Stay Drunk on Writing
Many summers ago. I, a young boy, laying in the grass in the afternoon heat. I remember it well. An old paperback in my hands. Cover torn, pages yellowing. The Martian Chronicles. A rare find for 50¢ at a local flea market. Daydreaming about futuristic events that took place on Mars in the (then) not-too-distant future of 1999 and the early 2000’s. I looked up from the book and watched the clouds drift lazily by. My curiosity piqued, I wondered what was out there.
A world beyond our own?
As a schoolboy I feared a dystopian future where book burning was celebrated, ignorance held in high regard, and knowledge suppressed. Fahrenheit 451 sparked in me a lifelong fascination with reading and science fiction.
When the weather cools and the leaves begin to fall from the trees I often revisit Something Wicked This Way Comes. The book that, as a child, inspired within me a dark curiosity of the small town carnival. Maybe this will be the year I read The Halloween Tree to my daughter. Maybe I’ll finally read The October Country.
Ray Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920. I’m writing this the day after his birthday. By the time anyone sees it, another couple of days will have passed.
Happy belated birthday, Mr. Bradbury. I’ll be sure to get “drunk” in your honor.
I’ve always loved to read. Science fiction, fantasy, and horror, then as now, among my favorite genres. Ray Bradbury was one of the writers responsible for my early love of reading. It was my escape from the mundane events of reality, to travel to far away places and visit worlds beyond our own.
Writing is something I’ve always wanted to do more of, to take others on incredible journeys, but I’ve always struggled. I’ve struggled to find the time. I’ve struggled to find the words. I’ve struggled to find the discipline. I saw this graphic online yesterday in celebration of Mr. Bradbury’s birthday and wanted to write about it (but not before stealing it — sorry, but writers are supposed to be thieves and liars). Many of us are here for motivation. I hope it ignites the same kind of inspiration with others that it did with me.
Here’s a toast to all of us: Drink on!
