Category: The Junk Drawer

My parents had a kitchen junk drawer, a catch all for gadgets that otherwise had no home. This is my writing junk drawer, a catch all for my writing.

Love Songs

On By Alicia McCauleyIn The Junk Drawer6 Comments

I’m a sucker for a good love song.  Love songs for your best beloved.  Love songs for your friends.  Love songs for your home.  Love songs for God.  I can’t get enough.  I just can’t help myself.  Here are a few I listen to over and over again.

“First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes is a happy tune, the perfect driving song.  So, crank the windows down, grab the hand of a loved one and get ready to be giddy.  My two favorite lines are: “This is the first day of my life, swear I was born right in the door way.”  and “These things take forever, I especially am slow.”  You and me both.

“Have I Told You Lately?” by Van Morrison is a song I’ve loved for gazillions of years and will love for gazillions more.  I’m swooning just thinking of this song.  And the line that makes my heart do a little dance?  “For the morning sun in all its glory greets the day with hope and comfort, too.”  What a way to start the day, filled with hope and comfort.  Go listen to this one right now.  I will, too, and then we’ll meet back here, ok?

“Falling Slowly” by The Frames isn’t a happy-go-lucky kind of love song.  At all.  But for me it’s so tender in the wanting, wanting to pick up the broken pieces of a worn out, worn down, tattered love that’s worth saving.  The line that strikes me most is “Take this sinking boat and point it home, we’ve still got time.”

Next up is “You’re Beautiful” by Phil Wickham.  I saw him in concert, and if you can fathom it, his voice is even more pure in person.  Hard to believe, I know.  I love how big this song feels, how he sings about all the things in nature that remind him of God.  My favorite line is not the most complex line in the song, but the simplicity of it moves me.  “I see Your face.  You’re beautiful, you’re beautiful, you’re beautiful.”

You’re going to make fun of me for this next one, but I don’t care.  “Ice Cream” by Sarah McLachlan is on my love song playlist.  Anyone who knows me at all knows that I will give my right arm for ice cream.  And if it’s Slow Churned Moosetracks, I’ll give you my left arm, too.  Although it would be really hard to eat ice cream without any arms.  I digress.  When Sarah sings the line “Your love is better than ice cream, better than anything else that I’ve tried.”, I’m amazed because she gets it-she gets how much I love ice cream and how much I love my hubby.  I prefer the live version of this one because it seems like the audience is having so much fun singing along.

“Grandma’s Hands” by Bill Withers might seem like an odd choice to be on a list of love songs, but love takes many forms.  It’s got this great bluesy feel and when Bill Withers sings the line “Grandma’s hands used to clap in church on Sunday mornings.” I can picture my own grandmother’s hands clapping along to all those Baptist hymns.  And the last line “When I get to heaven, I’ll look for Grandma’s hands”, well, that one is so true, so raw that it leaves me aching for that day.

Friends, Peter Gabriel could sing the phonebook and I’d be smitten, so it’s no surprise that “In Your Eyes” is a favorite.  Right, ladies?  I don’t even mind that it’s riddled with 80’s synthesizer.  That’s how good this song is.  In fact, I don’t even have a favorite line in this song because the whole thing is all kinds of delicious.  Not to mention the added imagery of John Cusack standing outside the house with his boombox held overhead.  I love being a child of the 80’s.

“Close Your Eyes” by Jump, Little Children is another non-traditional love song.  It’s such a tender song from a father to his child.  It’s the lullaby that keeps me company in the wee hours of the morning when sleep is elusive.  The second best line is “Tell me the stars are made of tin and that they’re banging on the roof.”  Man, I wish I could write like that.  And the reassurance that “The sun will rise and keep your mind at ease.”, that one makes me yawn, close my eyes and relax back into the soft arms of a dream. Sadly there aren’t many videos out there of this song.  The one I linked to is the best one out there and it doesn’t even begin to do the song justice.  This one deserves a listen in iTunes.

And finally, finally here is my absolute favorite love song, “How He Loves” by David Crowder Band.  It expresses perfectly how in awe I am at the depth of God’s love.  I get chill bumps every time I hear it and when we sing it in church, I can barely choke back the sobs that bob in my throat.  My favorite line is “Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest, I don’t have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that He loves us.”  Love that leaves no time, no space for to wallow in regrets?  Yes and amen.

Now it’s your turn.  What love songs do I need to add to my playlist?

Fangirl Moment

On By Alicia McCauleyIn The Junk Drawer2 Comments

Tuesday night, at Pitch-a-palooza, I had a major Fangirl Moment.  As I waited for the evening to begin, and got down to the very important business of fidgeting in my seat, I spotted Susan G. Wooldridge.

