Saturdays are going to be reserved for the Weekend Writing prompt. Each weekend I’ll find a prompt whether in the numerous books sitting by my bed or online and just free-write for 10 minutes. Whatever spills forth is published, no editing or second guessing.
This Saturday’s Prompt
Write a letter to your city
found in No One Cares What You Had for Lunch by Margaret Mason
Dear Iowa City
It’s been a while since we’ve been alone.
I’ve been so busy with life that I haven’t had a moment to just sit and enjoy your company.
It’s time to grab a latte, relax, and get to know each other again.
The world would stop for a moment.
The aroma of fresh brewed coffee would fill the air and the sounds of café jazz will be the soundtrack to our conversation. We would chat about random things like the weather or the crazy sweater trees and maybe the Hawkeye football team. I would tell you how much I miss the summer farmer’s market with it’s brightly colored fruits and veggies just begging to be eaten. Then I’d lament the weather, informing you that walking through the ped mall bundled up in my giant down coat and mittens just isn’t the same as summer. I’d giddily tell you how excited I am for the holidays, not just because I love turkey and Santa Claus, but because the students will be gone and I’ll finally have you all to myself.
These conversations will remind me of days gone by and I’ll be transported back to when we first met.
It was an awkward introduction. I wasn’t sure about you at first. Everyone seemed smarter, more stylish and cooler than the nerdy girl from northern Iowa. You welcomed me with open coffee houses and free Cambus rides in the rain. Sure we’ve had our moments, like that time I drank too much and tossed my cookies in the ped mall. Yeah…sorry about that. But I made up for it when I spent some quiet afternoons biking along the river and those moments on the crew team as we let our oars slice through the smooth water.
You are more than just the bars downtown you are a way of life. You are open-minded, adventurous and welcoming. After 10 years these qualities have influenced my life too, I owe you so much. I found myself here, through education, friendship, love and pain. There’s so much more I’m looking forward to sharing with you, and I can’t wait for my boys to experience you too.
Except for the cookie tossing in the ped mall they can skip that part.