06 Nov 07
Parting Advice from T-Bone (2)
“I’m more likely to be hanging out at the library than at a club with women like that,” I said.
“You think people don’t do drugs at libraries?” T-Bone said. “At the Phoenix library these two guys started talking to me about Civil War history. We continued the discussion at a coffee shop. We were having an intense enlightening conversation. The next thing you know one of the guys goes, ‘I wanna do a line to wake up.’ So I leave 'em to it. I get in my truck and keep going. They weren’t my type of people. They were brainiacs like you. And if you are going back to university, so many people do drugs there, it’s unreal. It’s part of college life now to do glass to stay up.”
“I know.”
“You need to understand some simple things. All kinds of challenges are gonna come at you – bam! - ’cause you’re back out there again.”
“I’m not gonna worry about it. My mum’s more worried than I am.”
“That’s ’cause she loves you. You’re getting out, the weather’s gonna hit you, your mom’s face, your father’s face, your sister, the smell of the house, memories, memories good, memories bad, you’ll think about stuff that happened here – the American women – and your gonna miss that. There’s gonna be times when you feel bored, lonely, incomplete, and those are the moments when you’ve gotta make the right choices. In your little town there’s not gonna be a whole lotta things going on on the surface.”
“I know, but I intend to go back to university.”
“For what?”
“Creative writing.”
“You’re an intelligent man, you don’t need a professor to teach you something you already know how to do.”
“I need refinement.”
“And practice will bring you that. Find some interesting characters to write about. You’ll be like Dickens.
I’ve come to realise, patience is the key when you first get out of prison. You have to develop things, build things slowly. There’s people who are positive and negative that are going to be coming into your life – some will be sneaky, some will be outright. If they catch you in certain moods and situations and you make a bad choice, you will fall. It doesn’t matter if they’re in a stretch limo or a Mini Cooper, you hafta be able to size them up and make the right choices in every situation you are in. When I first got out, I thought I’d changed from my old ways, but I went back to it in a different way. There’s levels of stupidity. You think, Well, I’ve changed. I’ll do it this way now. I’ll go to the clubs, but not get in the mix. I’ll just get a drink, say hello to a few people and leave. But then you fall right back into it.”
“My focus is on writing, not clubbing.”
“So you’ve made a conscious decision that that’s what you’re gonna focus on in your life?”
“Yes.”
“If you’re set with that then you can’t deviate if things go south.”
“I won’t, I’ll persevere.”
“You never know what tomorrow will throw at you. There are levels of intensity you’ve gotta go through, like being a Royal Marine set on defending England. Or the guys with the bearskin caps that stand there without blinking. It takes a special man to be able to do that – English focus – and you have that in your blood. You have ability, just apply it. Apply the positive you’ve learned; the negative, get rid of it. Stay focussed on your objective. Don’t allow small-minded people to come along and bring you down. With a mind like yours, you’re gonna make money, but challenges will arise. And don’t forget to sit down with Mom and Pop.”
“I won’t.”
“I know you won’t go back to your old ways because if you do then you’re gonna have to deal with me.”
“Yikes!”
“I’m gonna miss ya, man.”
“I’m gonna miss you too. L ’n’ R, my friend.”
“L ’n’ R and God bless you.”
Through Yard 1’s perimeter fence, I shook one of the biggest hands I’ve ever seen - the hand of T-Bone.
Email comments to writeinside@hotmail.com or post them below
Copyright © 2006-2007 Shaun P. Attwood
35 comments:
T-bone could be right, you know. University didn't work for me because talking about writing made it intimidating and shut me down.
Got John Gardner's book? How about Stephen King's autobiography?
An alternative is to join writing groups of PROFESSIONAL writers to find structure and give yourself artificial deadlines.
In university one spends too much time thinking about other people's writing and talking about the act. It teaches you to be a great reader, which is important. But to be a writer you just write, write, write hours a day.
Or not. Everyone's got her own method. Maybe it didn't work for me because after polishing a few short stories and getting them into literary journals, I discovered I have a mass-market soul.
If you need discipline imposed from the outside, then yeah, maybe you should do university. OH BUT...Oops, I forgot, you won't have to pay as much over there. Yay for public education!
Hi,
Just thought Id let you know I have spent an enjoyable day here at work (Manchester, England) doing nothing else but reading your blog, no idea whether you still have have access to these emails but seriously when you get out you should have them published into a book. You are a good writer and it is a very interesting read.
All the best for the future.
W.
You should go back to college if thats what you want to do. I love college. BUT, you certainly don't need it for your writing. You have been through a masters program of life. You have insight and experience that few people have and add to that the ability to convey it on paper eloquently. You sir have it all.
I'm a fan of rhythm and blues music. The saying goes if you aint lived it you can't sing it. You lived it. .now write it.
Another view that might add to the mix-I needed a college setting to help me move forward with my art career. I was EXTREMELY fortunate and blessed to be in a small town with a community college that had a fantastic art program, all instructors working artists. I developed mentoring relationships with my instructors and got job oppportunities and shows through those relationships. But then there were students I knew who really were set on a path and didn't need to go further. That could be you. Perhaps a semester or two will show you what's what.