She was all ethereal, wearing an understated black outfit and a turquoise scarf.  She floated around the room hugging friends and saying only deep and meaningful things, I’m sure.

I leaned over to the woman on my right and whispered “There’s Susan Wooldridge!”.

The woman on my right moved one seat down.

So I leaned over to the woman on my left and tried again.  “There’s Susan Wooldridge.  The author of Poemcrazy.  She’s, like, right there.  Can you even believe it???”

“Who’s Susan Wooldridge?”

“She’s a terrific poet and author.  If you haven’t read Poemcrazy, you should.  Like now.”

“What’s her name again?”

“Susan Wooldridge.  Wooldridge with a ‘d’.  Here I’ll show you her latest book.”  I whipped Fools Gold out of my purse.

“You have her book in your purse?”

“Yeah, I was sorta hoping she’d be here tonight.  I’m going to ask for her autograph afterwards.”

The nice woman just blinked at me.

“I swear, I’m not a stalker.  I’m really a very normal person.”

“I’m sure she appreciates enthusiastic fans like you.”  The woman patted my leg.  Then she turned and talked to her husband.

At the end of the event, I scanned the room for Susan.  I walked around all casual, cool even.  Okay, not really.  But when I spotted her, I held all my nerdy Fangirlness to a minimum.

“Excuse me, aren’t you Susan Wooldridge?”  I held up her book.

“Yes, I am.” she smiled

“If you have a second, would you mind signing my book?”  I held out the book and a pen.

“I’d be happy to.”  She sat and I sat near her, resisting the urge to read what she was writing over her shoulder.

“I met you at the Redding Writers Forum.  I loved Poemcrazy.”

“Oh, that’s where I know you from.”  She handed the book back to me.

“Thanks so much for signing my book and indulging my inner Fangirl.”

“My pleasure.  It never gets old, sweetheart.”  And then Susan G. Wooldridge put her hand on my cheek and told me to keep writing.

Someday when I have a book of my own.  I hope to put my hand on someone’s cheek and call them sweetheart and tell them to keep writing.

For now, I am entirely content to be Susan G. Wooldridge’s #1 Fangirl.

Big Girl Pants

On By Alicia McCauleyIn The Junk Drawer5 Comments

Last night I put on my Big Girl Pants, as in summoned my courage and put on my brave face.

Pitch-a-Palooza was in Chico last night.

What-a-palooza?

Pitch-a-palooza.  An event sort of like American Idol for books.  Here’s how it works.  Writers step up to the mic and give a 60 second pitch about their book to a panel of qualified and highly knowledgeable professionals.  The panelists critique the pitch, pointing out what you did well and giving gentle suggestions on what to add or take away from your pitch to make it really sing.  At the end of the night a winner is declared and the winner gets a face to face meeting with an agent.

As I drove to Chico, I considered several things to pitch and narrowed it down to a novel.  Or a collection of poems.  Or a children’s book.  No, a novel, definitely a novel.  Maybe.  I rehearsed my pitch over and over again, talking to myself like a crazy person all alone in my car.  I shaved off words and cut out blather until I had it down to a succinct 40 seconds.

I felt confident that I had a good shot at the prize. In fact, I was sure I’d be declared the winner.  I was sure that after hearing my brilliant pitch Nicholas Sparks and Marisa de los Santos would suddenly burst out of the audience and fight over me, each of them begging to introduce me to their agents right that second.  (Don’t ask me why Nicholas Sparks was in my reverie.  I don’t usually read his books.  But apparently in my delusions, his opinion is very important.)

I pulled up to the venue half an hour before the start and it was already filling up.  I signed up to pitch and climbed over a row of people, accidentally sticking my tush in some poor man’s face before I plopped down in one of the only empty seats.  Around me people chattered nervously about their pitches.  Some clutched excerpts in their hands.  Others awkwardly edged through the crowd with complete storyboards.

I sat with nothing in my hands, just my words nervously knocking around in my head.

And then the event began.  There were too many people signed up.  So, 20 names would be chosen at random to pitch.  Person after person stood up to pitch.  Some were great, some were awful, all were applauded for being brave enough to put their idea out there.  I listened and learned and made tweaks to my pitch based on the panelists suggestions.

After nineteen people, the panel announced they would hear one final pitch.  My heart pounded in my ears.  I knit my sweaty fingers together.  They called the last name.

It wasn’t mine.

How were Nicholas Sparks and Marisa de los Santos supposed to fight over me now?

