I was hoping this would happen.
Evening after evening, we’d all gather to talk about the stars, or where Elvis got his sound from, or what’s up with AI.
Now we’re through with the second draft of a workbook.
When people ask me what I do, it’s hard to explain. “Conversations and spinning records with the retired crowd” seems the best answer.
When I set up my first workshop, it took a while for the magic to happen. The nails were right where I left them, and nothing multiplied on its own. There was no point to rummage around–everything still had a tag on it.
One late evening when the sawdust and oak smoke hung blue in the air from a dull table saw blade, I found something that I didn’t know was there. Some old piece of a sign or a doorknob I didn’t recognize. The workshop sparked to life, and the muse was in.
The same has happened now, in my talks with my senior buddies. One lady send me a column about how the older generation feels ignored by the younger. That lit up the idea for a few columns of my own, and more talks, and more ideas.
We still haven’t figured out what gives a human meaning, and how to bottle purpose for a rainy day.
But we’ve been working on a guided workbook to start writing thoughts, memories, and wisdom down. It seems a good place to start. We’re calling it “Early Works”, because as a friend said…we’re not done yet.
This is a key point.
Some of it will be silly, some of it serious. So far, we’ve settled on a mix of writing prompts (“your first kiss”) and a timeline–for the logical folks.
The idea is to provide a place to begin. It could be used as a private journal, a small tour down memory lane, or the seeds for a memoir.
I’ll be starting the layout on the book soon. Here are some of the prompts. (We’ve got more, too.)
Do you have any to add? Leave a comment below, or drop me a note at joshurban@protonmail.com
First kiss
My dad/mom was good at ___
My grandfather/mother was a ____
My autobiography would start like:
My favorite childhood song was:
First date
First job
Babies!
Poison Ivy
Pets
Gardens
Cars: First, favorite, worst, most memorable
How I met my spouse
Public transportation
Life events
Weddings
Deaths
Births
Surgeries
Memories of world events
Local events
Heartbreak
Acts of bravery
Acts of kindness
Acts of forgiveness
Have you ever met a celebrity? A president?
Summer camp
Summer jobs
Church
Clothes
Bad hair days
I’m all ears!
-Josh
Learning as I go. Figuring out some joinery on a cedar bench build in the shop.