note() {
    # if file doesn't exist, create it
    if [[ ! -f "${HOME}/.notes" ]]; then
        touch "${HOME}"/.notes
    fi

    if [[ $# -eq 0 ]]; then
        # no arguments, print file
        cat "${HOME}"/.notes
    elif [[ "$1" == "-c" ]]; then
        # clear file
        echo "" >"${HOME}"/.notes
    else
        # add all arguments to file
        echo "$@" >>"${HOME}"/.notes
    fi
}