Where’d You Get That Pearl?

If you were a fly on the wall of my cranium last night, you would’ve assumed my mental playlist was about to start the song Ice Ice Baby. But we all know Robert Matthew Van Winkle, a.k.a. Vanilla Ice, “borrowed” the bass riff from Queen and David Bowie’s rock masterpiece, Under Pressure.

Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you
No man asked for
Under pressure…

I work well under pressure. I work under pressure.

Must I always procrastinate? Why can’t I be a good girl and work hard at an even pace? I’m heading to a writer’s conference in ten days. Seems like enough time, yet I feel like I’m back in 10th grade, pulling an all-nighter to finish my famous-person-from-history-scrapbook for Mrs. Nelson’s class. I won’t bore you with details, but I have a lot of writing and editing to accomplish before next Sunday.

I know what you’re thinking! It’s just writing—how hard can it be? Effortless, if you’re a fairy or a wizard or something of the sort. But if I’ve been truly productive in my writing, at the end of the day I’m lucky to have the wherewithal to know what planet I’m on. Just ask my husband. His dinner last night consisted of a hot dog, a hunk of cheese, and a spoonful of peanut butter. Poor guy.

But wait! Good things can happen as a result of pressure. Our modern world would flounder without tires or Febreeze or even hairspray. Pressure also forms beautiful things. I would do well to remember Effie Trinket’s remark to Katniss and Peeta.

“If you put enough pressure on coal it turns to pearls.”

Thanks for that Effie. Maybe I’ll end up with enough to make a necklace.

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Posted in Inner Monologue and tagged coal, Effie Trinket, pearls, pressure. on May 11, 2012.