Also, as my niece well put it, you can get drugs anywhere (she is a recovering prescription pill addict). She had an experience of watching someone take some in a recovery meeting. The only way to be completely safe is to hide in your house, and even then...if you're not interested in that lifestyle anymore eventually the world gets the message. Just be aware that the old lifestyle fed a need-find out what that is and get properly nourished.
I feel like prison may have been your college; what you need is a good editor who respects you and is careful not to lose your voice.
Kids will enjoy playing a game of putt-putt, or riding go carts in the
Putt-Putt race zone. Party packages include admission,
skate rentals, party favors, soda, ice cream, balloon bouquet and more.
Traditional board games like musical chairs relay, dancing
paper, and many others.
my website :: 13th birthday party ideas
Also see my webpage :: 5th Birthday Party Ideas
- Exorphins: Anti-nutrient found in dairy
products and wheat. The fact is, most grains are quite high
in glycemic index, meaning that they make your blood sugar go up rapidly, and send you crashing down
soon thereafter. - Lecithin.
my web page: paleo diet acne
Think about fields that interest you, talents with
which you are blessed and needs that are not being met to
come up with your own list of outside the box
job ideas self employment. Superdog has facilities in Sacramento, Los
Angeles, San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Oakland, Napa, and Orange County.
It is wise to take the classical conditioning method first because it is easier to
do.
Here is my web page Arf Dog Training Austin
With the increasing fan base your product sale will also considerably
increase and your marketing objectives will be easily achieved.
An experienced service provider from the industry can anly
assist you buy Facebook fans and likes that would be real
and active Facebook users. The first step in this regard is to
make a fan page.
Here is my web-site :: http://socialbears.com/google-plus-one/
For this firstly you must make your own fan page on Facebook.
People who tweet on regular basis and are popular should be chosen.
With the You - Tube annotations feature, you can
easily help market and brand a particular kind of a video.
my web blog ... increase youtube views
My web site > increase youtube views
Oils, beverages and Paleo sweets should also be used in moderate
quantities and also keep in mind that Paleo diet food list does
not contain in it all processed foods made out of dairy
products, powdered milk, ice creams, cereal grains and legumes and should be avoided.
Pizza crust, bread, pancakes, and any food that contain sugar should be taken out
and erased from the list of foods one can eat.
- Lecithin.
Feel free to visit my website - paleo diet alcohol
Fun and nutritious Paleo Toddler Dessert Recipe.
The diet program is generally known as the caveman diet or perhaps the Paleolithic Diet.
Always check your physician before making any changes to your daily habits.
Look at my web-site; the paleo diet And diabetes
Depending on what type of business you have you should build a fan base that consists of your target audience.
They are designed to suit the individual needs of businesses that wish to either use sponsorship ads, advertising programs, business events, Facebook widgets for business websites,
Facebook Like for corporate blogs, forums etc.
It gives you info such as fan interaction and visitor demographics but it is
limited and can't provide info on sources of traffic, keyword data and other sophisticated data.
Feel free to visit my web site :: Buy Facebook Fans Cheap
Now that your tea is hopefully taking effect let's think on that last thought for a moment. Drinking a lot of water, eating plain yogurt, and drinking unsweetened cranberry juice as part of her daily diet can help maintain a woman's natural p
- H, if she is prone to yeast infections due to constant p - H imbalance.
Although the treatment has been successful for many people with Candida, be warned that some of the side
effects may include excessive vaginal discharge, discomfort and burning in
the vaginal area.
My homepage yeast infection antibiotics cause
Hi there everyone, it's my first visit at this web page, and article is really fruitful in support of me, keep up posting these content.
Also visit my webpage Related Site
Also see my website :: online radio
Remote proper dog training collars allow you to train your puppy from
the distance, without using a lead to restrain or restrict the dog.
Superdog has facilities in Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco,
Walnut Creek, Oakland, Napa, and Orange County. Dog Training Using Praise.
my web site; bird dog training accessories
With the increasing fan base your product sale will also considerably increase and your marketing objectives will be
easily achieved. A lot of organizations do not recognize Facebook, so it
could be a enormous benefit to you if you construct a sizable fan-page and have
thousands of followers. Like anything else in this world, you get what you pay
for.
Feel free to surf to my web blog :: Buy Facebook Fans Cheap
Also see my webpage: http://foodcreate.com
If you're on a budget have your guests light sparklers as you depart. What is even more exciting is that you will be able to keep this wedding website for one year, at no cost to you. This site helps you find vendors within your local area.
my weblog; wedding website album
Also see my web site - wedding website Affiliate Programs
Later on, among the continued practice ending up will continue to be auxiliary accustomed burning the various chords.
So you want to learn how to play the piano. These hail every little thing played getting rid of
barely the sophisticated keys, so you ought to keep effective toward crush extra listed below barely
a limited area of time.
