What inspired you to write...discuss

OK aidan, here is another one, just for you.
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Cuban Affairs.
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In the winter of 1989 I went to Cuba for three weeks to charge my battery. Our beach club was located on the Bay of Pigs and consisted of small huts for one or two persons. This was the place where in 1961 a group of US-backed Cubans landed in an attempt to overthrow the Castro regime. US intelligence had told them that all Cubans would come to their aid and their noble fight would end in victory. President Kennedy refused air support and the landing was a total disaster.

My one-room cabin was ample but primitive. The communal dining room in the main building was large and the food was good. There was a bar and a pool and the beach was beautiful. Most of the guests were from Montreal, only a few spoke English.
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I made friends with a South African couple and their lady friend, all three forty-something. They had been in Quebec for years and spoke fluent French. I tried my best to charm the unattached one. We got to first base but she was not in the mood for a home run. We had fun together and later back home we had a short-lived friendship. But that's another story.
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A cute threesome lived in the hut next door and we hung out together. They were twenty-something office workers: two sisters and the husband of the older one. The young one was very blond and quite beautiful. She had a wistful and innocent air about her and was obviously lonely.
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I quickly overcame my desire to flirt with her and we had some good conversations. She was very sweet and helpful about my imperfect French. This is a good time to talk about those who correct my linguistic mistakes. I hope they realize how thankful I am. The lady who was my friend in Quebec for fifteen years never corrected my broken French. She was polite but that did not help me at all. In spite of that I stayed with her because we fit like a pair of gloves.
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Another person I talked to was a smooth Cuban official, who loved to show off his French and English. He was young and handsome. His job was to make all visitors comfortable. We talked about Cuba and Canada, socialism and capitalism. He was open to all opinions but I could tell that behind that smile was a rock solid supporter of Fidel.
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A group of Soviet officers arrived and stayed for a few days. One of them must have been a champion swimmer in his younger years. When he swam laps in the pool everyone just stared in disbelief.
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The crew of a Swedish destroyer came for a visit and a meal. One young officer wanted to show off by swimming under water. He challenged the others to do better. He did 3/4 of a length and stood in the shallow end bowing to the applause. In the meantime 62-year-old Stanley ambled to the deep end and dove in. I swam past the poor guys legs and finished the whole length of the pool. The laughter mingled with cheers and he was forced to shake my hand. That was one of my better days.
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One evening a big outdoor dance party was organized and there was a lot of drinking and laughing. My pretty blonde told me that she was crazy about the handsome Cuban. I took her hand, went over to him and introduced the two. They spent the evening together.
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The next day at the beach she told me just how serious she was about him. She even mentioned coming back to make it permanent. She left a week before me. Just as I thought, he was fooling around with another girl and I even saw him with one of the gay men from Montreal. I sincerely hope that Blondie got over him without suffering too much.

All good things have to end eventually and on the flight home we experienced the hardship of a Russian airplane.

In retrospect, it was a good holiday.

Yep, interesting was the right word I think. Sounds like you had a lot of fun too.

How i miss lostnsearching. I hope she is safe out there in Pakistan.
She inspired so many people when she was around - but she did more than just inspire me - she gave me hope for the future. If i was a godly man i'd ask god to keep that kid safe - but looking at the dates i see she must be all of sixteen now and not such a kid anymore.
I hope she's happy. I hope she's with people who love her. And i hope she's still writing her great poetry!

Anyway - wouldn't it be a good thing to keep this thread going?

So - why did you start writing? And why write now, in today's media driven world? Just wondering.....

Perhaps if we expand the premise to include, "Why do you keep on writing?" The thread may garner more responses.

I have been writing poetry and short stories since I was old enough to write a complete sentence. By 5th grade I was publishing a neighborhood newsletter and by Junior High was reporter and/or editor of the school newspaper that continued through highschool and into college where I also got my first paying small town newspaper job. I have been writing in one form or another ever since, either as a vocation or avocation.

What inspired me? No clue. I can't remember a time when I didn't have to do it.

Hey Endy,

Thank You for everything.
(am fine, doing great and pretty safe.)
still writing from time to time. but haven't really had much time to post or read here anymore (Though i miss it greatly). will be around pretty soon (Ihope)
hope you are well too....

Regards

Life.

That's what inspires me.

hey lostnsearching!
It's great to hear from you - and you don't have to thank me for anything - on the contrary I thank you -
Hey - I'm glad you have something better to do than hang around here - seriously. (Or do you miss those crazy word games) : )

Hope you're having some fun as well as taking care of yourself.
Just let me know you're okay from time to time (don't mean to sound like an old man or something) : )

I'll keep an eye out for you (maybe a poem?)
Take care, friend
Kind regards
Endy

yeah edgar - i ask myself that question all the time
why the hell DO i keep writing?? or trying to...

thanks foxfyre
sounds like you were born to it : )

well said, Bella Dea

: )

Everything.
I saw something, say a tree in the street, and I wondered what had happened to it. A day later I wrote down its possible story (Only three A5 pages).
Things escalated, and now I hope to publish a novel.

Inspired? It has been a desire since I can remember, but the spark that ignited the actually first step in writing was "fantastic dreams" and daydreams.

What makes me continue? Obsession and passion for the written word.

that's the short version. you really don't want the long one... :-)