Writer's Commentary- Dashboard

On Post: Dashboard

Date: January 5

Find it here

I’m embarrassed by how little I have to say about this entry.

Essentially, the song lays out that there is this car but it is way broken down and only the radio is still reliable. That just put the image in my head of the car up on blocks in someone’s side yard. In and of itself, obviously, that was not a story, but it got me to thinking who would be involved with or attracted to a lousy, falling apart vehicle where only the radio is functional.

The obvious answer was a person who loves to fix things up but didn’t connect with that in any way. My next thought was kids with an imagination and from there, the piece just kind of wrote itself. The kids were probably a bit too old for this kind of play without irony or shame, but I find that often people who are forced to grow up too soon and be overly responsible often exhibit some kind of arrested development in another area. Sarah and Marty felt like those kinds of kids and they were holding on to a shred of immaturity—and probably keeping themselves sane, especially for Sarah—by indulging in some pretty vivid fantasy play.

Oh, and one bit of trivia. While the story takes place in sort of NowhereandEverywhereville, MiddleAmerica, the reference to the factory that smells like cereal is something I have actually encountered. The school my wife, The Thunder, went to Minnesota was in the same town as a cereal factory and outside smelt like cereal all the time. Not unpleasant, but very odd. It should be noted that that college town is definitely not where this story is set. Too built up and suburban-y...the setting of the story was intended to be far more small town and out of the way.

My explanation not ring true? Do you have questions that this piece left unanswered? Reach out and touch me at tim.g.stevens@gmail.com or @ungajje on the Twitter. And, as always, spread the word.