"Everyone wonders where creative people get their inspiration from. I found out... it's all around you."
- Roseanne Barr
Many people ask me where my creativity comes from... well I am still trying to figure that out myself. I think it all comes from my mother. Each of us has creativity traits derived from parents or siblings. I decided to write something about where my creativity comes from and tell you everything that I know and remember.
Creativity comes in many forms... independent thought... the people you are with... paint thrown on a canvas for no reason... food you prepare... just looking at someone... walking out the door... smelling the air... siblings who just want to get you in trouble for every nitpicky thing... everything has an inspiration somewhere.
But now that I am older and I haven't written in this thing for so long, maybe it's time for me to get back into the habit of doing this... but at the same time, making a "husband handbook." I think it's time to draw that inspiration and talk about me...
Yes, I am different but isn't everyone? This is what I've learned while I've lived on this planet. I've made friends, lost friends, seen friends pass on, family members leave us, and going to funerals of friends you knew for a short time but became close because of something you did for them.
This is me. Here's my life.
But now that I am older and I haven't written in this thing for so long, maybe it's time for me to get back into the habit of doing this... but at the same time, making a "husband handbook." I think it's time to draw that inspiration and talk about me...
Yes, I am different but isn't everyone? This is what I've learned while I've lived on this planet. I've made friends, lost friends, seen friends pass on, family members leave us, and going to funerals of friends you knew for a short time but became close because of something you did for them.
This is me. Here's my life.
From Pre-school to Pre-Kindergarten, the 2 on, 3 off, 3 on, 2 off thing was interesting. I always played with the number and letter blocks. I also was doing numbers that someone shouldn't even be saying until they're what? 7? I remember always being ahead of kids in reading. I got in trouble one day for mixing paints. I remember those little events with my pre-school/pre-kindergarten teacher and aide when we would hop into vans and watch these little fun events and plays. I can still remember them to this day because I feel like my brain is on fast forward. I remember snack time... Why I hated going to Good Friday Services and hearing the slam of the book... I remember the school picnics at the end of the year too... I remember when we'd go to the playground just down the road on Edmondson to hold our picnics.
Then we moved to Baltimore Highlands. Sitting in my uncle's very old white truck... Seeing that ugly insect on a piece of wood... Watching a house become a home...
In Kindergarten, I remember the days when my mom would set down my sandwich and drink in front of me while watching The Price is Right before my bus came to take me to Baltimore Highlands Elementary School in Kindergarten. I was also reminded of: "Put on your marshmallow shoes and zip your lips." I remember when my father would always walk up to my teacher and say: "How was he today." Mrs. Rudie would give a: "Ummm" answer... I don't know what my final score was... 73 wins to 107 losses probably?
I remember I prolonged conversation when Mrs. Rudie pulled my dad in to talk with him. Now was I trouble... I don't know... Here's what I learned: A second grade teacher named Mrs. Saverese came into the room and said: "Mr. Leuschner, your child is way ahead of all the kids." It was about 10 minutes long and my dad came out, tossed me in the car and said: "When did you learn how to read so quickly?"
There's the truth: Mrs. Saverese would pull me out of "work time" and take me in for reading... I was already reading chapter novels before everyone made complete sentences. I remember the first book I read to Mrs. Saverese... It was a book about fish. Our last session together (we had about 12 of them), Mrs. Saverese said to my dad: "He's reading at a college level. I think he has the ability to become a fantastic writer." I won't forget my dad's reaction when he looked at me. He nodded his head and said: "That's amazing work, Josh."
I also remember the trip to the farm with the 2 kindergartens combined and there was this one girl named Jessica who kept hitting on me. Girl, I'm 5 years old!!!! Go away. She liked me but I did not reciprocate those feelings. I didn't return to B.H.E.S. because it was time to go back to St. Paul.
My first grade teacher, Mrs. Robinson was someone really special. She cared about her flock. She also despised those times when we had to do memory because no one really studied all that much. We're first graders and our minds are still developing. You really think we're going to remember that? We learned the ten commandments, bible verses, and so on. I also remember the day we got "Highlights" and I never got the chance to read "Buddy Bear." I also remember being star 13 and Gabby Hadder constantly having illnesses. My best friend was Dianna Maurer. Here's something else: I wasn't winning at growing up. I never won that.
