Surprise!
This week has been a tough one! I’ve been thinking about this week’s WAG topic: “The Unexpected” since Friday, and I’ve realised that very little surprises me these days. The topic was: “So observe (or imagine) someone who is experiencing something they didn’t see coming. It can be something big or small.”
Determined to observe surprise, I saw the raised eyebrows of a woman in a chip shop as we saw a grandfather letting an 8 year old dangle out of a second story window across the street. She met my eyes and her expression said, “obviously grandma isn’t home.” But was it surprise? Not really… people are irresponsible all the time. It was more, “I’m ready to call 999 when this goes horribly wrong.”
I got a positive response from a submission over the weekend. It’s still in the “Step 5 of 37″ stage, but it was a great feeling! But was it a surprise? More of a relief, I’d say! Sure, I think my writing is good, but there’s a pleasant warmth when someone agrees, especially someone who gets paid to evaluate these things.
While opening a window to let in the spring air, I jabbed at the window lock and it was squishier than I expected. I suppose that qualifies as a surprise (more so for the spider, I’m sure), but it was more a hard, full-bodied shudder than an ‘eek’.
The biggest surprise I participated in this week came from my writing. I sat there and typed, outline just a click away in an alternate window. As words marched from left to right across the screen, I found my head tilted to one side, my eyes narrowed, and I leaned forward and squinted. “What are you people doing?” And the words kept coming, a sentence, a parragraph, then suddenly 5 pages later I shook my head. What could I do? It’s really not my fault.
The unexpected result of this observational exercise was how rare surprise is. I’m getting jaded in my old age. But I like it that way. Having a bunch of friends jump out from behind the couch and shout, “Surprise!” might just push me over the edge.
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You’re so right. It was fun following you around on your surprise-seeking journey. What was the kind hanging out the window trying to do? Escape?
Oh WELL DONE!! with that positive outcome from your submission! FANTASTIC news!! Yay!! And good for you! Onwards and upwards!
I’m constantly surprised – I like my routine and normality and anything out of place and not in synch will cause my heart to jump, me to break out in clammy sweat, and my knees to tremble! Not a pretty sight!
Take care
x
Congrats on the positive response to your submission!
I think that as you get older you loose that sense of absolute surprise. Anymore when something unexpected comes my way I just deal with it and move on. I haven’t been rocked with excitement since I was young. I think years of routine and planning dull that sense of absolute surprise.
[ Follow me on Twitter: waltw ]
I struggled with this topic; sounds like a few others have, as well. India, that same guy was dangling a kid out the window when I was your age. Assholes happen.
Loved your travelogue; the search is what its about, isn’t it. In response to a few comments, yes, surprise doesn’t come easily after so many decades; but it morphs into an ability to wonder that’s been developing over those same years. Give me the wonder of early sunshine through a purple iris’ petal any morning; wonder trumps surprise.
[ Follow me on Twitter: girlfrenkate ]
I take it the spider met an untimely demise?
[ Follow me on Twitter: alexjcavanaugh ]
Hey, congrats on your positive news. I’m sure steps 6 thru 37 will be a snap. Good luck!
~jon
[ Follow me on Twitter: jmstro ]
I also have a hard time being surprised, although it is shockingly easy to startle me. Congrats on your good news!
[ Follow me on Twitter: cedickie ]
Woot! Positive submission info! Yay, you!
I should have waited a little longer before I wrote my WAG 24, because over the weekend, I received a phone call from The Husband telling me that instead of having to drive 53 miles to pick him up at the bus station (long, long story), I’d have to drive 105 miles to pick him up because the bus he was taking had broken down (another long, long story). We didn’t get to our campsite until 11:30 at night. Hmmmm
“Part of the adventure”, I guess…
[ Follow me on Twitter: dasos1 ]
Oh I get surprised all the time – the degree of surprise can probably be deduced by how serious a swear word I’ve thrown at the Surprising Thing…
Isn’t it fun when the characters just go their merry ways!
And yeah, surprises are sometimes hard to come by.
[ Follow me on Twitter: jemifraser ]
India, congrats on positive reviews. And I know exactly what you mean. While it’s always nice to have positive words spoken about your writing, it’s especially nice when it comes from someone who KNOWS good writing. (That’s why they make the big bucks, right?)
Great post!
xoxo
[ Follow me on Twitter: cathleenholst ]