Friday, April 6, 2012

FLOODING (A-Z April Blog Challenge)

“You know, they straightened out the Mississippi River in places, to make room for houses and livable acreage. Occasionally the river floods these places. "Floods" is the word they use, but in fact it is not flooding; it is remembering. Remembering where it used to be. All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was. Writers are like that: remembering where we were, what valley we ran through, what the banks were like, the light that was there and the route back to our original place. It is emotional memory, where the nerves and the skin remember how it appeared. And a rush of imagination is our "flooding.”
~ Toni Morrison in The Site of Memory, taken from Inventing the Truth, edited by William Zinsser.
Our basement flooded with significance once and I found it.  The stairway was open with no walls or rails on either side and it ended at the center of the basement.  Turning on the light at the top of the stairs, my stomach lurched as I headed down and realized the bottom three or four steps vanished into water.  I couldn’t resist stepping closer to the water until I reached a point where my dry feet couldn’t go any further and stay that way.  Then I looked at the unbelievable lake that surrounded me, staring at the sodden mess, bloated boxes, and the odd items that floated on the surface, scared to venture further.
I knew there was A LOT of work ahead, and felt that clenching in the center of myself that there were things irreparably lost, claimed by the water that rose and found its way into every crevice, appliance, drawer, box and shelf it touched. 
I don’t recall how we got the water out.  Most likely dad working his magic with a sump pump and borrowing a portable pump from the fire hall.  There were mounds of wet laundry to deal with and bags of instant garbage to be tossed.  Water logged puzzles, games and books.  Food items from the pantry and stacks of magazines.  Then came the items truly too sad to lose.  Pictures, letters, family genealogy paperwork.  Family bibles, marriage certificates and high school diplomas.  Papers saved by mom that we did in school and art projects. Some things we managed to salvage, albeit blurry and with curled edges.  For weeks we had heaters and fans running on tables in the basement trying to air it out, dry up the walls and floor and salvage what we could. 
Water has always had a powerful effect on me.  The sheer force of it, whether a small trickle carving out its path in a rock over time or the mighty Niagara Falls (just ten miles from my home) it consistently draws me into its spell. I feel its pressure. The relentless flow. 
Writing is the same way.  It’s never been easy and I struggle for most every word.  Even when I don’t want to do it – when I convince myself to walk away, I feel its pressure.  I feel the flooding. 
Last fall, I found myself standing on the last dry step, so I made my website.  In January, I stepped into the water and started this blog.  This month, I can feel the swirling waters with each post as I follow through on the commitment to share a piece of myself with each one. So yes, although the “flooding’s” already begun, I still feel the water rising. I pray for the day, someday, that I might float.

16 comments:

  1. I love Toni Morrison and actually haven't read that one. And we've had 3 basement floods, all which have left me with that same clenched stomach feeling. And huge bills, as we do not have insurance for outside flooding, only indoor. Now we have a ahuge dry well!

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  2. Wonderful analogy to writing. Water does seem to remember. I grew up on the Gulf Coast of Florida and the water can be a very powerful force--one to respect and understand.

    Cheers, Jenn
    http://www.wine-n-chat.com

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  3. What a horrid experience with your basement The only time I've had a 'flood' was when a water pipe split in my kitchen, and I was paddling through about two inches of water.
    Agree with you about Niagara Falls, I can stand overlooking the edge for HOURS, watching the power and the sheer volume of water going over the falls!

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    1. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent there. Having it so close my whole life has been a real blessing. :)

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  4. wow..we don't have basements in Florida..and this is scary. F word INDEED

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  5. I love the analogy of water rising and writers writing, it fit well, and was outside my own parameter of potential mating. Great write Amy!

    k~

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  6. Lovely sentiment at the end of your post. I enjoyed the comparison, because I think we all find ourselves in deep waters sometimes.

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  7. I love your analogy to writing. That is exactly how I have felt this week as I struggle to write something each and every day and fulfill the writing challenges I signed up for. I can only seem to get the A-Z challenge handled and all the other challenges I normally. Next week will be better because the kids will be back to school and I will have the house to myself with no demands for this or that until after 4. I am counting the minutes. LOL I loved reading about the flood. How horrific. So sorry you lost all those precious things.

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

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    1. It has been a bit overwhelming hasn't it? First time I've done a challenge like this - might be my last too! Love your posts though. Always make me smile and give me something to think about.

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  8. "Last fall, I found myself standing on the last dry step, so I made my website. In January, I stepped into the water and started this blog." This is so beautifully said, Amy. As you know, I stepped into that water the same day you did, after having spent months on the shore tiptoeing into the tide and back out again. Like water, words will find their way into our minds and hearts and out again. And although this month's challenge is tough, I'm finding it very much worthwhile, and I can see that you are, too. And you are producing beautiful work.

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    1. Elaine, it has been so wonderful to venture into the wates together over the years. We should haveour own little boat to pick each other up on when needed! Thank you for the kind words and consistent encouragement!

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  9. The flood gates have opened and your beautiful work is spilling forth.
    Keep it up and share yourself with all of us. You will find only love and support here and in a flood, we all need that. ♥

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    1. Thank you Jo - I hope to also get some good contructive criticism as well from many of the good writers I've seen, including your grat pieces!

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  10. I copy and pasted the piece by Tony Morrison. How profound that is and I just love it! Beautiful writing!

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  11. Beautiful analogy; loved this. Sometimes we experience a drought of words, other times a flood we couldn't hold back if we wanted to.

    Welcome to the deep waters, Amy.

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