I’m not talking vomitous purging.  Clutter purge was the name of the game today.  (For the record, I don’t have ataxophobia - a fear of disorder -… see yesterday’s post…  In fact I’m sort of on the other side of the spectrum.)

It started innocently enough - I had a conversation with my cousin who was hucking unused and unwanted stuff left and right.  So I decided to copy her.  I thought it would be a cupboard or two.  As a side note, I am a compulsive paper keeper (this may be a dominent trait that comes with being a writer). I have some kind of obsessional issue with not throwing paper things away.  Magazines.  Rough drafts of novels.  Notes from my friends.  Copies of Vanity Fair from years ago.  It drives my family insane.  It’s hard to defend why I must keep scraps of paper - they are NOT things that my life depends on…

But back to the purging.  I’m going to blame it on some kind of freakish manic energy which possessed me (and the temptation of a well organized space).  And when that happens, you go with it…  Besides, why would any sane individual keep scraps of paper that are totally without purpose?

So you already know that I’m not anti-disaster.  But the weird thing is that clean, clutter-free, well-defined spaces really does it for me.  Seems mutually exclusive?  It’s the ebb and tide of the seasons, maybe.  And today was autumn-ish as far as temperature.  A head start on my annual fall organizing frenzy. 

Decluttering is a great place to start if you’re into Feng Shui.  And I’m into it.  Mostly because it works.  And also because it feels good to be doing things with a purpose.  So today when I was yanking things from junk drawerssss (oh yes.  not a type-o.  that would be MULTIPLE junk drawers) and dusting on top of my cupboards, I was intent on improving the flow in my life.  Caveat:  This is a small explanation from a beginner.  If you want the real goods, go to www.kellytalbot.com).  FLOW.  CHI.  INTENTION. Three important Feng Shui words.  Flow means how smoothly things go around here.  Chi is the energy.  You want it balanced.  And decluttering with intention means that as you’re hucking the crap that you’ve accumulated for no good reason, you’re thinking of the wonderful, empty drawers that will be housing your GIGANTIC publishing contracts and your HUGE publisher advances.  So anyhow, as I’m tossing the garbage out and letting all this opportunity in, I come across this martini recipe:

1 oz. Blue Curacao (McGuiness)

1 oz. Melon Liqueur (McGuiness)

1 oz. Green Sour Puss

Splash of Cranberry Juice

Shake and pour over ice.

It’s hand-written.  Sort of smudged.  Certainly no treasure, you might say.  Especially since I’ve memorized it.  Why would I need the actual paper?  EXCEPT… A student wrote it down for me.  (I mentioned I loved this particular martini and he surprised me the next day by handing me the secret formula.)  The very sad thing is that about two months later, he passed away in an accident.  He was a brilliant, dynamic person - with a great sense of humor.  The entire class adored him.

So.  Now I’m sitting in the middle of my piles of garbage and within reach of the flow I was craving and what am I to do?  You got it:  One fabulous martini in honour of the person who snafooed the recipe from the fab restaurant.  Just a small reminder that some shreds of paper are worth holding onto (even if your life doesn’t depend on them).

Today’s Juicy Web Address: http://knightagency.blogspot.com/

Every Thursday there’s an agent Q&A.  Get there early to get your question in…. Usually Elaine Spencer is answering & she’s awesome.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 9th, 2007 at 11:59 am. You can leave a comment below.