I admit, for me it is not always an easy task to come with something to write about. Most of the time, I need a little inspiration to get the ideas flowing. Inspiration can and has come from a variety of sources. It could come from a general situation or an observation I made. It also most certainly can come from a specific person. Many people have been unwitting muses for me. A lot of them good and positive. A few of them, well, let’s just create a category and call them a venting muse. In other words, they inspire me to write out my frustration and grievance instead of, you know, confronting them.
Here are some of my muses, on a spectrum from the good and positive to the antonyms of both of those words. Let’s start with the good and positive first.
When I started my blog March 2011, I had no idea that just 8 months later I would say goodbye to my mom as she passed through the veil and returned to her heavenly home. Naturally, she has provided the most numerous topics of inspiration. Her life, her sickness, and her death have all been written about here as I tried to come to terms with my grief. It was therapeutic. The topic even has its own little separate category called Sad Days. She has been mentioned in my poetry, prose, memes, and now even song. If I did the work to count it all out – which I am not going to do – I’d venture to say she is the person who features most prominently in my writing.
My guess for the next highest number of appearances in my blog would be my paternal grandma. She also has been featured in my poems, essays, and songs. Something I will have to account for when I see her again, I’m sure.
While my maternal grandma has been mentioned fewer times, she also deserves a place on my ranking chart. Her tally probably comes in third.
After that it would be difficult to determine (without doing that work I already mentioned I am not willing to do) which particular person would be next in line. So, I’m just going to lump it together as other family members. This includes those living, those who have passed away but I have memories of, and even those further up on the family tree branches that I have never met. Let’s just say, family in general has influenced my writing.
I’m pretty sure all of my immediate family members have made the cut at least once. Some probably more often than others. It’s okay, not all of them read my blog so depending on who it is I can get away with throwing them in the mix. Even when they sometimes slip to a venting muse. Which, of course, has never happened…I write forcing myself to keep a straight face and not wink.
Then there are the other people out there in general. Co-workers. Strangers. Characters on tv or in a movie. Actors. Actresses. You name it. If a person or situation lights a creative spark, I have no choice but to write about them and tend to that spark. This is probably what I would consider the middle of the spectrum. Neither positive or negative feelings about these muses. I’m just observing an incident that made some kind of connection with me.
Now we come to the other end of the spectrum. The venting muses, so to speak. There have been a few. But I recently discovered while thinking about this, there has been one in particular that has featured in my posts more than once. Kind of a favorite venting muse, if you will. While the work this person has inspired isn’t as numerous as my mom on the opposite side of the spectrum, the total is more than one. Or two. Or even three. Over the course of the years, I have have felt inspired to vent about this person on at least four separate occasions. Which is a bit impressive if you ask me. Namely, that this person is still in my circle.
Not only have I written four separate poems (looks like 2015 was a bit of a rough year interacting with this person) but one of those poems I made into an AI song. That song created two different versions which I think counts.
So, here’s to you, my top venting muse! I appreciate the work you have inspired but really, let’s stop here.
The Queen’s Visit (4/14/15)
Lies (6/9/15)
Respect (8/21/19)
Fire Away (6/19/24)
ck's days 