I’m Starting An Advice Column and I’m Calling it BFF Talk
I’m starting an advice column.
I’ve always thought it would be fun to write for a magazine. To have a fun girly column that’s just like talking to your best friend. When I was leaving high school and trying to decide what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, I considered graphic design or journalism. I had been a part of the Yearbook club and designed the Club section. It turned out decent and I really enjoyed it.
Somewhere along the line, I came to the conclusion graphic design/journalism was too hard a field and/or it was highly unlikely I’d get a job since it was a competitive market. It all blurs together now. Not sure if that reality was even true or if I allowed some dingbat to persuade me not to go that route. Either way, I made the decision to become an architect. That’s on me.
I had crafty skills. I decoupaged stuff. Like my lava lamp and the cover of a photo album. I dabbled with pastels. I was into latch hook. I turned tiles into magnets.
To me, that meant I could make, or build anything. Oh! And I wanted money. Do you see how I came to the conclusion that I could be an architect? Good at making cute things + wanting lots of money = architect. I know it sounds ridiculous but to my eighteen year old mind, I thought I had found my calling.
I was accepted into Arizona State University’s architecture program. Top 10 in the country at the time! What they didn’t tell me was that I had to create a portfolio and apply to get into the real, real architecture program. But I knew I wouldn’t make it the day I had to write a paper about the Gammage auditorium and why the builders selected the specific materials to make it. I quickly realized I didn’t know anything when I was making stuff up about concrete. Like how it repels heat so it was a good choice to use for the ASU Gammage building. To keep it cool, ya know? ‘Cause Arizona is so hot. And the people need to be cooled down, especially when performing. Made sense to me.
Or maybe it was when I had to draw a building on campus to scale and it barely took up any space on this massive sheet of white paper they gave me. I was embarrassed to turn it in when I saw everyone else’s drawings and it took up their whole paper. I knew something went wildly wrong.
I have since learned that concrete, in fact, absorbs heat, which is why it can get so flaming hot. I’m sure the architecture program was pleased to see me leave. Then I went on to become a teacher and blah, blah, blah. It doesn’t really matter.
I seem to always come back to wanting to make something involving writing–a blog, a book, writing for a magazine. I used to write poetry as a kid and I got one poem published. I guess you can say I have been a published poet since the third grade. Doesn’t life seem full circle like that? What you once enjoyed as a kid, is the thing you long to do as an adult. I loved reading books and I used to write poems and other random things all the time.
You know what happens though? People can weasel their way into your brains or life happens and other things take priority. Both have happened to me.
I’ve let my AP Lit teacher walk down the hallways of my brain with her fat diamond ring holding a 16oz latte telling me I can’t write. So I can’t break down Virginia Woolf or the depths of The Great Gatsby. Does anyone really care? I don’t think so. I personally like humor and being relatable, writing how I actually talk. Not trying to impress a teacher with big ideas and big words.
I went off and did the college thing and the partying thing and tried to be cool. I got married, got a job, and had kids. The latter are some of the greatest things I’ve ever done. I’ve learned some stuff, seen some stuff, and love to share stuff. Maybe too much. If you asked me what underwear I love to wear, I’d probably pull down the tab of my pants and show you the label real fast. TMI? Sorry, not sorry.
So I’ve always wanted to write for a magazine and have my own column. And that’s what I’m going to do, right here on my blog. I want it to be fun and light hearted. Just like you are talking to your BFF. In fact, I might call it Best Friend Advice or BFF Talk.
It will range from real life advice to sharing recipes. Reminiscing on the crazy stuff we used to do to how we’re totally changed. Remember those Y2K columns that were ridiculous and yet so fun to read? That’s what I’m going for. True BFFs are kinda like that anyways–a little bit off their rockers, yet having the best time ever.
So where am I going to start? Probably with muffins.
Want to ask a question?
💌Send your question to dearbfftalk@gmail.com. This is supposed to be a good time so please don’t ruin it for me by sending a ridiculous or inappropriate question.
p.s. Incase you were wondering what poem I wrote. It was in the 1998 Anthology of Poetry by Young Americans. ⬇️
