I happened to find this article from The Wire in my Facebook feed yesterday morning. The condensed version is Amtrak providing “residencies” to “writers” for “free.” As I’m lead to believe “free” is meant to be they don’t have a price tag yet, “writers” are to be determined by Amtrak, and “residencies” suggest spending a night in a sleeper car. What I gather is they’re still in the stages of determining if this will work out for them.
It all started when a New York City writer made a suggestion that found its way to the right people. Go figure. Once the test run was offered to a colleague of said writer, it made itself into print. Many involved in the writing community have expressed interest in the project for its “creative atmosphere.” I can agree. This combines two of my favorite activities: being in motion and writing stuff down on paper. I write on paper because I like to doodle, and edit, and tap my pencil on the pad and stick it behind my ears.
It made my heart ache for about two hours with flare ups each time I edited this entry.
Why would such a fun idea be so painful?
Granted it’s Amtrak, with its memories of crashes and other problems.
…but so what?
Airlines have their risks. Why the Hell does it hurt so much?
For the business conscious, it’s a matter of supply and demand. I could see the demand flying into outer space. The supply, on the other hand, would stay at a precious few. I did write my reflections on the amount of writers in this world, and how much of a mind trip it is. What would make me so special? Such things are declared to be a case-by-case basis. I’m never good at case-by-case basis. I’ve known this since I was little.
I find myself often imagining the worst and hoping for the best even when history has given me many examples of outcome. I suppose I could work it around my job, but why even go that far? These things aren’t meant for me. The only time I get anywhere is by having a multitude concrete achievements to precede me. There isn’t anything magical about me.
Society is fickle, very fickle. Winning its favor was never my strong suit.
Corvidae in the Fields 
“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Sometimes that happens, and I know there are plenty of daydreaming Americans willing to eat that up with a spoon.
However, there are those who know their abilities and hold no illusions about them. Work, and hard at that, make things happen in their life happen. What ever magic they attribute to it is draped over that work like a blanket.
Okay, this one then: “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work” — Colin Powell
If you really felt that it wasn’t for you, why did you go through the trouble of writing a blog entry about it? At the very least, make it so you won’t drive yourself mad wondering what would have happened if you had given it greater consideration.
I did it for a number of reasons:
– It is a way to get one’s emotions out through words instead of keeping them pent up.
– The competitive process brought forth by the idea is not for me. The residency sounds like fun. There’s a difference between the two.
– I wanted to discuss Amtrak’s idea. Maybe someone hadn’t heard about it until now.
– I know how I integrate into the world, and also understand the whimsy of American dreaming.
– It’s my blog, and I can write if I want to. 😛
I’m spending a nice sliver of my savings going on a long walk. I don’t think I can work Amtrak in, too. It’s a neat idea, but I’ve never been very good at getting anything done around other people. I have to go to the mountains and lock myself in a house alone to get major writing done.
I could see doing something on a train. It was easy enough to write on NJ Rail back in the day. I’m not sure I have the funds to do much of anything this year. It’s a nice thought though.
I have to say that it sounds like a cool idea….give it a go.
It’ll be in the back of my mind for a long time, Roger.