I was disappointed, but strangely rejuvenated.  I’d learned a ton about the book industry, learned about how to make my pitches better.  And I’d sat in a room full of fellow writers.  In the grand scheme of things, it was quite a night.

Back at home, I changed into my pajamas and sat down for a minute.  I was proud that I’d tossed my hat in the ring, content that I’d been brave enough to sign up.  And when I woke up this morning, I decided that I’m going to wear my Big Girl Pants more often.

Wanted: A Love Story

On By Alicia McCauleyIn The Junk Drawer1 Comment

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Standing tiptoe on the edge of a new year, I’m thinking about Donald Miller’s book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.  It’s all about writing your life, making it the kind of story you want to live.

I want mine to be a love story.

A story filled with affectionate moments with my favorite guy.

A story that includes big adventures in new settings.

A story of being brave and taking risks.

A story rich with the people I love, the characters who make me laugh, make me cry, make me a better person.

A story that includes being healthy and strong enough to explore on two wheels.

A story punctuated with quiet times to listen for God’s voice.

A story so wonderful that my fingers can’t type it fast enough.

I want mine to be a love story.

A love story for life.

What kind of story do you want to live this year?

A Few of My Favorite Things

On By Alicia McCauleyIn Christmas4 Comments

This Christmas I received many gifts that made my Grinch-sized heart grow.  There are a few in particular that stand out.  None of them are extravagant.  None of them are expensive.  They are simple and lovely.  And I am blessed to have people in my life who gave me such wonderful gifts.

1.  A friend made me a beautiful dragonfly necklace.  She used understated earth tones and I appreciate the fact that she took time out of her impossibly busy schedule to create something she knew I’d love.  I gave her a book.  I bought it online.  I am lame.

2.  Our school has a Christmas Boutique where kids can shop for gifts for their families.  One little girl, a blond fairy of a girl, kept shooing me away while she shopped because she had something in her basket I couldn’t see.  The next day she slipped a small box under our classroom tree.  I unwrapped the box and inside sat this precious dragonfly brooch.

“How did you know dragonflies are my favorite?”  I asked her.

“You told me once a long time ago, when I was little, and I remembered.”  She smiled proudly, showing off the window where her front teeth used to be.

I wore the brooch all day and thought of the precious girl, who at the age of six is still little, but already has a big heart.

3.  This giant Hershey’s kiss was from another of my little ones.  He’s an affectionate boy and we’ve had some conversations about how we hug, but don’t kiss each other at school.  He gave me a basket of pansies and then handed me a wrapped box.  When I opened it, he said “This kind of kiss is allowed at school, right?”  The class erupted into peels of laughter and the clever little guy grinned from ear to ear.

4.  I received this angel ornament from another student.  The ornament is sweet and when I hang it on the tree each year, I will remember how tightly the little boy hugged me after I opened it.  He also gave me dish of Hershey’s kisses and repeated the line from the kid who gave me the giant chocolate kiss.  In first grade if a joke is funny the first time, it’s absolutely hilarious the second time around.

5.  I have a friend who used to race bicycles and he always gives me awesome cycling stuff.  This year he gave me a gift card to RoadID.com.  My emergency shoe tag was wearing out and so I bought a shiny new one along with a wicking hat for spin class.  There are two great things about this present.  First, if something dastardly goes down on my bike, my shoe tag can help emergency workers figure out who I am very quickly.  Secondly, and much less morbidly, RoadID gives a percentage of each sale to one of nine charities, so upon check out you can choose which charity receives some cash.  Naturally, I chose LiveStrong.

6. My grandmother used to wear White Diamonds lotion.  When she passed away earlier this year, I wore one of her sweaters just to have her scent on my skin.  My aunt wrapped up a tube of White Diamonds for me this year and when I unwrapped it and unscrewed the lid, I was immediately filled with the scent of my grandmother, the scent of all the joyous memories we had together.

7. Okay, when I said none of the gifts I received this year were expensive or extravagant, I apparently had a brain hemorrhage and forgot about the gift Terry gave me.  My hubby gave me a housekeeper for a year.  Let that sink in for a minute.  He gave me an Alice.  Revel with me for a moment here: an entire year of no vacuuming, no dusting, no mopping.  Ladies, I understand that you’re probably swooning.  Put your head between your knees for a sec and breathe.  Yes, he is that good.  No, he doesn’t have a brother.

I hope your Christmas was full of lovely gifts and joyous memories.  And even if your heart was already the right size, I hope this Christmas season made it swell at least three sizes bigger.