Sep 27
A Writer’s Obituary
A while back, the Richmond Times-Dispatch ran an essay written by novelist Lee Smith following the Virginia Highlands Festival in August. I had saved the clipping for a blog post, and I just came across it as I’m going through things to throw away. I figured that if I write about it now, that’s one more piece of paper I can dispose of.
The essay described the late Lou Crabtree, a woman who loved to write and did so until her death in April at age 93.
Smith describes her time as a writing instructor and the day back in 1980 when she first met Crabtree. Crabtree was in her late sixties, but quickly impressed her teacher with the first short story she brought to class. After that class, Smith asked if Crabtree had any other pieces she’d written; the next day, the woman brought in a suitcase full of poems and stories. The next day, there were even more.
But what amazed Smith was this simple fact: Lou Crabtree had been doing all this writing over the years with no thought of being published. A sample of the essay:
“‘I write for my own enjoyment,’ she said. ‘I’ve done it all my life. It gives me pleasure in my soul.’“I asked her then what she’d do if somebody came along and told her that she couldn’t write any more. ‘Well, you know, I would just have to SNEAK!’”
I know what she means. Even when I don’t have time to write…like now…I miss it. My mind is still writing on its internal notepad. And I can’t wait to be able to set aside regular time to write when I’m settled in the new place in a couple of weeks.
You can read the entire essay here. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Now back to the packing.
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October 14th, 2006 at 4:49 pm
I dearly love “I would just have to SNEAK.”