Sometimes Nothing Is A Cool Hand

I sat down in front of my computer today, put my fingers on the keyboard, prepared to write, and could think of... nothing.

Kinda scary. But true.

Sometimes the process is easy and sometimes it's not.

Do you believe in divine intervention? There are times it's as if the clouds open up, a ray of light shines through, and here comes an idea.  I believe in that concept and while it doesn't work all the time, it works enough times for me.

But not today.

Ever see the movie Cool Hand Luke? It's been in the news lately with the passing of George Kennedy. Luke is played by Mr. Great Eyes, Mr. Handsome, Mr. Icon, Paul Newman. The movie begins with Luke, drunk, removing the tops of parking meters so he can ostensibly get the change, the cash, from them. The cops disagree with that and the next thing you know he's in the pen and the movie really begins.

It tells a great story and also explains how he got the moniker Cool Hand. Turns out in the movie he's playing cards, poker, and bluffs even though he has nothing in his hand. Everyone folds, he wins, and Paul says the now famous line, "Sometimes nothing is a cool hand."

Great movie quote.

Since we're talking, I told my dad that sometimes writing stories are tough and sometimes they flow out like you're pouring water from a glass.

Ask musicians.

There are songs, famous songs, that were written in 15 minutes while at the dentist's office. And there are other, just as famous songs, that took years to write. You'd think that great songs took forever and not so great songs did not.

Not always the case.

Writing can be a lonely business. Just you and your computer. Oh, you can walk past the computer, glance over at it, but unless you sit down and put in the effort? There is no painting of the picture.

Back to the fact I got nothing.  I keep trying, real hard, and I keep coming up with a big, wind sweeping across the plains, kind of nothing.

Nada.

Let's raise a glass to it 'cause sometimes you have to laugh and remember the phrase.

Sometimes nothing is a cool hand.



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