Mrs. Robinson was probably the best teacher I had because she never wanted to see anyone fail. Never. But another thing was that I was in a group of 3 kids who were ahead of the curb in reading. Mrs. Lilley...? Said I was incredibly far ahead of the tripartite which consisted of myself, Corinda, and Jenny.
Then we moved to Baltimore Highlands. Sitting in my uncle's very old white truck... Seeing that ugly insect on a piece of wood... Watching a house become a home...
In Kindergarten, I remember the days when my mom would set down my sandwich and drink in front of me while watching The Price is Right before my bus came to take me to Baltimore Highlands Elementary School in Kindergarten. I was also reminded of: "Put on your marshmallow shoes and zip your lips." I remember when my father would always walk up to my teacher and say: "How was he today." Mrs. Rudie would give a: "Ummm" answer... I don't know what my final score was... 73 wins to 107 losses probably?
I remember I prolonged conversation when Mrs. Rudie pulled my dad in to talk with him. Now was I trouble... I don't know... Here's what I learned: A second grade teacher named Mrs. Saverese came into the room and said: "Mr. Leuschner, your child is way ahead of all the kids." It was about 10 minutes long and my dad came out, tossed me in the car and said: "When did you learn how to read so quickly?"
There's the truth: Mrs. Saverese would pull me out of "work time" and take me in for reading... I was already reading chapter novels before everyone made complete sentences. I remember the first book I read to Mrs. Saverese... It was a book about fish. Our last session together (we had about 12 of them), Mrs. Saverese said to my dad: "He's reading at a college level. I think he has the ability to become a fantastic writer." I won't forget my dad's reaction when he looked at me. He nodded his head and said: "That's amazing work, Josh."
I also remember the trip to the farm with the 2 kindergartens combined and there was this one girl named Jessica who kept hitting on me. Girl, I'm 5 years old!!!! Go away. She liked me but I did not reciprocate those feelings. I didn't return to B.H.E.S. because it was time to go back to St. Paul.
My first grade teacher, Mrs. Robinson was someone really special. She cared about her flock. She also despised those times when we had to do memory because no one really studied all that much. We're first graders and our minds are still developing. You really think we're going to remember that? We learned the ten commandments, bible verses, and so on. I also remember the day we got "Highlights" and I never got the chance to read "Buddy Bear." I also remember being star 13 and Gabby Hadder constantly having illnesses. My best friend was Dianna Maurer. Here's something else: I wasn't winning at growing up. I never won that.
Mrs. Robinson was probably the best teacher I had because she never wanted to see anyone fail. Never. But another thing was that I was in a group of 3 kids who were ahead of the curb in reading. Mrs. Lilley...? Said I was incredibly far ahead of the tripartite which consisted of myself, Corinda, and Jenny.
My mind developed pretty fast, now didn't it.
Leaps and bounds came from 2nd and 3rd grade but my annus horribilis came in 4th grade.
Now cue the Northern Exposure theme... my 5th grade teacher was a fish out of water from Westchester, New York (Must've just gotten her Masters) by the name of Miss Amy Philbrick. I won't forget what Mrs. Karin said: "Norm hired her." One thing she was well known for was her courteousness and steadfastness. I remember a time when she put up a Venn diagram between her and her sister, Adele. I will not forget that. Adele was apparently the chatty one, Amy was the quiet one. Adele was the sports freak, Amy was the brainy one. I raised my hand and said: Ok, so what do you both have in common? I won't forget what Ms. Philbrick said: "We're there for each other when it's time to up the other up, which is what some of you need to do." Yeah, I won't forget the "homework strike" either because we were fed up with the excessive amount of homework we were getting... But yes, it was 5th grade, you were prepping for the next league, which was middle school.
I also remember the Friday nights when we would all go down to the school to pick up my mother and then head out to eat. How kids would be so excited to see my dad.
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Leaps and bounds came from 2nd and 3rd grade but my annus horribilis came in 4th grade.
