Brevity is the Soul of Wit

Barnes and Noble is dangerous ground for me. So much so that I’ve laid down cardinal rules that I follow always (almost).
Rule #1: Never go unless I have money to spend.
Rule #2: Never go when I’m moody, bored, or avoiding responsibility or people.
Rule #3: Bring a Sponsor.
Rule #4: Go in knowing what I’m after.

Who am I kidding, I never follow any of my rules.

Case in point- I went in for a book I wasn’t convinced I wanted over all the others (breaking Rule #4) while I was avoiding homework (breaking Rule #2) and alone (breaking Rule #3).

Hm, I’ll just go look over here now.

Oh- what’s on this table?

So, of course, I find something I never knew I needed.

But this time it was a good find! No, really, it was.

A little bright green book at the top of the self entitled “It All Changed In An Instant”. It is a published writing project sponsored by a literary magazine of six word memoirs. Six. No more no less. Thou shalt go no farther than six, nor less than six. Nor shall thou count in twos, but only by ones, to six. (Pop quiz: name that movie).

A life story told in six words. The minimalist in me squealed.

I was completely captivated by what was not said; by what was hugely implied by carefully chosen words. By the novels between the lines:

“Geek got LASIK. Life started over.”
“Had kitties. Not kiddies. God misunderstood.”
“Studied Psych, went psycho. Exploring psyche. “
“Mommy, why won’t Daddy wake up?”
“Blonde tramp found husband, and conscience. “
“Goth girl, white cat, lint roller.”
“Visited Kenya, returned to build church.”

These memoirs are amazingly intimate. How could I not love this? Ordinary people choosing six words for the opportunity to be published, to tell their story. Which part of their life would they deem more important than all the others? How to succinctly say it all with the understanding that it cannot all be said?

And, the biggest question of them all: what would mine say?

Wanted: mad man with blue box.
Writer suffering in permanent writer’s block.
Peace purchased in currency of loss.
I would have given you children.
Wino reconciles her love of beer.

No, no, I know:

Started college, dropped out. Received education.