I was a history major in college. Most of my roommates were, too, and we threw dinner parties to commemorate important dates. The Chicago Fire, the invasion of Poland, Pearl Harbor Day, Armistice Day – anything that came close enough to a free weekend so we had time to cook.
Dates and food are still important to me – I made Cheesehenge Fondue for a summer solstice – but as a writer I want to do more. I have loads of inspiration – in the last few years I’ve read several histories published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. TVW member Marlene Dotterer published her wonderful The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking.
I also have plenty of dates. This year alone is the 150th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg, the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination, and the 50th anniversary of Dr. Who. Next year is the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. In fact, I have a notebook full of fun days and odd holidays and nearly forgotten historical events that should inspire many a story.. The operative word is “should.”
So far, I’ve had trouble pulling myself out of the observer role, the “what-does-this-date-mean-to-me?” role. Separating my ego from my words is job one for getting a story written. One of these days, though, the right story for the right date will reveal itself. Until then, bring on the cookbooks – there’s always another anniversary to celebrate.