Permission to Navel-Gaze

Thanks, Melissa Febos and Miranda July. Plus new prompt.

I took an online writing workshop with Melissa Febos on Saturday and I’m still buzzing about it. (I first wrote, “My brain has been prodded.” Then, “prodded in a useful way.” Because useless brain prodding would be what? A crossword puzzle. Trying to memorize the periodic table or the lyrics to R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It”.) I mean, I want to keep thinking about the workshop, so the magic won’t slip away.

Photo by MChe Lee on Unsplash.

They say that teachers make great students, and it’s true. I’ve always loved school. (Rules, snacks, stationery, clear ways to complete projects and impress elders.) My friend says she’d like to go back to college when she’s 80 for easy housing and ample mental stimulation. (Plus, live sports to watch, which I don’t quite get.) She wouldn’t care about grades or accolades. She’d take theater classes and attend whenever she felt like it. I’d go back too, if school were free (for art history, guitar lessons), but I wouldn’t be able to w…