21. "Give a Little Whistle!" -

[Note: This post was originally posted on NaNoPubYe.org 's blog site,
then moved to this site on 8/7/2005.]

"When a dog runs at you, whistle for him."
~ Henry David Thoreau

I love this quote. It's fascinating. All sorts of scenarios flood my mind when I read it. And I wonder . . . did Thoreau ever actually do this? It certainly sounds like risky, even fool-hardy behavior. Would it work? -- or is it just an old philosopher's saying?

Have you ever read something and had a niggling little feeling in the back of your mind, like it meant something important for you somehow, but you couldn't think what it could be? I've thought it over, off and on for several weeks, and I think I finally "get it". At least I can think further than the dog and apply it to other situations, including my life and my writing. I also remembered an incident in which I used that principle -- or at least a version of it -- and it worked! So, I'm thinking that maybe I'm getting a handle on the concept that Thoreau had in mind.

. . .

[6:00 a.m., Tues (7/26)] I lost the rest if this post when IE malfunctioned and then my whole computer locked up on me. I'd worked on it most of the night and was just about done with it -- could've sworn I'd saved more of it -- but guess not. My brain is too numb to re-write it now. I have to get some rest and freshen up the synapses before I can have a go at it, again. It's always a little demoralizing when this sort of thing happens, but I'll get over it and re-write it later today.

In the meantime, if you have any ideas about this one, feel free to comment.

Take care, Y'all and… Write On!
~ Nanette

© Nanette Y. Francis, 2005. All Rights Reserved.