Things That Come To Mind

1, At any given time, I have six to ten draft articles.

I begin writing something, and run out of enthusiasm.
Or, I recognize that I am tackling the subject from the wrong perspective.
Or, I realize that I have a long list of facts to check.
Or, the subject suddenly becomes too large for one article, or too esoteric to interest anyone (although i am learning to ignore this - the French songs and the madrigal pieces existed as drafts for a long time.)

Sometimes the disconnect between my care for the topic and my leaden prose requires that I "take a break" and start afresh.

And, sometimes the story becomes so personal that I cannot tell it without revealing my real life identity (which must remain a secret until that last warrant is suppressed).
Or, I can't find a decent graphic to illustrate the article.

Do other people leave heaps of unfinished writing lying about?

2. Has anyone else seen the great movie, "The Trip To Bountiful" starring Geraldine Page? (It won several Academy Awards, including Best Actress, in 1985).

The screenplay was written by Horton Foote (To Kill A Mockingbird, Tender Mercies), who is one of the greatest writers in America. (I have an unfinished article about him!)

In the movie, there is a scene of such tremendous forgiveness and understanding that it is thrilling whenever I recall it.

And, there is an incredible exchange between the son (played by John Heard) and his mother (Geraldine Page) as they stand in the abandoned house of their ealy life and discuss whether or not something should be remembered if it is painful.

For some reason, this is haunting me.