My friend and mentor, Julie Roads, sent me the term nota bene a couple of weeks ago. It is Latin, and means “note well.” She suggested that it was a term worth noting (pun intended.) I’ve always thought of it as one of those foreign language terms that one might drop in an article to impress someone. But it’s actually a well-used term found in a variety of dictionaries. So I spent some time thinking about it and reading about it and decided to take her suggestion. It takes me in a different direction, however, from simply defining the term.
For several years my younger daughter has given me little books with an attached elastic that keeps them closed. They are for writers to use when that sudden inspiration strikes and should be recorded. They are small enough to fit neatly into a shirt pocket, and the idea is that a writer should never be without one on (his)* person. I’ve seen writers use them for years, and I’m told that some writers have shelves filled with these little books.
They worked for me as long as I was wearing a suit or a sport coat regularly, but when I retired to golf shirts for the most part I found myself forgetting to stuff the book into my pocket. My pockets are filled with other kinds of things most of the time, so the book became excess baggage. Not a good idea. I missed a lot of good words, thoughts, and quotes.
But now I have a BlackBerry and there is an easily-accessed “note” app on it which I have moved to a point right next to my most commonly-used sites. I’m never without my BlackBerry, except when I go to Church. Then I leave it in the car, as even the vibrate sound is distracting.
I’m amazed at how frequently I find myself pulling out the BlackBerry and recording a new word or term. I’ve mentioned before that I read the NY Times from cover to cover every day. There is a treasure of language in The Times on a daily basis…enough to keep me going for years. But I also pick up terms and words on line. That is the moment to nota bene…note well…the treasure and give myself time to research it. And obviously, there are words and phrases which are submitted by friends, like Julie, who keep me supplied with good choices to use.
Sometimes a word languishes on the list for a long time before it is right to pull up. For instance, I have had the term “monkey bread” on my list since early May. The right time to expose it hasn’t come yet. It will. Until then, eat your heart out trying to figure out what the heck “monkey bread” is all about.
I haven’t thrown the little books away. In fact, I went to one yesterday and took it with me to the bookstore to gather some information I needed on publishing. Who knows when I might become so infuriated with my new technology that I stomp on it or throw it into Narragansett Bay? I doubt it, but you never know.
*I’ve gotten tired of the his/her construction, and have decided to use this configuration to signify that I’m using one gender’s term in an article but recognize that it applies to both genders. I won’t always use the male term.
Photo Credit: SXC
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Love it. Love where you took this…It has never, ever worked for me to carry a notebook – but the digital age has been very, very good to me. The note option on my Blackberry works exceedingly well for me, too. But I also used to love an app called Jott (which used to be free, but now costs money, so I decided to let it go – just didn’t use it enough).
Basically, it enables you to make a phone call (the number was on my speed dial), and the voice says, “who do you want to Jott?” and you load names and contact info to access. I would say ‘me’ and then I’d hear a beep and I’d leave a message like, “write about mashed potatoes” – and the message would get transcribed to my email. Exactly where I wanted it and how I wanted it (in text).
Thanks for taking me up on my suggestion…!