Now cue the Northern Exposure theme... my 5th grade teacher was a fish out of water from Westchester, New York (Must've just gotten her Masters) by the name of Miss Amy Philbrick. I won't forget what Mrs. Karin said: "Norm hired her." One thing she was well known for was her courteousness and steadfastness. I remember a time when she put up a Venn diagram between her and her sister, Adele. I will not forget that. Adele was apparently the chatty one, Amy was the quiet one. Adele was the sports freak, Amy was the brainy one. I raised my hand and said: Ok, so what do you both have in common? I won't forget what Ms. Philbrick said: "We're there for each other when it's time to up the other up, which is what some of you need to do." Yeah, I won't forget the "homework strike" either because we were fed up with the excessive amount of homework we were getting... But yes, it was 5th grade, you were prepping for the next league, which was middle school.
I also remember the Friday nights when we would all go down to the school to pick up my mother and then head out to eat. How kids would be so excited to see my dad.
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But I want to put a pause on the past and look at the present.
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When I look at where my creativity, musings, and so on come together... I think about the person and persons who have had the most influence and inspiration.
Let's begin with my mother. My mother taught me everything I needed to know about life through discipline, child care, cooking, and her? Just being my mom. I remember it all began with my first day at a new school when I decided to go to Baltimore Highlands for Kindergarten. She set a cheese sandwich cut diagonally right in front of me and had the television on for me to watch "The Price is Right." She looked at me and said, I know this is going to be different for you but... let's make it work ok?
I agreed with her sentiments, but I didn't agree with what I was doing.
I learned a lot about child care from my mom as she took care of so many kids while she was enrichment director. I also understood that her job was demanding and when the lights went out, that meant: "Ok, everyone sit down, shut up, momma bear's about to talk." But that was the way she did things. Flash forward and learning later that so many kids cited my mom as a huge influence to where they are today. Whenever mom started with: "Ok, everyone, listen up..." That meant someone did something that they shouldn't have.
Mom knew how to drive the point home and it worked so well.
My mom taught all three of us how to cook and clean except it seemed to be my mom doing all the cleaning... Well I woke up one day and I started fending for myself more. Doing my own shopping, taking $100 with me to the grocery store for stuff I wanted. Cleaning my own room and keeping it clean. I took that with me into the future into my own home too. I don't think I like messes anymore thanks to my mom's know-how and direction. I'm trying my best to develop concepts and so on. I get 25% of my creativity from my mother, I'd say. I think I even developed my mom's penmanship because I sure as hell didn't get it from my dad. I'd always say to my mom: "That's my sports signature." Another piece was singing. My mom was a fantastic singer for the choir and definitely had a love for Handel's Messiah and still does.
Who wouldn't cite my mom as a good influence?
Let me turn to my father. My father wasn't an outdoorsy kind of guy who wanted to go hunting and fishing. He prefers video games, shoot 'em ups, good television, and so on. My dad also could cook, clean, do most of the driving to places, and so on. My dad preferred ball games as opposed to going out a fishing rod and sitting on the dock of a river waiting for a bite. I give my dad the credit for driving home my love of sports and numbers. I remember a time when we went somewhere (Now I don't remember where but my dad was watching a football game and taking notes) and we watched the Los Angeles Raiders play against the Oilers. I also remember the sesame street tapes too... Hmmm... Where in God's name did we go?
My dad took me to cub scouts... where I learned about the bond between father and son. My dad was an adult leader. He also did a lot of ironing work and stuff for the uniforms too.
I also remember the time I had the flu and we had the winter jamboree... Even though I was running at only 40%, dad praised me for getting through it with a lot of poise, especially in the snowshoe competition where we finished with the fastest time and broke the winter jamboree record. I also helped put flags on the graves of those who died in wars. I met zero new cub scouts while I was there. But then again, my mom loved her men in uniform (Matt, myself, and dad).
My dad also indicated to my mother that I was not handy and that's a true point. I can't fix things. I don't know how to fix a car, work a power saw... nothing.