Here is my page :: free piano chords and songs
my website - free piano chords and notes
There are many sources to choose from that can offer simple
solutions to the problems you are experiencing with your canine.
Be patient with your dog. Research states that more dog trainers
and owners are deciding on the dog training collar.
Look at my site :: professional dog training accessories
In relation to the last paragraph, the question
had arisen by the people that how the diet
can be eaten by us in the same form in which it
was utilized by our ancestors. Other typical tasks were gathering wood, shelter
building, digging, carrying a variety of heavy items,
tool construction and dancing. - Lecithin.
Also visit my blog post ... paleo diet alcoholic drinks
my website - paleo diet and weight loss reviews
They buy Twitter followers as Twitter is an effective marketing platform as much as it is a social networking media.
Some of the online social networking websites like Twitter also offers a
set of specific features and options to promote your business website.
When you buy Twitter followers, the package specifies whether following others is included or not.
My website get Twitter Followers
What You Can Gain. - 1 tsp cinnamon (optional).
Ingredients.
My web site ... the paleo diet and acne
Also see my web site > paleo diet and Weight loss
Oils, beverages and Paleo sweets should also be used in moderate quantities and also keep in mind that Paleo
diet food list does not contain in it all processed foods made out of dairy products, powdered
milk, ice creams, cereal grains and legumes and should
be avoided. Pizza crust, bread, pancakes, and any food that contain sugar should be taken out and erased from
the list of foods one can eat. - Vegetables are low in sodium less water retention.
Feel free to visit my web-site ... paleo diet and weight loss success
My webpage :: the paleo diet and weight loss
A result of the immense size and strength that these animals can grow to
means pets should be leash trained from a young age.
In the event you employ strategies that may be employed in
agreement together with your dog's normal urge and instincts, you'll be able to improve its character and provide restrictions that can maintain your
dog satisfied. It is wise to take the classical conditioning method first
because it is easier to do.
my webpage; free dog training advice
'''. The sooner you memorize some chords, the easier will be for you to perform plenty of styles of music. It is very soothing to hear the sound of piano and based on such vast change of scales, a song sounds so melodious.
My web page :: Jar Of Hearts Piano Chords And Lyrics
my page > learning piano chords and notes
Even just 15 minutes a day keeps your piano playing ability in tune.
As an alternative, it will most likely be far more powerful for you to learn about audio and chord idea.
offers free online piano lessons.
Feel free to visit my site: piano chords and lyrics of songs
my web site - piano chords Amazing grace
Simple and Easy to Create Recipes with clear step by
step instructions you will be able to produce paleo friendly meals that get rave reviews from friends and family
every- time. Other typical tasks were gathering
wood, shelter building, digging, carrying a variety of heavy items, tool construction and dancing.
Consider the following statistic.
My site; the paleo diet and weight loss
My page > paleo diet acne
This is easy and doesn't cost the clicker money but the problem is getting these individuals together. This company sends out invites from the page to innumerable people and gets the invitations accepted. Facebook fans offers the opportunity for you to be spontaneous and quick responses as well as receive messages from your users.
Also visit my web page ... increase facebook fans
Think about fields that interest you, talents with
which you are blessed and needs that are not being met to come up with your own list of outside the box
job ideas self employment. Superdog has facilities in Sacramento, Los Angeles,
San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Oakland, Napa, and Orange County.
We turn off the TV.
my homepage - dog training and boarding colorado
Also see my web site > dog training and boarding colorado
This is easy and doesn't cost the clicker money but the problem is getting these individuals together. Buy facebook fans are actually referred to now as Facebook, but often are used interchangeably. Like anything else in this world, you get what you pay for.
my web page - Buy Facebook Fans Cheap
My page :: http://socialbears.com/facebook-fans/
Moreover it helps in promoting the services of various organizations.
Out of all them the best and most used one is to buy Facebook fans.
This is the reason why most of organizations are now being into contact
with social networking solution providers.
Feel free to surf to my web site - Buy Google Plus One Votes Cheap
The other way to get more Facebook fans is by rewarding the loyal fans
that you already have. This company sends out invites from the page
to innumerable people and gets the invitations accepted.
Buy facebook fans or buy twitter followers is a way to
increase the frequency of customer visits to your site and in other way, to bring more potential customers to
your business.
Feel free to surf to my weblog; barbarapomar.com
my website - code-uk.com
Later on, among the continued practice ending up will continue to be auxiliary accustomed burning the various chords.
Now among the advice of your educational materials, shoring jar discover all the things of the substitute chords.
Piano players that struggle are the ones that don't play with passion and feeling.
Also visit my website: piano chords amaj7
my website: learning piano chords and notes
D Minor:. -- Notes: Bb D F. These hail every little thing
played getting rid of barely the sophisticated keys, so you ought to keep effective toward crush extra listed below barely a limited area of time.
Also visit my blog free piano chords and notes
Also see my website :: piano chords and songs
Post a Comment