago did I give myself permission to start writing them down. I've often wondered if other people do this? It never stops, not even when I go to bed at night. Makes me just nuts sometimes.
I'm so happy you now have Celia's Garret! I can just see you up there, whiling away hours, reading through past writings, gaining new inspiration for future ones, and making yourself happy by doing so.
By the way, I loved the Charles Schultz story....it was SO good! You captured exactly why we've loved those little characters for so long. When the little beagle won the best of show at Westminster earlier this week, I thought immediately of Snoopy and had to curb my own desire for a little beagle of my own. Thanks for sharing that....wonderful!
Happy times in the garret!
I'm so happy for you to have that room! It's precious:) And I read all the Little Women stories, too, and loved them. This year it's hard to imagine full-out alone-do-what-you-want-time, but I love to read email, articles on the net that grab my interest, and books on my eReader. I also love to crochet and knit, and sew. And my wish is to learn to paint some day. I love the photo of the crocuses too:) Haven't heard from you in a while... love, Gerrie
The attic is a inspiring place to dream , to write and to treasure precious things which marcked our life . And they may give birth to a book, a novel inspired by those memories ( not necessarily a memoir) .
Love
Michel
Celia, it's perfect--every stick of furniture, every single thing you've got up there! I've wanted one exactly like it since I was nine and read of Jo's Garret. I've never had one yet, but someday I will, and it will look exactly like yours (okay, probably messier). Okay, my own little bathroom with a big clawfoot tub and the luxury of big, thick white towels would be nice too...but I won't get greedy (just because a friend's "garret" did include that little touch).
God bless you and your garret and all that you do there.
I would love to see your garret!! Attics are one of my favorite places in the world,thanks to Jo March. Growing up, my nextdoor neighbour had an attic where we would spy on the neighgourhood houses.My spare time in the evenings will often take me to my porch where we light candles and mosquito coils. The smell of both is very comforting. Spare time in the mornings finds me right here, visiting my xanga friends, my facebook friends and writing a few things of my own. Since I am blessed and spoiled to have a full-time live-in maid, and after having raised-homeschooled 3 now-adult sons and still having 3 of five kids still at home, I feel no guilt for prolonged mornings in bed with my book and some quiet jazz music to drown out the humming air conditioner.
I would definitely read your memoirs, Cecelia... what a great project that would be.
Good for you! Now, go to your attic and write that book!