WOW: Creative

Another WOW post. This week we were asked to write about "Creativity" with specific reference to this quote:

“There is a correlation between the creative and the screwball.
So we must suffer the screwball gladly.”
– Kingman Brewster


Quotes such as these make me feel vindicated. Damnit, I’m immature! Immature and proud of it! Yes, I’m still laughing at Beavis & Butthead humor and every time … EVERY TIME I pass the “Hump Zone” sign I giggle.

There is a point in almost every creative product where something that I began with dramatic intent suddenly just becomes funny. Just tilt it on its head a little and the parody of the original is just worth so much more. Often I have that moment and then refocus on finishing what I’ve already started but maybe the funny thoughts lead to something else.

And screwball is nearly the same as having a screw loose. I’m of the “mad scientist” variety with my hair all awry and an inability to complete common logical tasks (like figuring out that if something comes in pairs then I only need to buy half as many as I need). I need a caretaker and specifically somebody that understands that while I may be an idiot at putting an outfit together or basic subtraction I can come up with ideas for stories and concepts for projects seemingly out of nowhere. My parodies of bad poetry turn into good poetry. I write good bad poetry. I create because I can laugh at everyday things.

I’m also a mess. There is no space safe from my clutter (though I’m trying very hard to keep my car clutter-free since it’s my safe space). While writing this I found another quote by A. A. Milne: “One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.” This is true too. Sometimes I set myself to the task of finding out what is in a certain pile only to discover a magazine I intended to but never read. And then the rest of my “cleaning time” is spent discovering the exciting travel destinations in Oceanside or learning about the new line of metallic nail polish (circa 1995). Everything leads to something and I’ll add that the timing of discovery borders on the supernatural and Fate. And of course if I didn’t have a wandering mind capable of believing in and conceiving of the weird in the first place – so many good stories would be lost. So maybe I don’t fit in with polite society when I bring up conversations about the Mothman or Irish mummies but at least I have character!

And I really haven’t met that many people who don’t “suffer the screwball gladly.” Have you noticed? There is a whole new line of Ellen DeGeneres greeting cards on the market!