When I look at where my creativity, musings, and so on come together... I think about the person and persons who have had the most influence and inspiration.
Let's begin with my mother. My mother taught me everything I needed to know about life through discipline, child care, cooking, and her? Just being my mom. I remember it all began with my first day at a new school when I decided to go to Baltimore Highlands for Kindergarten. She set a cheese sandwich cut diagonally right in front of me and had the television on for me to watch "The Price is Right." She looked at me and said, I know this is going to be different for you but... let's make it work ok?
I agreed with her sentiments, but I didn't agree with what I was doing.
I learned a lot about child care from my mom as she took care of so many kids while she was enrichment director. I also understood that her job was demanding and when the lights went out, that meant: "Ok, everyone sit down, shut up, momma bear's about to talk." But that was the way she did things. Flash forward and learning later that so many kids cited my mom as a huge influence to where they are today. Whenever mom started with: "Ok, everyone, listen up..." That meant someone did something that they shouldn't have.
Mom knew how to drive the point home and it worked so well.
My mom taught all three of us how to cook and clean except it seemed to be my mom doing all the cleaning... Well I woke up one day and I started fending for myself more. Doing my own shopping, taking $100 with me to the grocery store for stuff I wanted. Cleaning my own room and keeping it clean. I took that with me into the future into my own home too. I don't think I like messes anymore thanks to my mom's know-how and direction. I'm trying my best to develop concepts and so on. I get 25% of my creativity from my mother, I'd say. I think I even developed my mom's penmanship because I sure as hell didn't get it from my dad. I'd always say to my mom: "That's my sports signature." Another piece was singing. My mom was a fantastic singer for the choir and definitely had a love for Handel's Messiah and still does.
Who wouldn't cite my mom as a good influence?
Let me turn to my father. My father wasn't an outdoorsy kind of guy who wanted to go hunting and fishing. He prefers video games, shoot 'em ups, good television, and so on. My dad also could cook, clean, do most of the driving to places, and so on. My dad preferred ball games as opposed to going out a fishing rod and sitting on the dock of a river waiting for a bite. I give my dad the credit for driving home my love of sports and numbers. I remember a time when we went somewhere (Now I don't remember where but my dad was watching a football game and taking notes) and we watched the Los Angeles Raiders play against the Oilers. I also remember the sesame street tapes too... Hmmm... Where in God's name did we go?
My dad took me to cub scouts... where I learned about the bond between father and son. My dad was an adult leader. He also did a lot of ironing work and stuff for the uniforms too.
I also remember the time I had the flu and we had the winter jamboree... Even though I was running at only 40%, dad praised me for getting through it with a lot of poise, especially in the snowshoe competition where we finished with the fastest time and broke the winter jamboree record. I also helped put flags on the graves of those who died in wars. I met zero new cub scouts while I was there. But then again, my mom loved her men in uniform (Matt, myself, and dad).
My dad also indicated to my mother that I was not handy and that's a true point. I can't fix things. I don't know how to fix a car, work a power saw... nothing.
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When I started writing short novellas and stories to pass the time, I ultimately give the creativity portion to everyone I've known over my time here on Earth. Funny thing is that when you think about it: Nothing ever truly makes sense. You got to make sense of it yourself to give yourself that sense of thought.
Yes, Creativity comes from those around you and it's all around you.
I've also learned that over time, you lose friends, the space in your life becomes emptier, life becomes busier, there's not enough time for you any more, but life continues on even without someone in it. I learned this well in 2017 when I lost 3 family members and 2 friends.
Another thing that I am learning is that work is just that... work. From 2006 to now, I'm there to make money and not make friends. I've personally had it with being nice to people only to find out they are scumbags. I've done given up on trying to be cool with co-workers but... I am at the point where it's fruitless.
Again, taking that creativity I found and putting it into writing. I would love to take what I have in mind and make a "Healthy, Handy Husband Handbook." A small pamphlet on how to be a good husband and do the right things because men cooking and cleaning is very masculine and shows that they can do these things too provided you have the right influences in life.
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Well, this is my life how I learned, remember, know, and continue it... Nothing's making sense any more, but that's the way I want it right now.
