The Quote Post

People often ask me questions about writing ... how ideas come to me or who first instilled in me a passion for writing or how I learned the mechanics of grammar and syntax or why I didn't pursue a full-time career as a writer and on and on and on. Perhaps someday I'll write a blog that answers a bunch of those questions, but not tonight. I do, however, want to answer one of them ... who first instilled in me a passion for writing. While I would attribute my deep love for storytelling to my dad ... he was the best storyteller ever, by the way, I would most definitely attribute my passion for putting those stories into written format to my 8th-grade English teacher. Maybe some of my Red Bank buddies can help me out here ... I can picture her in my mind, but I can't remember her name. She was older, rather short with brownish little old lady-style hair and had a laugh that was what I would describe as more of a titter than a real laugh. In fact, that's one of the things I remember clearly about her ... she would place her dainty little hand over her mouth when the little titter laughter would escape her lips. Each week, she assigned us a creative writing task, and I distinctly recall the day when she asked me to stay after class to discuss a paper I had turned in. She told me I had a talent for writing and let me know she planned to enter a couple of my stories into a writing contest. I don't remember what the stories were ... I don't remember if I garnered any awards in the contest ... I do, however, remember her telling me I was a gifted writer and encouraging me to never stop writing. For those of you who are teachers, don't ever doubt that you can and do make a difference in the lives of the kids you teach.

The building that houses my office is a cool old building that has a bunch of large wooden beams that reach from the floor to similar beams across ceiling to serve as support posts. The wood on the posts is rough to the touch ... they kind of remind me of old, time-worn square fence posts, roughly 10 inches or so on each side. Since it's an advertising agency filled with tremendously creative people, some of the posts have become ... ummm ... decorated with various works of art, providing, of course, that you would term a taxidermied mongoose a work of art, I suppose. No really ... on a post upstairs in the Cat Pee Lounge (another story for another time, trust me) hangs a really lifelike taxidermied mongoose. And before you ask, Rikki the mongoose has been around SHS longer than I have, and I have no idea where he came from or what his story is (and I'm pretty sure I don't want to know). There are posts with feathers, posts with clocks, posts with drawings, posts with key rings ... and yes, seriously, a post with a really lifelike taxidermied mongoose named Rikki. But out of all the regal wooden posts in the building, the one that stands next to my desk is by far the best ... the coolest ... the most thought-provoking ... the most inspirational ... the most moving ... the most awesome, amazing, astounding wooden post in the entire office. And it was my idea ... you're welcome, co-workers.

I'm not sure when the idea first came to me ... the idea to write a quote on a square of brightly colored paper and push-pin it to the post ... but I am sure that it's one of the most incredibly brilliant ideas I've ever had. The pure genius of my idea wasn't in simply placing a quote that held meaning for me on the post ... the inarguable genius of my idea was to encourage my friends in the office to add their own quote-filled notes to the post as well. There are inspirational quotes, funny quotes, quotes from famous writers and poets, quotes from presidents, quotes from queens, quotes from films, quotes from people we've never met and quotes from some of us. My young friend Danny even put a note on the post quoting something I often say about the post ... "If I die, I want you guys to promise you'll cover this whole post with quotes." The cool thing is that I don't think I'm going to have to kick the bucket for the post to be filled with quote notes ... people add to it every week, and more often than not, they don't tell me when they are tacking their notes onto the wooden beam. I was thinking today as I read some of the quotes that the quote post is doing exactly what I dreamed it would do ... it's become a place of encouragement and fun and inspiration and laughter not just for me but for everyone else as well.

See here's the thing about the quote post, friends ... it's the same as every other post in the building if all you see is the material it's made of or the way it's put together or how it is attached to both the floor and the beam above it. The quote post didn't become special or different or valued until the day I saw it as something more than just an old wooden post that stands by my desk. With the push of the first pin to attach the first quote to the post, it became a towering reminder to me of the power of words ... of the importance of community ... of the need for encouragement ... of the driving desire to belong, to be a part of something bigger, to make a difference for another person.

Someone asked me last week if I have a favorite quote ... that's a tough one for me, because there are many quotes that carry deep meaning for me. But one of my all-time favorites is an exchange between Winnie the Pooh and his friend Piglet. Seems to me there's no better way to close this evening's post ... and yes, by the way, it's tacked securely on the quote post ... of course it is.

"Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. 'Pooh?' he whispered.
'Yes, Piglet?'
'Nothing,' said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. 'I just wanted to be sure of you.'"