I’m just back from a relaxing vacation in Orlando with the kids. To ease into the writing groove (and adjust to the shock of a 30 degree drop in temperature), I decided to share some words of wisdom I discovered while standing in line at the Spiderman ride in the Islands of Adventure theme park (an absolute MUST-DO for anyone traveling to that area!).
The queue winds through the Daily Bugle newsroom where the following three posters are displayed:
You don’t win a Pulitzer by
sitting on your
assci characters …
So get moving!
_________________________________
Midnight Deadline:
You must turn in
either:
Your final story copy
or
Your resignation.
It’s your choice.
Sincerely, the Management
___________________________________
Don’t procrastinate!
Expect delays!
Anticipate cutoff times!
Deliver your material on time!
Lateness is unacceptable and
Inexcusable!
No
Excuses!
Anyone who has worked as a journalist, or in any career dictated by deadlines will see both the humour and truth of these posters. As a writer, I cracked up laughing when I saw them. My sudden, unexplained outburst mortified my son and earned me the reprimand (muttered under his breath of course) “Mom, stop being random.”
And so I extend my sincere thanks to Spiderman – for the thrilling theme park ride, the wonderful chuckle in the 40-minute queue and the opportunity to embarrass my teenage son. After all, public humiliation is the bone nature throws to parents who endure the incessant eye-rolling of their beloved adolescents.
