A thought process turned narrative

At the beginning of October, we were assigned the task of writing a narrative. No more requirements than that, just a simple narrative that we would read to the class. These lax requirements mean that in the planning stages, it was any thing but simple. In the end, I wrote a paper about my thought process leading up to the creation of the said paper. The paper seems to hit the highlights of my college career. Enjoy.


edited to add updated version. I look at the paper too many times and just keep editing!

hahaha. Then I had to edit again because it was in dark blue ink and hard to read... I had to print it in dark blue 'cause I'm out of both black ink and money for more :) 

annnnnnnnnd once more to make it white instead of black. I'm totally going to bed now!

Thought Process

            I can’t remember how many times I’ve been asked this semester about what topic I am going to choose for my narrative. I never had an answer to give. Most assumed it was because I am one of the best procrastinators of the Red Cohort. Normally, this is true. However, this time I wasn’t avoiding the project. I thought about it well in advance but just couldn’t narrow down a specific topic. Having the choice of “anything” is a bigger limit to one’s thinking that you would imagine.

            Should I write it about my marriage? Most of the examples my table received to preview gushed about a young bride’s wedding and how it was the best moment of her life. Hmmm… My wedding was at least interesting. We decided July, 6^th to go to Las Vegas on 07/07/07, didn’t tell anyone we were doing it and had another wedding in September so our family could pretend they saw us get married. Do I want to write about that in detail though? Kedzie wore a tuxedo print   t-shirt. I suppose that’s unique and interesting. Can I come up with a whole paper about it? At this point in time, I certainly don’t remember it as the happiest day of my life. Fun, yes, but blissful and everything I’d always dreamt of? Probably not. Looking back, I almost wish it didn’t even happen. I better not choose that. It would turn out far too jaded and cynical and scare the unmarried girls.

            Maybe I can talk about a body altering decision. I’ve had a few and am pretty sure no one else in this group will write about that. I could walk the class through my lip piercing. Or my nose piercing, that one was a bit more dramatic, what with the almost passing out afterwards details and all. I don’t know though. Is it too rebellious for the school district to get wind of? I better not put that in writing. My tattoos are cool, but all I remember is the vibrating, needle slicing, tooth chattering pain. And to think I sat through that twice! How about when I got fake boobs? Is that too much information to make the whole class squirm through uncomfortably while I read all about it? Joel told us about his vasectomy, so it might be okay... Blast! Decisions, decisions.

            What would my classmates expect to hear from me? Should I paint an exciting picture of the first time I encountered the swaggering Captain Jack Sparrow at Disneyland, or write a remembrance of watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze (starring Vanilla Ice!) in the old and decrepit movie theatre of my childhood back in Ely? Oh, Ely, where I fell in love with The New Kids on the Block in second grade. That reminds me that I need to buy tickets for their show this summer with The Backstreet Boys! Winnie, focus on the narrative! I’m definitely going to write about my childhood. Oh, but I can’t do that. That would be expected, and I can never do what is expected.

            I’ll write about Bella, my bi-polar cat. I know Kedzie always tells me that all cats are bi-polar, but really, who else has had the vet have to use one of those alligator noose things to get their cat out of the kennel after a surgery? No, I talk about Bella too much already. Maybe Axel? He is the happiest puppy ever but how sappy would that be?

            Let’s think about what in my life has been interesting. I’ve been in college for nine years and I’m not a doctor. Nope. That’s not interesting, just sad. Two years at SUU, then down to UNLV to take advantage of a scholarship. Once I realized UNLV was a terrible school I tried some drafting classes at the community college and was hooked. Finally, an Associate’s Degree! Now, if only houses were still designed by hand I might have stayed in the industry. Computer aided drafting and design may have revolutionized the construction industry but it also sent all the creativity and love out the window. Wait, brain, get back on track.

            No, a narrative about my college history would open up a whole can of worms and would have to lead to an explanation of getting married, moving to Manti and not being able to find anywhere construction related to work  in Sanpete County. Hello, telemarketing. Then I’d have to detail the whole application process to get accepted into the Utah State Extension teaching program, only to have my husband laid off and eventually lead into our move to St. George. Did I mention I was the one who had to drive four hours with Bella and Bruce Wayne the Beta fish? And that I had to work at Ross for a year and a half? Oh man, why can’t I just pick a topic already?

            So, I’ve made it to St. George in my thinking process. That means that I’ve browsed over nine years of events in my head and haven’t been able to settle. That’s just how my brain works. I think out of the box, create wildly imaginative projects and never believe I cannot do something. I dream in color and never expect to create something less than unique. I want it all, yet can’t decide where to start. I think of a million different beginnings but can’t ever pinpoint the end. So, at the end of the day (or last thing the night before), I’ll put those thoughts to paper in a slightly more organized manner than they are in my head and call it a narrative. Welcome to my thought process.