This week’s writing prompt is, “What I would do if I couldn’t be a writer?” And the answer to this is super-easy.
I’d be digging up dinos!
My favorite movie of all time is the first Jurassic Park. But unlike a lot of adults my age, I didn’t want to become a paleontologist because of Jurassic Park. I loved Jurassic Park because I already wanted to be a paleontologist. I am obsessed with dinosaurs. I still sleep with my stuffed Little Foot my parents got me when The Land Before Time came out. My favorite book growing up was Dinotopia by James Gurney. I cry when there are documentaries on Discovery Channel where the dinos die at the end (and they always do, damnit!) We went to Universal Studios in Japan last year and I seriously lost my shit when the most realistic animatronic dino I have seen in my life came out and walked around. I could go on and on about dinosaurs, and I often do. I drive my husband crazy with my dino chatter.
When I went to university, if I could have studied anything – Anything! Without any concern for the future – I would have chosen paleontology. But I decided to take the practical route and study English. I thought an English degree would give me more realistic job security. And while many people joke about English majors not being able to find jobs, I have never – in almost 10 years since I got my bachelor’s degree – been without work. And now, I completely support my family on my income. Not too shabby. Maybe I should write some dinosaur-themed romances.
One of my dreams is to still be like a paleontologist for the day and go to a live dig site and help dig up dinos. Maybe I still will.
What do you think? What is your dream job? Let me know in the comments.
This post is part of the 2018 MFRW Weekly Blog Post Challenge. You can read all my posts in the challenge for 2018 here.