I’m still trying to write in the mornings – first thing, when my brain is still all fuzzy and kind of a mess of blended up dreamy goodness. But, I have to admit, after my tricky brain comment the other week it hasn’t been quite the same. I wake up and have to convince myself to pick up the pen and then I’m immediately switching into a more defensive state. So, I’ve changed my method to – I will write at some point every day and that writing will be unshaped. I will actively disable the rudder of my mind and let it wander aimlessly for ten minutes of blah. This shift in restriction has proven reasonably lucrative. It’s not quite the same garbled and squishy mess of morning writing, but it is still kind of liberating and relaxing.

So, here is one from the other day:

April 10, 2016

‘Verb?’

‘Yes.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘What do you mean, ‘am I sure?’ I think I know my own name.’

‘Sure… But, Verb? Really?’

‘Yes, that’s it alright.’

‘Are you sure it’s not spelled with an H or a B and a T?’

They exchange a blank look.

‘You know: Herb? Or, Bert?’

‘Nope. It’s Verb. Plain and simple and…’

‘Weird…’

The two of the lapse into silence for several long seconds.

‘So, what do–’

‘You mean like a ‘doing’ word?’

The second man sighs.

‘I’m just trying to understand. This is a new name for me to encounter. I’m just trying to understand how it works. Like, is Verb the shortened form? Like Bob or Rob for Robert? Is your full name Verbal? Or Verbose? Or… Reverb?’

‘It’s just Verb. It’s really not that difficult.’

‘Sure, sure. I get that…’

They stare at one another, Verb patiently anticipating the next question.

‘So… Do people call you V? Like the aliens?’

‘No, not really.’

‘Do you have a favourite verb that acts as your like, super-hero name? Like ‘Smashing‘ or ‘Punching‘ Man? Or maybe ‘Doing‘? There’d be something ironic about that one, right?’