Positive Writing: Key-and-Cue Words

This morning, it was time to face the fact that I've been a slump. A writing slump. Gradually I had slowed down on my production in favor of too much light reading or basketball viewing. Or in some cases, too much tooling around on AC instead of doing my own work.

The insight came while eating breakfast. The choice was Cheerios, but since the morning paper had not yet arrived, this was an occasion to read the other cereal boxes. Yes, this is an admittedly odd habit.

With the lack-of-writing revelation, in tandem came a simple tip from Professor Harmon at my community college 35 years ago. He would give us a key-and-cue word, or let us pick one. Then our task was to expand upon that word in whatever form of writing that we may choose.

Today's purple predominant box at the breakfast table was Raisin Bran. Hmmm. "Raisins." And as Professor Harmon would say, it was time to get typing.

First emerged some trivial raisin pursuit in the Andy Rooney mode:

-- Did'ya ever wonder why raisins are described as "plump and juicy?" Some raisins are more plump than others, but I've never found a juicy raisin.

-- Did'ya ever ask yourself why raisins are so much more popular than prunes? In my world, anyway, prunes are much more tasty and good. And a prune even is juicy as well as plump. Not to mention cleaning out that colon!

-- Why didn't the California Raisins stick around? Weren't they just as good as Mr. Peanut or the Pillsbury Doughboy? Or better?

-- Why is it spelled raiSIN instead of raiSON? Is there something unholy about a simple little innocent raisin?

-- In Raisin Bran, why do they put sugar on the raisins? Aren't they already sweet enough? And in the pictures on the box cover, they never show the sugar.

-- Believe it or not, Raisin Bran has more total sugar than cereals such as Corn Pops and Froot Loops. Check it out.

-- In fact, Raisin Bran never has had its own Trix Rabbit or Tony the Tiger, or it might really take off!

-- Since the higher quantity is bran rather than raisins, shouldn't it be Bran Raisin?