The back of an envelope

Turn a used envelope over and it becomes a fine place for a shopping list. A phone number fits along the flap. There’s room for a drawing of which way the hinge goes back on the cupboard door.

Part of the appeal is how little the envelope asks of you. There’s no cover to spoil and no title to choose. A fresh notebook can take a cue from that. Begin with a useful scrap of a sentence, wherever it fits.

If the sentence turns out to matter, you’ll be glad you kept it. If the cupboard door finally closes, the drawing has done its job.