Why Do You Do

Why is it that creativity comes so easily to some, and hardly at all, or with great difficulty, to others? Is it something that can be taught, like macrame... or is it something that even should be taught if it could be, seeing as it's really not conducive to making a living. Which is, after all, in our society, ostensibly what we are here to do.

Being a creative sort, I have a problem with that old and irritating question... "what do you do?" I'm always tempted to be way too graphic, explaining what happens, say, from the time I wake up until breakfast. Which will, of course, send an unsuspecting questioner rushing for the exit, or at least cause them to glance for a long time at their watch. So I usually come back with a mildly sardonic answer like "not that much, really. What do you do?" A little rude maybe. Certainly a bit vague. And then they'll tell me they're a schoolteacher or something, and assume I'm basically unemployable. Which is quite close to the truth.

This somehow brings to mind the common greeting "How are you?" It doesn't really make any sense, if you think about it. "What are you" or "why are you" would seem much more logical questions to ask. Yet, if you were to ask somebody "what are you", it would be deemed absolutely rude. A real conversation stopper. And so when asked this nonsensical question "how are you", we answer with an equally nonsensical yet totally expected and acceptable "fine, thank you". Which is also the correct answer to the classic nonsense question "how do you do". How do you do what? Again, "why do you do" would seem a better question. And for the sake of easy and non-offensive rejoinder, the obvious retort would be "why not. And you?"

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Creativity, in many ways, is a kind of social disease, don't you think? It doesn't necessarily make for good manners. Socially well adjusted people just go along with the program, knowing when the proper time to make certain utterances is. This is a good thing. Creative people sometimes shouldn't even be let out of the house. And often aren't. Of course, the two don't have to be mutually exclusive. But often are.

This isn't at all, by the way, what I intended to write about. Lisa sent me an e-mail, which was very kind, saying where have you been and how about you copy and paste some of the blogs you post over on your myspace page here. And I explained that I basically have a dog brain, and thus am actually lazy as can be imagined, except when somebody comes to the door or I'm taken out for my walk. Copying and pasting is a challenge I'm barely up to. Besides, I figure if somebody wants to read any of those dissertations on myspace they can go over there and read 'em. I'd just as soon write some new dissertations over here. I didn't tell Lisa all that of course. I told her I'd gladly copy and paste some of my myspace blogs over here. I am, you see, a damn liar.

Which is, I suppose, my answer to the question "why do you do?"

"What do you do" would be answered by "I'm a musician". Or "I'm a songwriter". Or "I'm a marginally employable creative type". Or, if we were just exchanging pleasantries, a perky "whatever".

Anyway, it's nice to be back here in Wiffle World...