As I sit here laboring over a story trying to find the perfect word, I remembered my favorite moment in Throw Momma From the Train, which is all about words, that I forgot to mention! [Head smack!]

Writers, take heart, and readers, you might appreciate the struggle, too.

The opening scene has writer, Larry Donner (Crystal), struggling with the first line of what he hopes is a new novel, and in particular the last word of the first line. “The night was… humid…” Paper ripped from that amazing vintage Selectric. “The night was…moist,” head drooping over the keys… or something like that. You get the idea. Even better here’s a clip. My above-mentioned moment follows if you want a bit of a spoiler.

This mini sub plot trails through the movie with both Larry and Owen (DeVito) struggling for the right word. They carry on with their problem on the train with Momma sitting next to Owen. After listening to them go on, she grumbles out, “Sultry.”

That was my biggest laugh out loud moment, which probably wouldn’t have been the case in the days when I wasn’t a writer.

One last thing, the Hemingway six word story image in the original blog now has a link to the source. Yay! Thanks for prodding my memory, Leon, and for letting me borrow your piece.